We have a U10 soccer team and have been very successful just rotating kids through positions for the most part.
As these kids get older the game changes a bit it becomes more technical and true dedicated fullbacks are crucial.
We have a few kids that will make great fullbacks once they get the mindset and understanding of what they can do in the backfield but kids are kids and they want to score goals.
We have one kid that has finally got it and realizes what an asset he is as a full back.

How do you build these kids for a dedicated position that they are clearly built for and show their potential when they are back there? However they want to score goals but that is just not how they play.
Sure you can force them back there but then they tend to get pissed off and it can affect their play.
I praise the hell out of them when they are making great defensive plays. Even more so when kids score goals.

Conversations with the parents is another but some of these parents are even more hellbent on their kid scoring than the kid is and they are no help.

How else do you bolsters these kids that are built to be fullbacks?? I am not talking about making kids be fullbacks that aren’t or shouldn’t be fullbacks.
That’s far too much directed training we don’t have time for.

Besides the goalkeeper, they are the most important people on the field in my opinion. I was a keeper in college and we leaned on one another (D-men and me).

Look at all the great fullbacks that are/have been critical on set plays in the offensive end. They should have plenty of opportunity to score and you should work that angle.

Set plays are the best and most dangerous scoring opportunities at all levels, but especially at the youth level. Corner, direct kicks, indirect kicks... You need the speedy forwards to chase the ball for second chances, the middies to support the forwards/gum up a counter attacks and the fullbacks to get back and establish a defensive line for offsides/stop the counter.

Also, depending on how you want to play it, you can play a 3-3-4 and have one of the backs rotate up as on offensive player. That 4th D-man can be a revolving position by half or by game. But, they have to know that they are D first and their job is to support the keeper and keep a clean sheet.

Scoring is sexy, but I have been in plenty of matches where there was more scoring than defense. It is a team sport. You can score a hat trick and still lose. And guess what, a single loss can kill a season or a tournament.

Oh, and we had just as many D-men on full scholarship and getting awards as we did middies, and forwards.

You can also go with a 2-3-5 setup as well. Then you have 2 defensive players each game that can push up as offense, but for young kids that may be tough to get them to follow that strategy.

Another approach would be that they D-men are responsible for shutting down the other teams most dangerous players. A shutout is a stat that is just as coveted by D-men as they are by keepers. You can also keep a +/- stat on your D-men too.

Lots of ways to spin this, but again, scoring goals is no more important than keeping the ball out of the back of your net. A draw is better than a loss and scoring doesn't always happen as much as most would hope.

Sorry for the rambling. I am an old man who played and excelled at organized soccer before it was cool. I am still passionate about it.

Have the midfielders and backs come over for a watch party. DVR an international game or an MLS. Paramont + has replays. Use your dvr to pause and explain what the backfield is doing watching a pro game. Show them the intricacies of passing back to open the field. It's amazing what kids will learn from mimicking others.

Be sure to show them how they start the entire process of attacking and how they are responsible for defending at the same time. Kids just think kick and chase but if you can show them that is only a part of the game you might get lucky and they will catch on.

U10?

Way too early to be specializing in anything other than having fun.

You have to honestly ask yourself if you want to win U10 Championships or teach kids soccer?

My advice, teach ALL the kids skills through drills and keep switching them up in games like you’re doing.

Developing a versatile set of skills, a knowledge of the game and, most important, a love of the game by playing different positions will be best for ALL the kids in the long run. Positions are interchangeable. Skills are not.

Lots of stories in pro sports about players being successful for themselves and their teams by switching positions before tournaments or playoffs or the Olympics. “Miracle on Ice” comes to mind…

quote:

Originally posted by x0225095:
U10?

Way too early to be specializing in anything other than having fun.

Very true that is why I am talking about building them to be specialized players not necessarily having them ready to go this season. Laying that foundation.
I am talking about building that importance of defense in all their brains but targeting those specifically that show the added ability to be monster fullbacks.

I played for 30 years and coached for another 20 years.

I don’t know if this is a rec league or a comp league.

That being said, work on overlapping runs with the whole team. Teach them that they are not static positions. As a fullback you can do overlapping runs when attacking and outnumber your opponents. When an attacking overlapping run is on the player being overlapped then covers until the defender makes the recovery run.

