7v7•U10•Player Development

My son only wants to play on the right

Asked by RachelInLiverpool

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He is happy at right midfield or right defender but gets annoyed if he is put on the left, even though the role is basically similar. I do not want to make positions feel fixed at U10. Would you keep moving him across both sides, or let him build confidence where he already feels comfortable?

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VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA C Coach

Younger-player confidence, behaviour, parents and communication

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I would keep giving him experiences on both sides, but I would not turn the left side into a weekly battle. At U10, preference is normal. He probably feels more certain about where the touchline is, which foot he wants to receive on and what pictures he expects on the right. Use the comfortable side to build confidence, then introduce the other side in smaller doses: part of training, a short spell in a match or a role where he has a familiar teammate near him. I would also ask him what feels different rather than assuming he is just being stubborn. The aim is not to prove he can play everywhere. It is to stop “I’m a right-sided player” becoming a limit before he has had enough experiences to know what suits him.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 6 replies

Andy_44

Parent

I would also ask why he hates the left. Our lad was not bothered by the side itself, he just hated receiving with his back to the teammate he normally combined with.

LF_78

Parent

This is why I would ask the child. Adults can label it as a positional preference when the real issue is one teammate, one foot or one starting picture.

GreenCap

Coach

I would keep moving him, but not every ten minutes. A full block on one side gives him time to solve the different picture rather than just feel uncomfortable.

AdamW

Coach

Agree with the block idea. Constant swapping can look like variety to us but feel like they never settle long enough to learn anything.

VickyInGuildford

Parent who also coaches

My son did this with the left side for months. We stopped making it a big thing and just gave him short spells there. Once he stopped expecting it to be a test, he was much more relaxed.

CharlieInOxford

Parent

How long did you keep the spells? Ours gets frustrated if the change happens mid-match, but I think a whole quarter might feel more predictable.