Equal Playing Time For Players ?

Opening this dialogue for a friend. At what age (if any) do you feel (as a parent OR coach),
that players minutes in a game should be based on what they produce on the field. And if willing, please reply if your a parent or coach so we can get a perspective from both. Me personally, I feel that all players on a team SHOULD have "some" game time, but I do feel that the more you produce, the more playing time. And I feel this should start at the Select age. And I'm a parent.

Parent, as soon as we start paying thousands of $, playing time should be based on merit.

Just my opinion...if a player is "good enough" to be on the team, the player should get some field time. If the player is holding the team back or can't keep up with the rest of the team, I think it is ridiculous for a coach to sign this player knowing they won't ever play. That said, the amount of play time a player gets should be based on merit.

I am not talking about winning here. However as soon as you start talking about paying this kind of money then best players will get the majority of playing time. If you want starter minutes then you may have to jump down a notch to get it. If you are on a top team and are getting 10 minutes a game you should rethink why you wanted on that team.

50/50 play is for rec soccer at every age, if you play club at any age it is with the understanding that 50/50 play doesn't apply. If you think it does, it means your DD may need a more developmental minded team...

Parent of 2 girls (1 teenage and one 2nd yr select). Playing time is based on merit but at academy/1st year select, developmental girls (kids who are not quite at the level of the team) should be given quality playing time vs. minutes. What I mean by this is playing time should be based on the level of play in the game you are playing on a particular week. Less time should be given when playing more competitive teams and more time when playing teams at your DD level.

Once you get into 2nd year select, playing time is earned based on capability and effort in practice. Attitude and ability is key to getting on the pitch. At U12 and above it's all about a girl putting her skill and will into the game to make a difference and sacrifice for the team.

Parent - Once they get to Select level

When the first FBR is published.

KeeperCommander wrote:I am not talking about winning here. However as soon as you start talking about paying this kind of money then best players will get the majority of playing time. If you want starter minutes then you may have to jump down a notch to get it. If you are on a top team and are getting 10 minutes a game you should rethink why you wanted on that team.

Agree.

The complication is a 'pay to play' system and the fact you are locked in for a year so you don't have the option to step down for a year. The coach has all the power.

If you change the commitment to allow a player to opt out and step down a level at any point, the dynamics would be much different.

Lefty wrote:

KeeperCommander wrote:I am not talking about winning here. However as soon as you start talking about paying this kind of money then best players will get the majority of playing time. If you want starter minutes then you may have to jump down a notch to get it. If you are on a top team and are getting 10 minutes a game you should rethink why you wanted on that team.

Agree.  

The complication is a 'pay to play' system and the fact you are locked in for a year so you don't have the option to step down for a year.  The coach has all the power.

If you change the commitment to allow a player to opt out and step down a level at any point, the dynamics would be much different.

I am sure 99% of all parents understand this. It is the few that think Sally is better than she is and then bitch that she is not getting equal time to show it. Too bad that some clubs determine playing time instead of the coaches. By that I mean they stipulate a certain roster level that each team must meet. Thus decreasing the playing time for players say 16-18 of those 18 player max rosters. Players 1-15 get 85% of minutes or more. 16-18 made the roster to max out the revenue and possibly allow for a scholarship. Now imagine soccer was like Select basketball and how they are not bound by any means.

Hersoccerdad wrote:Opening this dialogue for a friend.  At what age (if any) do you feel (as a parent OR coach),
that players minutes in a game should be based on what they produce on the field. And if willing, please reply if your a parent or coach so we can get a perspective from both. Me personally, I feel that all players on a team SHOULD have "some" game time, but I do feel that the more you produce, the more playing time. And I feel this should start at the Select age. And I'm a parent.

Oh I am a parent. Explain what you mean by some game time. I would say a very select few players do not see any game time during the course of a game. As players get older then they may be a touch more prevalent than I would realize but I would think that most players get some. Now if by some you mean significant then that is different.

KeeperCommander wrote:I am not talking about winning here. However as soon as you start talking about paying this kind of money then best players will get the majority of playing time. If you want starter minutes then you may have to jump down a notch to get it. If you are on a top team and are getting 10 minutes a game you should rethink why you wanted on that team.

Couldnt agree more. Experience has shown me that the higher the league the team plays at the lower the chances are there is an equal distribution of playing time. Exceptions exist of course where say a team has 15 equally skilled players that are ECNL caliber. Aparent should also keep in mind the coach plays matchups. A physical opponent or extremely fast opponent he or she may set a lineup to counter accordingly.

