Do defenders get recruited???
- Thread starter Carpediem
- Start date
Kicknit22
GOLD
You will likely get a lot of opinions on this, with this just being mine. Major colleges are looking at difference makers on the field. If your kid is a defender that shows a high IQ for the game and has skills to go along with it, they will get attention. Defenders do, however, need to be very vocal and show a that they can get up in attack as well. An awesome forward can go out there and not so much as make a sound, and as long as they are moving and scoring, they are set. Every College coach we have listened to give thier speeches has said, "what are you going to do to stand out?" Colleges want to WIN NOW, so I don't think they are constantly recruiting future projects/converts. A standout forward can't always convert to a fullback and have the same impact, and vice versa. Again, just my opinion.
NoGoal
DA
College coaches recruit defenders, but from what I keep hearing. One of the biggest college needs besides a true striker are wingbacks in a 4-3-3 formation. Where a wingback attacks on the flanks and creates width. It's why many attacking mids and outside forwards are converted as wingbacks in college.
Not many club teams at any level, have their outside defenders dribble down the line, take on a player and get a cross off.
Zerodenero
GOLD
Carp- As Lion confirmed, yes....defenders get recruited by college coaches. Without a doubt.
My committed player has always been a defender. In the wee years she played center back but over time, moved to the outside, pushing the ball up the flank (just as NoGoal described) yet be able to track back (remaining 3 shift to cover) ....this's type of play proved (not all club coaches/team members are comfortable with this) to be attractive to college coaches (D1 - D3).
Looking back at that team, our Goalie was recruited/committed 1st, a quick 2nd was our defensive players who all committed as Sophomores.
Just remember that as your dd starts getting interest, she/you should be diligently watching games/reasearching the rosters of the schools your dd would like to attend/play or is getting interest...... Look for similarities between your dd n said rostered players. Much time/$$ can be saved if this step is taken early in the process.
Good luck to you/your DD!!
Sheriff Joe
DA
Map, Bernie and Nogoal? Now there is quite an odd threesome.
Is this true for the girls side? On the boys side, its a common practice to have the outside backs attack, especially as you've noted on 4-3-3. But even on 4-4-2, the back will streak down the sideline, using give-n-go and get a cross off.
Yes they do recruit defenders. On my older kid's team, who plays 4-3-3, two out of four backs are seniors and they both have been recruited. The other two are juniors and they'll getting lots of interests. The mids, however it appears that there's abundance of, seem to have a harder time.
Thank you for the future words of wisdom ZeroDenero,
We're still in the middle school years and have quite a ways to go but it's always good to hear from those who have been through the process already. Somebody had told us otherwise so we wanted to reach out to the parents of olders.
Thanks for all the responses.
NoGoal
DA
You see less of it on the girls side
Legendary FC
SILVER ELITE
Forwards are a dime a dozen. An elite defender is worth their weight in gold. Anyone that told you that they don't recruit defenders is wrong. The first person committed from my dd's team was a defender and the school that she committed to is one of the best in the country. My advice is to play good soccer, get good grades and reach out to the schools that she can see herself being a student at. Also make sure that she continues to work on her technical skills and her attacking in addition to her communication and 1v1 defending skills. Good luck to your dd.
Lion's DD was recruited as a defender, and is a great one. Didnt hurt that she played on one of the most dominant club teams ever.
If your kid is a great soccer player, get him, or her on the best team that he or she can play on, and let the coaches coach.
The most important thing for a parent, is to be honest with yourself about the ability of your child.
I have one who could play anywhere, and one who is very good, but not D-1 good.
The postition they play doesnt matter, as long as they have the ability to play at the level they are being recruited for, and there are plenty of colleges out there looking for all kinds of players.
I will add, that while your kid is young, encourage them to play all over the field.
A player who can play multiple positions with skill, is valuable.
My oldest has played every postition except keeper, in her time, and can move from holding, to outside, to attacking mid, striker or defender at any time.
I dont know if strikers are a dime a dozen, but I agree with everything else whole heartedly.
Legendary FC
SILVER ELITE
Most recruiting classes are filled with forwards with many being destined to either:
A) Learn a new position
B) Show that you are so much better than what they have they have to play
C) Ride the pine until the more experienced players graduate
D) Transfer
Most often its A, C or D. Wasn't your dd a forward (an exceptional one at that!) and is now a midfielder?
Disagree with this statement. Not clear if you also mean that elite forwards are dime a dozen.
Elite forwards are VERY few and far between. Most forwards don't play a complete game - they don't defend and hold the ball either. Most just chase and shoot the ball, with occasional crosses.
Real forwards create space, open lanes and drag defenders with them so that they provide chances for other attacking players. They are also the first line of defense. And the ability to finish is more mental than physical alone. So many forwards don't finish well and buckle under pressure because there's high expectation of scoring every chance they get.
You rarely see really impressive forwards that plays the complete game with technical skills. They are not dime a dozen in most coaches mind that I am aware of....
My kid is a soccer player.
The only position she really, really, sucks at, is goalie.
She played attacking mid and forward when she was recruited, but loves playing defense as well.
In college she filled in early at holding mid because of starters who suffered injury, and has played mostly in that position through her first two years.
Those players are back now, so she can go forward or back, depending on what the coach needs.
When I was a beginning player in high school, my ever-wise coach made me a forward, a position where a weak player could do the least damage. After several adventures in playing and coaching over the years, I started playing in Sunday pickup games where I thought I would try to learn a tougher position, so I positioned my self as left defender, a spot no one wanted to play.
Zerodenero
GOLD
One of my favorite examples of the above is future Stanford player CM....girlfriend is like a darker shade of cool-hand-luke. She Knows what she can do....and chooses when she wants to do it. Playing around w/d lines then BAAM!!!!.....Top corner of your net.
Sweet to watch....tough to defend.