InstantForum.NET v4.1.4Better Soccer Coachinghttp://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/forums@bettersoccercoaching.co.ukThu, 28 Aug 2008 20:41:34 GMT20http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxWhen we start teaching our kids that winning doesn't matter what are we teaching them for the future . Reading any biography of anybody thats made it to the top you will realize the importance of a competitive nature .While I agree that having fun is the most important thing at all , we must teach our young players that winning is the end objective . </P><P>I have been faced with a similar situation but am lucky enough to manage six sides. My problem was having a kid good enough to play goal keeper in my b side but not good enough to play in the out field . As a coach of under 9 players I want to make sure I develop players that are able to play in any position down the line as I dont feel that at such a young age you should be stereotyped into one position . </P><P>I made the tuff call to drop this kid to the C side so that he could properly develop as a player . </P><P>Regards </P><P>GrantWed, 09 Apr 2008 13:11:04 GMTliverpool69http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxThanks for your thoughts guys.</P><P>I spoke with the boy in question last night at practice. He's a tough lad and quite open and honest. I told him that we thought he had a lot to offer outfield and played him in midfield in the practise. He loved it and wants to stay there. We also tried another boy in goal who was absolutely thrilled and did very well, so a result all round.</P><P>I strongly believe that each of our players should get as much action over the season as each other. Regarding positions, we're still chopping and changing and letting them find their own strengths and weaknesses. We played our first game on Saturday and lost 6-0. We're playing the same team this weekend but many of our players will be in different positions. </P><P>For the record, it would be fantastic to win games and do well in the league. But it's much more important to me to make sure that everyone gets to play and crucially that they improve over the season. That's what the kids want too. If they do, we win anyway (corny I know but that's how we feel).Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:57:56 GMTDwyerhttp://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspx Surely if he had been tried in other positions and showed promise then the question of what to do would not have even been asked?</P><P> Please read my first post again and tell me where i am not thinking of the child??????????? </P><P> The original post very much sounded like ( unless i interpreted it wrong) that because the lad had no future in goal that he may not have many other options - i am only responding to that...</P><P> Your first post and mine are almost identical yet you disagree???</P><P>A game of opinions - not rights and wrongs.Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:57:50 GMTswift1http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxI dont know when any 1 position became the most important in football. Every position is important as you should know.</P><P>We are not aware of wether the child has been giving the opportunity at another position and wether he is "up to the job" at these positions.</P><P>The whole point of the subject was how to deal with the individual.</P><P>And putting him on the sidelines is not the way to go about it. If you have played every minute in your favourite position and you are being asked to play 15-20minutes outfield what would you choose.</P><P>Think about what a child would wantTue, 11 Sep 2007 16:48:34 GMTNickhttp://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspx "LESS RISK TO THE TEAM" stems from the original post of "not upto the job" which basically says however much you want to wrap it up he is not good enough to play such an important role for the team at this stage, yet you are still giving him an involvement and opportunity to progress elsewhere on the pitch!!Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:40:01 GMTswift1http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxMaybe i have missed your point however if i can quote from your post "even just 10 - 15 minutes on the pitch away from the responsibility of being a goalkeeper is less risk for your team" this mislead me a bit.</P><P>I would like to mention again that kids realise why they are playing a bit part in your team. Its not wrong doing it of course but in this specific situation i just believe that because the child would rather play in goals it would be better to make him beleive that he would be more important to the team to be playing outfield so giving him more time on the field than you would with other players no matter how good or bad he is would make the situation easier for both parties.</P><P>If you take him out of his preffered position where he has played the whole game and give him 15-20 minutes outfield and the rest of the time on the sidelines he wont see the benefit of playing outfield and will want back in goal.</P><P>Any other position you would get away with but you have to remember most goalkeepers play the whole game and are used to playing the whole game.Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:36:25 GMTNickhttp://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxNick,</P><P> You have completely missed my point. If results werent important then wouldnt the lad be staying in goal?? </P><P>By giving him ten minutes, twenty minutes however long you want basically for two or three matches you can gage a better idea of where he will be more comfortable, my point was totally about making sure the player stays interested and enthusiatic - not results!!!Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:23:22 GMTswift1http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxafter reading the comment from swift i would have to say that at a younger age team results should not be as important as an individuals feelings for the game.</P><P>Giving someone 10 minutes in a game to try and keep them feeling involved because you dont want it to affect your teams score if they play longer is not rite.</P><P>Even kids realise that they are not considered as being good enough when they are only playing for a small amount of the game. By the end of the season most young kids in your squad should have played roughly the same amount with the exeption of the goalkeeper.</P><P>I believe its even more important that everyone gets a shot at every position because kids might say they want to be a forward because they idolise henry but then they might get a shot in midfield and like it better. You dont find these things out until you show them every position on the park.</P><P>Your young goalkeeper is no exception. I would let the goalkeeper try every position aswell.</P><P>You dont get anywhere by not experimenting Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:14:36 GMTNickhttp://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxI would suggest playing him outfield in training and trying to get him involved in play as much as you can to try and identify where he would be best playing.</P><P>Then you could say to him at the end of training that you think he would be really good playing in this position and he would be a very important member of your team.</P><P>Maybe you wont think he would be any better than the rest of your outfield players but keeping him happy is obviously most important and you wouldnt want to discourage him from playing so sacrificing a better outfield player for a couple of games would have to be done.</P><P>The worst thing that could happen would be to put someone in goals and then leave him on the sidelines.</P><P>If you can convince him he would be better outfield then everything should be ok.</P><P>i dont think there is an easy way. not that i know of anywayTue, 11 Sep 2007 16:04:58 GMTNickhttp://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxHello,</P><P> If he is so keen i would maybe look into using him or encouraging him for an outfield position, even if just as a squad player as even just 10 - 15 minutes on the pitch away from the responsibility of being a goalkeeper is less risk for your team and still keeping his involvement and confidence, but maybe still let him join in any goalkeeper coaching 1 - to keep him happy as i believe being confident and feeling part of a team can really push youngsters on in everything else they do. 2 - you never know how well he may develop as he grows?</P><P> Especially at such a young age when a lot of players probably wont find their true positions for a couple more years. I think still being part of the team in any playing capacity will lighten the blow regardless.</P><P> I dont envy those situations as i usually the find the kids more understanding than the parents.Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:56:40 GMTswift1http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic261-4-1.aspxWe have a boy in goal who is keen as mustard but sadly is not up to the job. We've identified an outfield player who we think will be really good.</P><P>Any tips on how to handle this without upsetting the boy (and his parents)?Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:14:01 GMTDwyer