Youth football (soccer) development is more than just putting a kid on the field and expecting him to improve over time. Tracking their progress and development in a structured and site-specific manner is essential to ensure they develop into well-rounded players.
Both parents and coaches play a vital role in this process, guiding players to success by focusing on the skills and attributes required for their job.
In this guide, we’ll break down how to assess and track the development of youth football players by position, ensuring your child is on the right path to success.
Before we dive deep, if you’re not sure if your child is playing in the right position, be sure use our Position Referer for Youth Football Players to find the perfect role for your young footballer.
Why There Are Position Specific Development Courses in Youth Football (Soccer)
In football, each position requires different skills, physical attributes, and tactical awareness. Whether your child is a striker, a defender, a midfielder or a goalkeeper, their development path will vary greatly.
By focusing on the specific demands of each job, you can ensure that they are developing in the areas that matter most.
For example, a striker must focus on accuracy and shot placement, while a midfielder should prioritize running and vision.
As a parent or coach, it is essential to adapt training and development plans to where your child plays.
Related Reading: To go deeper into why it’s important to identify the right site early, see our article on Why Finding the Right Football Job Early Matters for Youth Development.
Key Development Areas to Track by Status
Let’s explore the key areas to focus on when tracking development in youth football:
Physical Development
Every job has different physical demands. For example, defenders may need more strength, while wings rely on speed and agility.
Here is a breakdown of physical requirements by location:
| Position | Key Physical Characteristics |
|---|---|
| goalkeeper | Reflexes, exercise, height |
| Defendant | Strength, tackle, speed |
| Midfielder | Stamina, running, exercise |
| Striker/Forward | Speed, strength, finishing |
To track progress, consider using physical tests such as sprint timing, endurance challenges, and strength assessments.
Further Reading: For drills that improve physical abilities based on position, explore our guide to How to Train Your Speed and Agility Based on Football Positions.
Development of Technical Skills
Technical development involves mastering the core skills required for a job. A central defender must be adept at tackling and heading, while a winger should focus on dribbling and crossing.
Key Technical Skills by Position:
| Position | Technical Core Skills |
|---|---|
| goalkeeper | Handle, distribute, stop firing |
| Defendant | Address, heading, location |
| Midfielder | Passing, vision, ball control |
| Striker/Forward | Shooting, dribbling, positioning |
Success rates may need to be recorded during training sessions to track technical skills (eg passing accuracy for midfielders or goalkeeper saves).
Related Content: Learn about essential technical drills for different roles in our article 13 Football Positional Drills to Improve Skills by Role.
Tactical Awareness
A player’s ability to understand their positional responsibilities and adapt to the flow of the game is critical to tactical development.
For example, defenders must read the game well and position themselves strategically, while attackers should focus on exploiting space and timing their passes.
Position-Specific Tactical Milestones:
| Position | Tactical Awareness |
|---|---|
| goalkeeper | Location, communication with defendants |
| Defendant | Marking, tracking back, organizing the back line |
| Midfielder | Game vision, dictated play, transitional play |
| Striker/Forward | Movement off the ball, use of space |
A great way to assess tactical awareness is to analyze games, reviewing key moments where a player’s positioning, movement or decision-making influenced the game.
For more information on building tactical knowledge, see our article on How to Improve Youth Soccer Tactics: Coaching Positive Play.
Tools for Assessing Youth Football Development
Assessing player development doesn’t have to be complicated. There are plenty of tools available for parents and coaches to track progress:
- Training Journals – Players can document their training performance, drills and key areas of improvement.
- Progress Charts – These allow you to visually track progress over time across different areas (physical, technical and tactical).
- Applications – Football training apps can be used to monitor metrics such as speed, agility and game performance.
And don’t forget to use our Youth Football Player Position Recommender make sure your baby is developing in the right position!
How to Set Development Goals for Youth Footballers
Setting developmental goals ensures that your child stays motivated and focused on improvement. These goals should be specific to the position they play:
- Short Term Goals – For a defender, a short-term goal may improve the success rate in the coming weeks.
- Long Term Goals – For a midfielder, a long-term goal could be to increase passing accuracy to over 90% by the end of the season.
Further Reading: Discover drills to help set and achieve these goals in our article on 9 Essential Drills for Young Footballers to Develop Ball Control.
Progress Monitoring Through Matching Displays
Match performances provide valuable insights into player development. As a coach or parent, you should monitor position-specific metrics during games:
- Defendants: The number of tackles made, interceptions and clearances.
- Middle of the field: Running accuracy, key passes, and ball recovery.
- Strikers: Shots on target, goals scored, and movement off the ball.
This match-based analysis helps provide a comprehensive view of your child’s development across training sessions.
Common Challenges In Tracking Development By Position
Misalignment between Strengths and Player Position
One of the biggest challenges parents and coaches face is mistaking a player’s strengths for their position. If a child is struggling to develop or does not seem to enjoy their position, it may be time to reassess.
Solution: Use the Job Recommender Tool to reassess your child’s position and see if they would be more suitable elsewhere.
For more guidance on finding the right site, read our article How to Identify Your Child’s Strengths for the Right Football Position.
Transfer Between Posts
If your child is moving from one place to another, it can be difficult to track development as they will need to learn new skills. Patience is key, and the right training plan can ease this transition.
Related Reading: Our guide on How to Transfer Between Football Positions offers practical tips to help with this process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How often should I assess my child’s football development? Assessing your child’s development should be an ongoing process. Weekly reviews based on training and matching performances can help track consistent progress.
Q2: What should I do if my child is not developing in his current state? If your child is not improving, consider reassessing their position. Use our Youth Football Player Position Referrer to see if another job is a better fit for their strengths.
Q3: How can I set appropriate development goals for my child? Job-specific development goals can be short-term or long-term. For example, a striker may be aiming to improve their shot accuracy, while a defender may be aiming to improve their tackle success rate. Always make sure these goals are measurable and achievable.
Key Street Shops
| Main area | Tracking Method |
|---|---|
| Physical | Use fitness tests, fitness drills |
| Technical | Track passing accuracy, assists, shots on goal |
| Tactical | Match analysis, positioning during play |
| Mentally | Attitude during training and games |
For a more tailored guide to youth football development by position, visit Premier League Fantasy Tips and News and explore our comprehensive resource library.
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