Should I try to get my kid exposure in midfield?

I sure the heck would not have worried about it. But my concerns at that age for my sons were vastly different than yours.
My oldest started competitive soccer at U10, after a couple of years of rec he wanted more so we had him tryout for a newly formed club. He was invited to play on the top U10 team. We quickly realized as the coaches did, he was not ready. The team won the state cup and my son saw limited time over the last part of the season. He almost quit soccer, we requested that he be moved to the second team for the next season. The coaches and club were going to move him down. This was the best thing that happened. The second team coach gave him the chance he needed and he developed both technically, in confidence, and his love for the game was formed.

My youngest, started club soccer early at U8. He was more like your son, loved to play up top and out on the wing. When he played defense, it was usually at left back ( he is left foot dominate), but he always found away to get forward. I can not tell you how many CBs & DMs he left out to dry.
He never played as a central or defensive midfielder or CB. It was not until his sophomore year in high school that his club coach gave him free rein as a left back. the team basically played with 3 in the back and overloaded on the left side up top. He has learned to defend and his work rate was high but he was fortunate the coach wanted him to attack. He really started to love the game, who would not.

Develop the skills, develop the work habits and develop the desire, the position and playing time will take care of themselves

 

All the 2008's are playing up a year at academies. Just Saying. I like the make him a defender idea

 

The MLS academies is what i meant. They currently do not have a 2008 teams except Philly and LAFC. The Non MLS MLSNext teams have teams at every age because they like the money.

 

I know a small part of you just want to stir up the pot which I don't blame you. I'm entertained by it and others' responses to you.

So I'm just going to answer the question concisely:
Yea, I think playing some midfield helps in development and usually the "best players" in youth come through central midfield a lot... not always but they're on the ball a lot so they stick a kid in there with good ball skills, good soccer IQ and passing skills, and good dribbling.

Longer answer:
I think exposing him to all positions helps in development. I think this only happens as a theory though. It happens to some degree but no team has a kid play 10% in each of the 10 non-goalie positions in a 11v11 for example. It just doesn't happen and it's impractical. No, don't tell me that happens in Europe and South America. It doesn't either. Kids specialize early. Happens in club teams at U11 here in the US. Happens at MLS academy at U13. Happens at Dortmund at U12. It just happens. There will be exceptions but I'm just saying in general.

Now having said this, my kid's so used to only playing central midfield positions (6, 8, 10 - and he does get moved about in the midfield depending on the need) that I do think it's helpful when sometimes he's lined up as a wingback or a CF.

I coach a team (outside of his usual club team) with a collection of his friends from a few different clubs and play in a Sunday league type league so I am able to play him in different positions to give him exposures at positions he normally doesn't play on his club team. He sucks playing at CB but I still play him there cause I think seeing the field from there will help him playing the midfield too.

So yea, if you can get him playing in pick up games, informal games, scrimmages, Sunday leagues, Hispanic games, futsal, and expose him playing in different positions and atmospheres, it only benefits.

 

Any one else remember OP bragging about how many goals his son was scoring and wondering if he should give those stats to a new coach? And now he's complaining because he son wants to be a forward and score

Speaking as someone whose son was pigeon holed as CB since U10, I agree it's beneficial to have kids experience multiple positions, INCLUDING goalie.

I disagree (as is normal) with HOW the OP wants to try to accomplish things. "I'm pulling you from the team unless you play midfield"? Sorry, just no.

FWIW, after a couple of bad games this year, DS got moved to LB, spent two games "getting his legs under him", then excelled. So yes, they can learn new position responsibilities late. Not ideal, I agree, but not impossible.

 

As I, and I think others have told you in the past, it might be better if you get your coaching license and take over a team and put your son on it.

Not a single person has said it's a bad idea to have him play other positions. We disagree with your methods. This has been going on for years.

So, assuming you don't want to coach, first, convince your son to try another position. Then have HIM talk to the coach. If he wants you beside him for moral support, that's fine, but you should keep your mouth shut. Yes, ai know that's difficult.

This is not about soccer, but about teaching your son to ask for what he wants and being able to verbalize that. THAT skill will benefit him the rest of his life, more so than anything that will be learned on a pitch, diamond, field, or court.

 

I always find it funny that parents think kids need to play certain positions in the games to develop for those positions. If a kid plays enough pick up games and isn’t stupid, he will already know how to play different positions.
As kids get older, coaches don’t waste their fast kids in the midfield. They would rather have slow kids that can handle the ball in the middle and keep the fast kids out in the wings.
Now if you are a winger and aren’t dumb and take stupid chances, you should be able to transition to midfield effectively. A winger can already dribble the day light out of defenders. A winger can already defend. All you need is just pass the ball quickly. But some kids are not that bright and those are the ones who have trouble in the midfield.

 

If your kid excels in one particular position, he is likely to get stuck there. A lot of CBs get this. Sounds like your son is excellent up top and the main scorer. If he doesn’t put much effort in defending, he will get labeled as a scorer and not get many minutes else where. Perhaps you can ask him to try harder in defense during practice therefore changing the coach’s impression of his defensive work rate.

 

This is an interesting one. I've seen a few cases like this. We have one kid here who was a winger/CM in 7v7, became an CAM in 9v9, then after some coach and team changes, they tried her out at defender. Turns out she was decent at it, and she ends up as permanent CB. Parents kept asking why this kid isn't in midfield with her foot and passing skills, but coach said this her best position and best for the team.

Fast forward a couple years, kid is getting frustrated of playing D only, changes clubs. Ends up right back in CB. Parents apparently got same explanation from the new coach, but clearly not because the kid can't attack—the coach will move her up top if time is winding down and team is desperate for a goal. There are some benefits. The kid never gets subbed and sees a lot of the ball every game. Don't know if some kids just enjoy those positions more, or they just don't care.

 

Actually, if you don't work at least 27.675% of the time at a new position, you'll never learn it. So you'll need to adjust your training.

Again, first convince your kid it would be beneficial to play other positions. Then support him going to the coach and requesting it. Threatening to pull him from the team if he doesn't play mid is the WRONG way to do it.