Soccerinsanity wrote:Yesterday a friend was telling me about a coach that told a kid he was too small to play. I know we've had hundreds of discussions that size doesn't/shouldn't matter, that it's skill. The conversation got me wondering, the forum knows that size shouldn't matter, but do the coaches?

How many times have you had a coach talk about your bb's size, either positive or negative?

I can immediately think of two times myself...once negative because he "was too small," and once positive, that "he's going to be big."

I have not had a coach mention it to my kids yet, but I tell them that all the time. I tell them they have to be better than the larger kids because they (my smaller kids) will not get the benefit of the doubt when getting older. It may be unfair, but I actually agree that size does matter and if I were coach, I would take the bigger kid too, all things being equal.

I read on here about a lot parents going on about how their smaller kid got looked over just because he was not big or fast. Well, unfortunately, it helps to be big and fast in soccer. It is not just america either.

My kid brought home a book from the school library the other day called soccer stars. Had all the top players in the world in it. I looked and the average height was 5'11 and about 170 pounds. While not huge, that is not little guy 5'6 either. The exception was Messi. However, most of the strikers were over 6'0 tall, IE Torres 6'3, Ronaldo (Real Madrid one 6'1)

At the end of the day size does matter.

“The people who control the ball very well, they're the most important players,” Cruyff said. “And weak, smaller players, to survive they had to have a better technique than the others. Normally everyone grows -- some a little later, some at different times, but everybody grows. A lot of things will change but the base of soccer is always technique, always should be technique.”

Now in his fourth year as Barcelona's coach, Guardiola's titles include two European Cups, three La Liga titles, a World Club Cup and the Spanish Cup -- with a team famous for 5-foot-7 stars Leo Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

Soccerinsanity wrote:Yesterday a friend was telling me about a coach that told a kid he was too small to play. I know we've had hundreds of discussions that size doesn't/shouldn't matter, that it's skill. The conversation got me wondering, the forum knows that size shouldn't matter, but do the coaches?

How many times have you had a coach talk about your bb's size, either positive or negative?

Not often. But it has occurred.

Was the coach a Classic League level coach or a Rec coach? Did he at least observe the boy with the ball before deciding he didn't want the kid on his squad? He could have turned away the next Messi.

BTW; did anyone notice the 5'2" kid with Toronto FC that shredded FC Dallas at PHP during the CONCACAF Champions League match on Tuesday night. He dribbled right through the FCD Sasquatch in the middle.

Same poop different pile.

"All things are never equal".

It depends on position and style of play. Obviously you can't have a team full of 5"6 players. No matter how technical they are.

Even Barcelona has some big players on their backline. (Busquets, Abidal and Pique)

Big center forwards are necessary. Big central defenders.

Center mids? Maybe defensive mids.

Let's face it. Youth soccer (especially Classic league) is all about bigger, faster and stronger.

Because that wins! But it sure as hell isn't what's best for the players. Especially the big ones.

A smaller kid has to rely on a better first touch, better vision and better overall technique.

I would bet that the only small kids you see on the top teams are both very fast and very skilled. Generally though teams are built around the best athletes (physically mature.)

Let's face it in the bedroom for women it is all about bigger, faster and stronger
Because that wins! But it sure as hell isn't what's best for the men. Especially the big ones.

A smaller man has to rely on a better first touch, better vision and better overall technique.

I would bet that the only small men you see on top are both very fast and very skilled.


oops my bad , soccer forum not maxim forum. i always hit the wrong bookmark. now back to er soccer.....

Ibystander wrote: I'd take the bigger kid also, IF all things were equal. That's not what most of us are disputing. It's when the less talented bigger kid is chosen over the smaller, more technically skilled one that gets people in a tizzy. If given a choice, I'd also choose tall, dark, handsome, and rich guy over the short, dark, handsome, rich guy.

Still looking for a woman that prefers average height, pasty white, meh, and middle class!

scrdad wrote:

Ibystander wrote: I'd take the bigger kid also, IF all things were equal. That's not what most of us are disputing. It's when the less talented bigger kid is chosen over the smaller, more technically skilled one that gets people in a tizzy. If given a choice, I'd also choose tall, dark, handsome, and rich guy over the short, dark, handsome, rich guy.

Still looking for a woman that prefers average height, pasty white, meh, and middle class!

I think Marrissa Tomei (sp?) likes the short, stocky, quirky, bald man that lives with his parents.

***if you are not an avid fan of seinfield the above will make no sense*****

My son's coach for years told him do not rely on your size and speed. He worked hard on first touch and ball skills outside of practice. Good advice as now at U16 he has good size and is still very fast but is never the biggest on the field anymore.

no, but it has to be put out there. if you have a kid who can kick from the 18 upper 90 and another kid one hops it to the keeper. that type of strength is valuable and noticeable. my feeling has always been if you are small, you better be fast and a damn good dribbler. like in basketball, you can't coach tall......

Can't coach fast either.

yep, that either

You have the tall fast guys up front ... the big bruisers in the back ... and in the middle you have the soccer players.

