Position Specific Development
(When to Start To Specialise)
Football is a sport that requires players to have a range of different skills, from dribbling and passing to shooting and defending. As a result, coaches and trainers often debate at what age it is best for players to specialise in a particular position.
There are many arguments for and against specialising early on in a particular position. Some coaches believe that it is important for young players to experience different positions to develop a range of skills and a greater understanding of the game. This approach allows players to discover their strengths and weaknesses and helps them to develop their decision-making abilities on the field.
However, others argue that by focusing on a specific position at an early age, players can more effectively hone their skills and become experts in that particular position. Specialising in a particular position can also help players develop tactical awareness and positional sense, which are critical in competitive matches.
So, what age is best for players to specialise in a particular position? While there is no definitive answer, most experts agree that players should be given the opportunity to test out a range of positions before making a decision. This allows players to discover their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their preferences, before choosing a position that suits them most.
Experts also recommend that players begin to specialise in a particular position around the age of 12 or 13. This is because children around this age begin to develop a better understanding of the game and are able to more effectively learn and apply the skills and tactics required for a specific position.
It is also important to note that flexibility and adaptability are still critical in football, even for players who have specialised in a particular position. Coaches will often require players to switch positions during a match to adjust to changing circumstances, so it is essential for players to continue to develop their skills even after specialising in a particular position.
In conclusion, while there are arguments for and against specialising early on in a particular position in football, it is generally recommended that players have the opportunity to experience a range of positions before making a decision. Once players have a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and are able to apply the skills and tactics required for a particular position, then they can begin to specialise around the age of 12 or 13. However, it is important for players to continue developing their skills even after specialising in a particular position, as flexibility and adaptability are still critical in the sport.
As mentioned, there are NO set requirements though a flexible framework to work to are as follows.
Framework
U9/10’s (Rotation): Each player over the course of two games will play most of the positions available to them or that their skill set allows. If a player has more defensive attributes, then attacking it might be best to build up their confidence and technical ability to ones that are suiting their physiological and psychological characteristics.
U11/12’s (Unit Rotation): Each player will start to play within a sceptic unit of the game across a few games, a central defender could play in the fullback/wingback roles as well as a defensive midfielder role. This will allow them to understand what the positions around them need when receiving or what their view of the pitch would be and how they would interpret the game.
U13/14’s (Versatile): Players will now need to cut down their positions into a few specific roles within the team, for example the midfielder may play as a pivot midfielder or attacking midfielder though won’t be moved into a wide position where the physiological characteristics differ.
U15/16’s (Early Specialists): This is where players will need to become more specialist and hone in on the technical and tactical attributes to become a specialist within their preferred role.
U18’s+ (Late Specialists): Though positions and formations will ever evolve, and new ideologies will change what characteristics are required to play in certain roles it is a good idea for U18’s to be playing their preferred choice of roles though having a secondary position as a backup. Players will continue to develop, they will need to dominate and become the best at what they can do and build up a reputation to be suited and trusted in them roles.
A contradiction to the position specific development is how Pep Guardiola has evolved players roles within his sides though throughout all these players repositioning it has taken time and development on a fulltime programme to get them to that stage. Javier Mascherano played in midfield for Barcelona before Guardiola moved him into his back line and accompanied him with players that reflect his attributes. This was the same with how he has repositioned John Stones throughout the 2022 / 23 season, and how Jurgen Klopp has provided Trent Alexander-Arnold a new role within his midfield towards the later stages of Liverpool’s season.
* We recommend rotating players over the course of 2 games rather than one. Judge your games programme and see when it is best to play X player in a specific position to maximise their development plan.
Author: S. Noakes
Further Reading