This is an effective way to attack in soccer.

The key to this style of play is to keep your overall shape while moving the players around within your formation.

10 years old is kinda young to keyhole players permanently but it’s usually when it starts happening.

This thread isn’t about me but I played everything in my youth. By high school I was a forward. In college I switched to defense and excelled. Earned a scholarship from a walk on and became the captain of a D1 school.

Good on you for coaching the kids!

Good luck.

I will ad this advanced thought process for defending.

It happens quickly and is fluid.

#1- position yourself so your opponent’s won’t want to pass the ball to your mark.

#2- If they do pass then beat them to the ball.

#3- If you don’t beat them to the ball, bump them as the ball arrives and try to jostle it free.

#4- If the tactics above has fail, push up on them and keep them from turning with the ball.

#5- If they already have the ball, Shephard them to the outside of the field.

All this happens in a split second, but it’s an effective mindset for a defender.

quote:

Originally posted by PR64:


10 years old is kinda young to keyhole players permanently but it’s usually when it starts happening.

Instilling the importance of defense may be a better way to put it. However we have a couple of fellas that you can clearly tell will we fantastic fullbacks but they just want to be up front all the time.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by x0225095:
U10?

Way too early to be specializing in anything other than having fun.

…but targeting those specifically that show the added ability to be monster fullbacks.

So say you. They are aged 10 and UNDER for goodness sake. Please just give them a chance. Maybe they’ll love to be monster midfielders or monster center forwards or monster wingers. Maybe they’ll even fall in love with a superior game like ice hockey. But for the love of all that is holy, let the game teach the game at U10. Switch them up. Drills, mini games and live opponent games will teach them more than you or any other coach could ever pour into them about playing a specialized position at that age. Plus, said coach would only limit his players by using his own bias. Let the players use their imaginations to think and figure the game out for themselves while having fun. You’ll have happier players and more complete players and the parents will want to keep you around.

Either that or quit and let someone else do it.

Bias is an interesting way to put it. You really don’t think a coach can/should recognize when a player has a higher natural ability for a certain position that one should not encourage them and build on that strength?
No one is talking about pigeon holing them and forcing them to one position but building on the natural ability they have started to exhibit. I guess we have different views on what a coach is.
You seem to think they are just a babysitter in romper room and granted many younger leagues that is the case but some of these 9 year olds are really starting to bring the smoke and have the ability to start actually running plays and learning different offensive and defensive strategies that are learned by coaching and skills development. Live/fun play is extremely important but so is technical skill training. I think a coach is supposed to lead and guide their team in the direction of being the best player and more importantly the best person they can be.
If one sees some natural talent in a kid one should absolutely build and encourage emphasis to that area, however at the same time if you notice a weakness in their abilities it’s good to work on that skill set as well to build a well rounded player.
As I mentioned earlier building a fullback probably wasn’t the best wording. But emphasizing how important defense is to kids who think scoring is the only thing to the game and building a defensive mindset along with the offensive mindset that for some reason is pretty much always at the forefront of every kid that plays soccers brain.
Who mentioned limiting a player?????

Always interesting to get other folks viewpoints.

I just wrapped up my son's final 10U (rec league) season in November... with an undefeated season. This age group has a huge range of ability - some just barely get it, and others have been playing since they were 6U and can dribble well and crush the ball. I focused on fundamentals for all, and group drills that required them to work together. Everyone played every position in practice (except goalie, as some just said no way), but the game lineups were tailored to their abilities. The kids want to win. It is your job as the coach to develop all of the players as much as you can, and plug them into the puzzle where they fit.

On to the fullback question... we had several players that were depressed to play defense in the beginning, but by the end of the season, were able to see the importance of the position. We used two things to keep the defense upbeat/feel more important - every goal they prohibit is one that our team doesn't need to score; and if they have the opportunity to dribble/move the ball to set up a play, they need to take it (but recover once you've played your part). I think the words I used were, "You can take it up as far as you can, but don't let it get behind you."

As mentioned above, the awareness of where to be, how to engage, and what to do once engaged is 50/50 in this age group. If you have some players that excel at it, push them to develop the follow-up play. I frequently would tell them, "you know that play/goal started with you, right?" It helped them to see how important their part was.