;-D

anselansel wrote:no, but it has to be put out there. if you have a kid who can kick from the 18 upper 90 and another kid one hops it to the keeper. that type of strength is valuable and noticeable. my feeling has always been if you are small, you better be fast and a damn good dribbler. like in basketball, you can't coach tall......

The problem with the comparison with basketball is that soccer is still played on the ground. Lots of tall, fast athletes in this sport who can't play the game.

When comparing apples to apples (ex speed, knowledge and instincts) "big and good" almost always beats "small and good"

I have heard numerous coaches reiterate that. From the club level to the college level

my2cents wrote:My son's coach for years told him do not rely on your size and speed. He worked hard on first touch and ball skills outside of practice. Good advice as now at U16 he has good size and is still very fast but is never the biggest on the field anymore.

My U16B is always the shortest player on the pitch. It has been this way since he started playing 11+ years ago. Luckily, his current coach of 8 years has always told him that height is not an issue if you are technically superior, agressive & have a good work ethic. This advice has served him well as he is able to be a significant contributor to the success of his upper D-1 team.

Soccerinsanity wrote:Lovin' some of the answers...although I'm not certain women would agree that they want a man that is "fast?!"

But only a couple of you have answered the real question: I'm not asking what you think of whether size matters, I'm asking if you've had a coach reference size so that you know it matters to him?
And for the person who asked, the three coaches I referenced (two to my kid and one to my friend's)...all Classic, d1 and d2.

So how many have heard the coach reference it????

I've heard a coach who is considered to be the "top" coach by many say that exact thing.

I agree that many believe size does matter and can be a determining factor in which players are selected. Unfortunately, too much emphasis is placed on that singular physical characteristic. Meanwhile, the US continues to struggle on the international stage. Big, tall, fast people running straight at the goal is not soccer. We are stuck in a rut and digging in deep.

Great point.

Athleticism is important certainly. With speed being the most important. Not height. It helps in certain positions (central defenders) but it isn't a prerequisite.

Technique, brains and then athleticism.

If your first touch sucks and you can't pass...you're done.

If you have great technique but can't apply the skill given the tactical situation...you'll be found out.

If you have great vision and technique, but too slow.....you're done.

As Wenger says, you have to be good at everything and special in one area.

The important thing to remember is this is youth soccer.....they are all works in progress.

my2cents wrote:Can't coach fast either.

I agree. That's the thing. I don't believe athleticism and size are really the primary ingredient in youth club soccer, especially locally, but in school sports and certainly college, those things become primary. That's one of the great advantages and benefits to the club soccer offering. It's open to a wider population of players. I do see the day, however, as soccer becomes more popular, that it begins to be like the others.

Great point.

Athleticism is important certainly. With speed being the most important. Not height. It helps in certain positions (central defenders) but it isn't a prerequisite.

Technique, brains and then athleticism.

If your first touch sucks and you can't pass...you're done.

If you have great technique but can't apply the skill given the tactical situation...you'll be found out.

If you have great vision and technique, but too slow.....you're done.

As Wenger says, you have to be good at everything and special in one area.

The important thing to remember is this is youth soccer.....they are all works in progress.



This is a great post. The funny thing is most kids at 10-11 -12 are the opposite. They have one special thing and then lack in other areas, all works in progress. By the way IMO speed is far more valuable than height...

CLUB31 wrote:speed and quickness can run around size

Any parent of a toddler can attest to this.

starbuck wrote:

my2cents wrote:Can't coach fast either.

I agree. That's the thing. I don't believe athleticism and size are really the primary ingredient in youth club soccer, especially locally, but in school sports and certainly college, those things become primary. That's one of the great advantages and benefits to the club soccer offering. It's open to a wider population of players. I do see the day, however, as soccer becomes more popular, that it begins to be like the others.

I think that is very dependent on where one lives. Anyone can try out for high school sports. Anyone with money can try out for club. That excludes a lot of talented players. Soccer will not become more popular and become like the others until the higher echelon is not so exclusionary. A player can be recruited for all major sports from high school play. Not so for soccer.

soccerisgood123 wrote:Great point.

Athleticism is important certainly. With speed being the most important. Not height. It helps in certain positions (central defenders) but it isn't a prerequisite.

Technique, brains and then athleticism.

If your first touch sucks and you can't pass...you're done.

If you have great technique but can't apply the skill given the tactical situation...you'll be found out.

If you have great vision and technique, but too slow.....you're done.

As Wenger says, you have to be good at everything and special in one area.

The important thing to remember is this is youth soccer.....they are all works in progress.



This is a great post. The funny thing is most kids at 10-11 -12 are the opposite. They have one special thing and then lack in other areas, all works in progress. By the way IMO speed is far more valuable than height...

It is funny that you mention these things. I got this exact feed back from my 14 yr. old (who is a small player) as we discussed an upcoming game. I mentioned a very large, menacing defender that the opposing team had in the back. His comment to me was: "That is the last guy I am worried about. His first touch is bad, Soccer IQ is lacking and is slow on the ball."
So even the kids start to understand and work with what they've got. Eventually, the un-level playing field, due to size levels out and skill starts to take precedence no matter the size. Large or small, tall or short. The bigger kids def. have advantage during younger years though.