Why is rotating players positions important to their development?

Firstly, I am a huge believer this should be happening with every player at youth level. I am so very passionate on this topic of rotating positions, throughout a players development. I feel you see a lot more and appreciate a lot more of the game playing in different positions! Here are my thoughts...

As a player I played in the majority of attacking positions; striker, winger or 9/7 & 11 as they are familiarly called too. Meaning I saw the game with my back to goal looking head on or looking inside. The one area looking back which I wish I had improved on and learnt more about is the defensive game. I wish my coach played me as a centre back or a full back at times, it would have forced me to learn to defend and appreciate what is needed in these specific positions! Yes, everyone wants to be the hero and score goals, but defenders are heroes too and they don't get the credit they deserve, when was the last time a defender won the Ballon D'or: Cannavaro 2006! 

For young players the advantages of playing in multiple positions and experiment are huge. For example, playing as a goalkeeper you have to learn to play with your hands as well as your feet, understand where to release the ball and where/when/how to start an attack. Goalkeepers are the first line of attack remember! 

As Nick Levett mentions here from his time with the FA... ''For young players, the benefits of playing in different positions are massive. Developing a whole round game understanding is a vital part of the education of young players and something that as adults we can help develop reasonably easily. To develop pictures in your mind of different scenarios linked to things that might occur in the game is really important.'' (N. Levett, 2013)  http://www.thefa.com/news/2013/dec/14/to-stick-or-twist-141213

David Alaba is a perfect example of playing multiple positions at the top level. His adaptability to play #10 for his country, Austria, then go and play more defensively minded roles for his club Bayern is phenomenal. Currently he is filling the role of the left CB whilst players are injured you can read more here. The way the game is going coaches now loo for players who are able to be the playmakers from centre back rather than a physical presence, who can play those line breaking passes, who has the vision and create/start the attack! On the other hand, under Pep at Bayern, he played as an inverted fullback coming inside often and filling a central midfield role where he would dictate. 

Other players which would be good examples would be Philip Lahm, Caesar Azpilcueta from Chelsea who has played numerous roles under different managers, again mainly defensive positions. Eric Dier is another example, under Pochettino he played as a central defensive midfielder, a centre back and also a right back which is all very common if you start as a centre back! 

...but the real question is when do we start to specialise into specific positions? Personally, unless you are an out and out striker/CF or #9 who scores 20+ goals a season I feel your position can always be changing. It all depends on where the player is within their development/age right? Look at Ryan Giggs for example, left wing to centre mid because he no longer had the gas tank...I do feel starting to specialise and focus on at least two positions is important around 13+, here in the US that would be the first year of 11v11 is that too early to specialise positions? The field has just got so much bigger though! To conclude, I thoroughly enjoy trying players in different positions, they learn a whole lot being more uncomfortable. Experimenting all positions is so bloody important. You hear so many coaches say, '' My #9 does this blah blah blah... play best players in best positions'' Alright cool yeah they're doing well at U9 but when they get to 11v11 are they the complete player you want to see? Are they defensively sound? Do they understand the pressure the goalkeeper is always under if he makes a mistake? Do they understand the runs of a striker after playing as a CB? At the end of the day we have to focus on a players development, and ensure they understand the game within all 4 moments.  Feel free to leave comments/feedback, I always enjoy a debate :)