U11 Defensive Enforcers, every team needs one

I know we all enjoy viewing and discussing the elegant and finesse offensive players. The skillful that bloom to become Cristiano, Messi, or Neymar. There are a million youtube videos ad nauseum of offensive kids. But if anyone has a link to a U11 defensive enforcer, I'd like to see it.

There's nothing like a crushing slide tackle. Albeit, a clean crushing tackle.

Here's another youtube vid on an 11 year old for your viewing pleasure. He's calm, skillful and definitely a team player. He passes to his teammate without hogging all the glory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syUH6743alM

Anybody have a link to vid of a U11 or younger defender, ah, defending?

Kid in the video has exceptional technical ability and awareness.

However, he is also the most physically mature player on the field.

I'm a big fan of the players who can play on both sides of the ball.

There are no 'offensive' or 'defensive' players. There are players who primarily attack and those who primarily defend.

Pigeonholing players into specific roles at such a young age is criminal.

All players should be taught to be 2-way players. Regardless of position.

I love a good slidetackle. It is as beautiful as a goal when executed properly.

Unfortunately, youth coaches spend very little time on the art of 1v1 defending.

Laimport wrote:Kid in the video has exceptional technical ability and awareness.

However, he is also the most physically mature player on the field.

I'm a big fan of the players who can play on both sides of the ball.

There are no 'offensive' or 'defensive' players. There are players who primarily attack and those who primarily defend.

Pigeonholing players into specific roles at such a young age is criminal.

All players should be taught to be 2-way players. Regardless of position.

I love a good slidetackle. It is as beautiful as a goal when executed properly.

Unfortunately, youth coaches spend very little time on the art of 1v1 defending.

I noticed he was the most mature too. It also seemed like the other teams were rather weak. Like watching a d1 player play against d3 players. You are right every team needs an enforcer. Defense is where the game is not lost. Not won but not lost, big difference. A sucky defense will torpedoe teams in a hurry because no lead is safe.

Are they playing 7v7 at U11? Cool

I watched a 9v9 U11 Final this past weekend in Tulsa. They used a smaller field with smaller goals. I was impressed with the speed of play on the smaller pitch. It didn't seem crowded at all.

Players still had space to dribble. Corners, crosses and switches were a breeze. There was a lot more action than on the gigantic fields we use for U11 in CL. More goals, too. It was a fun game to watch.

It was almost like an outdoor futsal match on grass.

If you ever watch the youtube vids of Messi as a young 11 or 12 year old, you'll notice, he also played on small fields with less players.

PG-Boy wrote:I watched a 9v9 U11 Final this past weekend in Tulsa. They used a smaller field with smaller goals. I was impressed with the speed of play on the smaller pitch. It didn't seem crowded at all.

Players still had space to dribble. Corners, crosses and switches were a breeze. There was a lot more action than on the gigantic fields we use for U11 in CL. More goals, too. It was a fun game to watch.

It was almost like an outdoor futsal match on grass.

If you ever watch the youtube vids of Messi as a young 11 or 12 year old, you'll notice, he also played on small fields with less players.

I noticed the same thing when I watched the U10 final at the COPA ESPN at Mcinnish a few weeks ago. They played 9v9 on small fields and all the kids looked quick and sharp with their skills. They were required to keep the ball closer, control the traps better and move quickly off the ball. Was a fun game to watch and also reminded me of Futsal.

The greatest benefit to small sided games is that it "lessens" the overall impact (and reliance on) the more physically mature players.

No developed soccer nation in the world that I'm aware of plays 11v11, full sided soccer at U11.

I think 6v6 at u10 and u11 is probably ideal.

U12 should be 8v8.

soccerisgood123 wrote:

Laimport wrote:Kid in the video has exceptional technical ability and awareness.

However, he is also the most physically mature player on the field.

I'm a big fan of the players who can play on both sides of the ball.

There are no 'offensive' or 'defensive' players. There are players who primarily attack and those who primarily defend.

Pigeonholing players into specific roles at such a young age is criminal.

All players should be taught to be 2-way players. Regardless of position.

I love a good slidetackle. It is as beautiful as a goal when executed properly.

Unfortunately, youth coaches spend very little time on the art of 1v1 defending.

I noticed he was the most mature too. It also seemed like the other teams were rather weak. Like watching a d1 player play against d3 players. You are right every team needs an enforcer. Defense is where the game is not lost. Not won but not lost, big difference. A sucky defense will torpedoe teams in a hurry because no lead is safe.

Offense wins games, defense wins championships.

People fail to grasp that it takes different types of players to play successfully.

A team full of creative/flair players will never survive.

Not every player needs to be able to dribble through 6 defenders and score.

You have to have players who can win and successfully distribute the ball.

"Simple" players.

The essence of the game is to control the ball and pass it...quickly.

In the end, a player has to have the right mix of technique, tactical awareness/intelligence AND athleticism. If you are lacking (sufficiently) in any one area, you won't make it.

Besides, skill, without the right tactical decisionmaking, is worthless. A liability in fact!

We need to be producing more players who are technically and smart....who also happen to be exceptional athletes as well. Complete, well rounded players.

The adult rec leagues and pickup games inthe parks are full of skilled, dumb players that are slow.