One reason I'm a big advocate for kids playing for their school is because they are much more likely to end up playing pickup with teammates from their HS and even MS team.
I agree that this is ideal at the younger ages but I think this is a unicorn situation. People talk about it but I haven't seen one in real life. I'm 5-6 years in club soccer journey between my kids. At the highest levels, I just haven't seen kids playing different positions in meaningful ways. Sure, there's some wingers who will give the striker a break for a few mins. Or CM who goes out and then comes back into relieve the outside mid/winger a little bit. But most of them play their primary positions pretty much the whole season.
As a D1 athlete, my child played Striker, Outside Forward, Wing, Attacking Mid, Holding Mid, 8, and Left and Right Back. The only positions not played over the years were Center Back and Keeper. Some were only a game or two (or 10 minutes at right back when she tried a Cruyff in her own box and turned it over), but she was recruited as a 9, and once another competent 9 came in, the more flexible player was moved around. She is one of schools leaders in games and minutes played, so it was not just a case of filling in, this was a starter who played non stop, including averaging over 90 minutes a game one season.
Hadn't thought about it that way, but in one year so far at a DIII, my son has been a CB, left wingback (they play a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2) and a 6. Versatility can be a plus.
I've found that it's less game to game changes, but more season to season until strengths/fit are identified. My younger son played out wide last spring, then was a CB over the summer and then was a left back for the majority of the fall/spring seasons. Our CB last spring is now a 6/8, our striker over the summer is now the RB and our center mid last spring is now playing on the wing. But I do think positions are starting to get locked down to some extent (stated goal of the club is to be able to play 2 positions (70/30 split) and understand 2 systems by U16).
Just a bit of philosophical meandering on Monday morning... My youngest kid has been bouncing between a "wing" on the left and right (9v9 so not a true wing) and a center mid. He likes to be in the mid since in his words "that's where the ball is". However, I got him to open up a little and talk honestly about the positions. He said that any spot including defense (except a keeper) would be fine with because "I just like to play". That's from a kid who was a top scorer on his youth team in the Fall and last year (I do realize it means very little at this age long term). It was like "chicken soup" for a soccer parent's soul to hear this. I hope I can help him retain this view long term. So maybe this is the answer - primarily concentrate on kid's love for the game , especially at the young age. I am not dismissing importance of developing skills, finding the best position (although this changes based on team personnel, coach, etc.), natural talent, and so on. It's a complex equation, but the most common variable is loving the most beautiful game.
I was hoping he could play at a very high level eventually because I think he has the potential, but unfortuantely in our situation the mom is a head wind in his progress as she just doesn't care about soccer. She loves baseball though. And there's only so much I can do. Ideally both parents would support what is best for the kid. He likes soccer the most but again, to be pragmatic in terms of scheduling and costs, both parents need to move it the same direction. So my newest thought is maybe he'll play both baseball and soccer in high school (as opposed to club soccer w/ MLS Next in which case I think you can't play other HS sports). Maybe I'll coach his HS team. I have a few years to prepare. I think he would have fun playing for his HS; but I wonder if that will hurt his development and chances of playing in college.
Playing in HS will NOT hurt his chances of playing in college. Might it hurt chances of playing for a particular school? Slight chance, but doubtful. Of course, we're talking 10 years down the road and who knows what the college landscape will look like then.
Academies care about HS vs club, but most colleges don't. My son got recruited for his college through his HS coach. I believe I've already mentioned that my son was injured his entire Jr. year so he missed a lot of college recruiting opportunities through his club (and frankly, he didn't care much about either club nor college by that point).
Just wanted to put in my two-cents, as a parent of a few years older winger/wingback on an MLS academy. My son has played everywhere for his club, but has recently settled to playing on both wide areas of the pitch. There are other players on his team that have been exclusively wingers since the U9 age. It's hard to say which player has the advantage. The dedicated wingers all are very good at 1v1 and taking players on, while my son has a more well-rounded game and is more versatile. U10 is probably too young to specialize, unless your son is the very best at that particular position and by very best I mean best in the age-group/league/state. There's a chance that your son can lock down a spot on a high-level team and be a first-choice player for awhile. Aside from goalkeepers though, through the years of the academy, there are only 3-4 players in the year group out of 20+ that have stayed in the same positions since U10. If there was one position that would be helpful just to train in, it might be midfield, to get the 360 view of the field and to learn how to play under pressure and receive a ball with contact and play quickly. But I'm not a soccer coach and just a dad.
Thanks for sharing your 2 cents. It is good information coming from someone who is going through it in real time. Do you see any pattern around certain positions in youth transitioning to certain positions in teens? eg, do wingers turn into fullbacks? Midfielder to striker? etc... or does it seem to be random?
Think most of the changes have been to fit the players' strengths. We had one defender become the striker and wingers become midfielders and midfielders become defenders. No real pattern. Sometimes the coaches will want to challenge players by playing them out of position in a few games, but an actual position change is usually gradual. During U10 - U13 position probably doesn't matter much, but by U14 there should be a position that your son is the best at and can make the most difference in. Depending on the team, there's also competition for places. One more thing I can share is that almost everyone on our academy came in as "the man" on their old teams and played as center mids or strikers and most have had to adapt to other spots on the field. I'm ok with the position change because it means my son gets to play more and start most games, which might not be the case if he had stayed as a center mid.