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[DontPokeTheBear]

Can kids really be too tall to play soccer? I understand that more "compact" kids can run faster but isnt there a position that a taller child would be more equipped to play?

[Spam in a can]

I sure hope so,  I have a U14 DD who is 5'8" and has a ways yet to grow.  She is forth tallest on her team which include a 6'1" goalie

 A couple of articals said that hight helps in forward and goalie.  One clear advantage she has is heading the ball but she is already taller then most Dive 1 collage players.

[Firedog]

Peter Crouch (6' 7") and David Villa (5' 9") both play forward (not saying equally well mind you).  You find successful players at every position covering the range in height.  Style of play factors in the preferred physical attributes of players.  Teams that primarily keep the ball on the ground necessarily don't need a tall target up front.  That said, a tall central defender or two will give teams the flexibility to defend against teams that like to go up top.  Tall or short, thick or thin, a player needs to have a signature strength that makes them a valuable component of the team they are a part of. 

[SoccerFlicks]

My boys both are over 6 feet - 6'2" at 17 and and 6'1" at 15 and both do well playing.  For one of the teams the height is an advantage especially in the box.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/soccerflicks/4790993038/

Maybe you can pick him out in the photo above.  

[Dragon]

If your kid is taller then Kennard, then they are too tall LOL

[yote19]

I was 6'4" and played college soccer.  Played central defender first two years, center forward third year and center mid my senior season.  there should be no restrictions placed on a player, especially if they enjoy the game and continue to work at making themselves a better player.

[Dragon]

I was 6'4" and played college soccer. 

"Pumps" don't count  

[El Matarife]

Central defenders are also usually tall. 

[Brat Jr]

I was 6'4" and played college soccer. 

Did you shrink Yote?
Too many times that dang Road Runner hit you in the head with the anvil?

[kennard04]

If your kid is taller then Kennard, then they are too tall LOL

 

[Left Foot]

I was at regionals two years ago and noticed how tall the players for the younger SoCal Blues were. I was told that , aside from tryouts, the kids trying out for SoCal must be a minimum height. Don't know if it is true but stranger things have happened.

[yote19]

I was 6'4" and played college soccer. 

Did you shrink Yote?
Too many times that dang Road Runner hit you in the head with the anvil?

Back surgery!!!

[Brat Jr]

I was 6'4" and played college soccer. 

Did you shrink Yote?
Too many times that dang Road Runner hit you in the head with the anvil?

Back surgery!!!

OUCH!

[ShelbyJ]

One reason I love soccer is that height/body shape doesn't have the same impact here. One of my daughters is really short--she just never grew! We were pretty sure she would be out of soccer by the time she was U15 or 16 when the bigger girls seemed to be dominating, but she remained a defender all her years and through Division 1 college ball at barely over 5 feet and never weighing more than 110 lbs. But she had to work very hard to overcome the initial assumption that she was too short to play well, and I think very tall players have the same issue. You see someone 6' 6" and think, "they won't be fast." Every position on the field is different and requires different things. I will say though that my DD had skills to compensate for being short--like great speed. On corner kicks, the two central backs (at 5-10 and 5-11) went to help head the ball and she was left the lone defender because she could catch people on a breakaway. Don't let size keep your child out of soccer!!

[hulabaloo]

Well it goes with saying but if the clouds or your big feet make it where you cannot see the ball then your too tall for soccer.  Kennard is almost there.   Have a good weekend everyone.  Spending my at the Vancouver Summer Slam and working.

[Furyous]

One reason I love soccer is that height/body shape doesn't have the same impact here. One of my daughters is really short--she just never grew! We were pretty sure she would be out of soccer by the time she was U15 or 16 when the bigger girls seemed to be dominating, but she remained a defender all her years and through Division 1 college ball at barely over 5 feet and never weighing more than 110 lbs. But she had to work very hard to overcome the initial assumption that she was too short to play well, and I think very tall players have the same issue. You see someone 6' 6" and think, "they won't be fast." Every position on the field is different and requires different things. I will say though that my DD had skills to compensate for being short--like great speed. On corner kicks, the two central backs (at 5-10 and 5-11) went to help head the ball and she was left the lone defender because she could catch people on a breakaway. Don't let size keep your child out of soccer!!

Absolutely!  Work your strengths.  This is certainly a sport that levels the playing field.

[TheWarpedDog]

I was 6'4" and played college soccer. 

"Pumps" don't count  

LMAO...love pumps...but on Yote?  And you know of it??  Hmmm..