My sons best rugby position

Question
My son is 13 and has been playing for 3 years. He has recently stepped up into a top youth league team in the UK and is on the peripherary of the first team.  He is slight ly above avergae height and weight for his age.  He is quick and has strong stamina (previously a school sprinter).  

The coach has used him at blindide flanker but wasnt getting into the game.

Now in the B team he has been tried at fly half in training and open side flanker and inside centre in matches where he has excelled and been the best player scoring tries from own half.

I am not a rugby man and am confused as to what to advice my son about his best position.  He perhaps has not tried enough positions in the pas to know.  Can anyone give any advice on what to look for in deciding a 13 year olds best position.  

Answer
Hi Jeff,

I think the best way around this problem is to take him to a rugby game, maybe a local school boy or an adult game. Find a good vantage point for both of you and talk to him about what is happening on the field. Ask him what role a Flanker or Fly-half provides for a team.

What, you are looking for. For yourself and your son, is the ability to read the game and the way the game is evolving.

I did this exercise with a small group I was training and they were able to see positions and attack patterns and where they should position themselves in a real game.

Talk to him about how he would approach the different positions and ask him why?

The more he can explain the positions and what the different positions do and how they do it will make it little easier when he is playing a game.

As for being on the periphery of the team, I think he needs to settle on 1 position and own it. (maybe play in 1 position for a season) If he has the ability that you mention, he should be able to cerement his place in no time. With his speed, maybe out on wing or even full back or even at centre.

Ask him what is the most comfortable player position that he enjoys and for him to settle in the position and to play the others out of that position. Every time he goes to training he needs to go with the attitude of owning that position, ask him to watch the others who want to play in that position and to copy and to be better.

Hope that helps, let me know how it goes.

Thanks