Benefits of Playing in Multiple Positions

Developing positional awareness

In youth football, players often get placed in positions based on their physical attributes – the speedy child more often than not is a winger or striker, the tall kid is a defender or goalkeeper, and so on. These generalisations can be very detrimental to the development of the player.

‘He is definitely a defender’ - ‘She is unquestionably our striker’ - How many times have we heard this in grassroots football?

At a young age, if you label a player to a specific position then what’s the problem? Limiting young players to specific positions too early might only expose that child to the technical and tactical qualities required for that specific position instead of affording them the opportunity to develop a more rounded football education and a deeper understanding of different positional requirements, which will only develop the child further.

Benefits of playing in multiple positions

For young players, the benefits of playing in different positions are huge and so evident to see as players grow up. Developing a whole round game understanding is a vital part of the education of young players and something that as coaches we can help develop reasonably easily. It can certainly be a tough decision for a coach to play players in different positions, especially if the game is in the balance. This view point goes back to our previous blog on winning V development; Should we as coaches prioritise the win, or the development of the player?

To develop pictures in your mind of different scenarios linked to things that might occur in the game is really important. For example, as a youth player I played primarily as a left winger and always hugged the side-lines where I felt most comfortable. One day my coach asked me to play centre back and I was completely lost in this new position. The thought of heading the ball, tackling and reading dangerous attacks was alien to me. As the games went by, I started adding different technical and tactical qualities to my game and saw the game in a different way. The following season I played as a central midfielder, which requires a total 360 vision of the game. Playing as a defender certainly helped me physically with my new position. Central midfield is where I ended up as an adult. By having the opportunity to explore new positions, I developed into a far more compete player and the coach knew I was more than capable in various positions!

How many positions should a youth player play?

There is no definitive answer to this and it all boils down to whether the coach is a results driven or development driven coach. The question I would ask any coach of youth football is, what is the harm of rotating players in new positions from an early age? I wonder if a successful grassroots team that is playing the same players in the same position week in week out would be brave enough to change things up and challenge the players to play in new positions?

As a grassroots coach, if you ignore the result and rotate positions to help players develop into a more complete player then logic dictates that when they get to the adult game, they will have learned to play in every area of the pitch which throws up different challenges. We need to allow players the flexibility and freedom to play in different positions and ensure they recognise that it is in their best interests of helping them get better. As a coach, that is our fundamental role, to focus on the long term player development.

Notable examples

Gareth Bale: left back to left winger to striker

Cristiano Ronaldo: Right Winger, Left Winger, Striker

Phillip Lahm: Right back to Centre Midfield

Daryl Moore: Centre back, striker, goal keeper

Denerson Moreira: Left back, Left winger, Centre midfield

Alan Shearer: Goalkeeper to striker