FineSoccer Kids 6

Welcome to the FineSoccer Kids Newsletter. Today's topic deal with the need to understand all positions and not just your own.

In the second FineSoccer Kids newsletter (http://finesoccer.com/finesoccer_kids_2.htm), I described the various positions for soccer and their basic responsibilities but now I want to explain why it's important for you to know all of the positions and how to play each.

Too often I hear players say, "I don't know how to be a fullback, I am a forward". When I hear a player say that, what I interpret it to mean is that "I don't want to play" because a player who wants to be on the field will be willing to play any position in order to get more playing time. What these players don't seem to understand is that it doesn't come down to either playing a different position or playing their favorite position but rather it comes down to either play a different position or don't play at all. So, if you want to play as much as you can, you need to be willing to play whatever position that your coach wants you to.

In addition to this, there are other advantages to knowing how to play each position. Let's say you are normally a fullback. How much of an advantage would it be if you knew what the forwards were probably going to do before they did? If you know how to play forward, then it will allow you to anticipate what the other teams forwards are going to do and this will make your job that much easier.

A good example of how it helps to know how to play different positions is a player I have worked with for the past year. When I first met him, he was an average forward. He had a great work rate and decent skills but no matter what we tried, he couldn't score goals. I really don't have an explanation for this but it just wasn't working out. We decided to switch him to a marking back position and he went from being an average forward to an exceptional marking back who has the potential to play professionally in a year or so. If he hadn't been willing to have an open mind and make this switch, he would probably still be on the bench. Would you rather be a sub playing one position or a possible professional by playing a different one? Sounds like an easy question to answer yet too often; players seem to make the wrong choice.

If you are a player, be willing to play different positions and if you are a coach, be willing to move your players around to expose them to different positions and ways of playing.

Any comments, questions or suggestions should be sent to kidscomments@finesoccer.com.

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Have a great day!

Lawrence