Training Youth Players in Roles... Yes or No?

[Mallets]

Is it beneficial to train your Youth players in specific roles?

For example, with Liverpool (starting the game), I have Samed Yesil... a Forward, age 18. My thoughts are to train Yesil as a Complete Forward... focusing on several areas. However, should I be more specific, and choose Advanced Forward or Target Man (any other role really)... where he has less skills to concentrate on, thus improving them more.

Lastly, should I avoid specific roles for Youth Players altogether. Even though a role like Complete Forward focuses on over a dozen skills, it leaves out skills like Stamina. Will Yesil basically avoid Stamina training if I ask him to focus on a specific role that doesn't key in on that skill? Definitely don't want that... I like fit players.

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[apvmoreira]

I leave the u-18s training to the proper manager because i think that it's the players that make the tactic and not the ther way around, unless, and this is a big IF, if you want to make a philosophy like Ajax or Barca.

In that case, you train the players to fit the role that they are expected to play. If they turn good, you use, if not you sell.

 

[TheBetterHalf]

It would depend on the player but in generall, I do the following

15-18 years in the U-18, reserves

-Normal training program AND and a individuall training program of a "position" role
These roles are those that have the position name in there role, like Advanced FC, Central MC, BBM, DC, INside FC etc

18-.. in the Reserves-First Team
-Normal training program AND and a individuall training program of a "specialist" role
These roles are those that have their duties in the name, like Poacher, PLaymakers, Ballwinner etc

So in short, first the basics, then they can become specialists