Expert: John Murnan - 6/24/2002

Question
i'm a grade 9 soccer player and and would like to make my high school team but last year my coach switched me positions three times and i don't know what one i am best at and where to go please help me because i have a summer soccer programe that is run by the high school coach and would like to show my skills thanx

Answer
Sam,

First let me say that having a fixed position is less important than being on the field playing. When I was playing high school, I was always the sweeper, but when I went to college, I had to move to outside back my freshman season. My sophomore, I was on the bench behind the sweeper and ready to take over if he played poorly or got hurt. He got hurt, but I was the trainer for the team and instead of playing I had to take him to the hospital. By the time I got back, another player had taken my position and held it for the next two seasons. I ended up playing left midfield for two seasons and then my senior year I played sweeper, central midfield and left midfield. Basically, whereever the coach needed me, I played.

What you want to do is showcase your talent. If you are a player who plays well on the wings,then make sure that you get a chance to play wide. Work on your crosses and your 1 v 1 skills in attack and also work on your fitness. wide players need to make long runs forward and then get back on defense over and over again.

If you are a central player, then you need to show the coach that you can handle the ball under pressure and not give it away. You need to be able to take the ball and switch it to the other side of the field to expose the other team. Central players need to be physically very strong and especially must be strong on the ball or challenging for the ball.

when a coach switches you between many positions, usually it means that he doesn't have a clear idea of where you fit in or that he thinks you can play a variety of roles. If you are going to a camp, make sure during the games that you are showing him what kind of roles you prefer. Don't let him guess.

On my ODP team, I had a player that I had slotted in as an outside midfielder. One time, I put her in the central midfield to give the other players some rest. She looked great there and I have played her there ever since. So don't give up trying and keep working hard....

John