But in a general sense being on a top team getting 10 minutes a game or not playing at all is detrimental to a kids psyche and confidence no matter how much parenting and life lesson messages you can impart on your DD. They are still kids. They lack the perspective that comes with age. My advice be honest with yourself and have direct conversation with your coach before you sign and sign with a team where your kid will play a lot. If they dominate at a lower level then youll know they are ready for a higher level of competition. Until then keep them on a team where they can play a lot.

I'm going to throw a bit of a wrench into this...

I believe that every player on the team should get a minimum amount of minutes in the game PER SEASON.

1. We (coaches, parents, players) all admit that game experience is crucial to development
2. Not every game comes down to one players performance for 10 minutes. There are blowouts both ways every season. This is a prime opportunity to "clear the bench"
3. The player was good enough to make the team. Thus she should be good enough to make the field.
4. Parents are paying to coach to develop their DD so by the end of the year she should be a better player than when she started, if not the coach did not do their job.
5. The player needs positive reinforcement for their work in practice. If they don't see it they WILL shut down. Watch the bench on bad teams with bad coaches and you will usually see distant looks from the players on the bench. They simply don't care.
6. If a coach doesn't rotate players the starters will wear down both physically and mentally especially the younger you get. Very few players can make a full game on the field.
7. We are told every day that youth soccer is about development. Having a player sit on the bench does not develop them.
8. Rotating players gives a good coach time to coach the players coming off the field. only joystick coaches need to pay full attention to the field every moment.
9. Rotating players allow players to learn all positions which many experts say develop better all around players. Who knows, maybe that back up striker is the best CB on the team?
10. $$$$

All this being said I fully agree a player needs to work for their playing time as it instills drive and competition.

ElClassico wrote:I'm going to throw a bit of a wrench into this...

I believe that every player on the team should get a minimum amount of minutes in the game PER SEASON.

1. We (coaches, parents, players) all admit that game experience is crucial to development
2. Not every game comes down to one players performance for 10 minutes. There are blowouts both ways every season. This is a prime opportunity to "clear the bench"
3. The player was good enough to make the team. Thus she should be good enough to make the field.
4. Parents are paying to coach to develop their DD so by the end of the year she should be a better player than when she started, if not the coach did not do their job.
5. The player needs positive reinforcement for their work in practice. If they don't see it they WILL shut down. Watch the bench on bad teams with bad coaches and you will usually see distant looks from the players on the bench. They simply don't care.
6. If a coach doesn't rotate players the starters will wear down both physically and mentally especially the younger you get. Very few players can make a full game on the field.
7. We are told every day that youth soccer is about development. Having a player sit on the bench does not develop them.
8. Rotating players gives a good coach time to coach the players coming off the field. only joystick coaches need to pay full attention to the field every moment.
9. Rotating players allow players to learn all positions which many experts say develop better all around players. Who knows, maybe that back up striker is the best CB on the team?
10. $$$$

All this being said I fully agree a player needs to work for their playing time as it instills drive and competition.

1-9 only work out this way if player actually made the team that fits her the best. The coach takes players that actually come out to tryouts. If coach wants 18 players and 19 come out then only one is sent away. Leaving the question did the right 18 make the team. Prob not it was just the 18 that came out.
That being said if a team with 18 truly great players, there needs to be a little congruency with the playing time, and yes they have to/should earn it.

IMO if the coach, who's getting paid tens of thousands, picks 18 then those are the "right players". He's supposedly the expert so he should be fine with it.

Why shouldn't he be fine with it. A coach would rather have the 18 great players. But now he has to satisfy 18 players with PT. Sometimes it isn't the right players. It's the only players. Take a look at some of those DA rosters. You will find a good many players still happy and content on ECNL. Those DA coaches didn't get all the right players, they just got the ones that showed up. Some older age groups excluded.

First, let's not make every conversation into one about DA. The majority of the girls are playing D2 and D3 and those teams are under a lot less pressure to win.

Second, if you're a coach who takes a girl who you have no intention of playing...you're an ass and in whole scheme of things you shouldn't be coaching.

ElClassico wrote:First, let's not make every conversation into one about DA. The majority of the girls are playing D2 and D3 and those teams are under a lot less pressure to win.

Second, if you're a coach who takes a girl who you have no intention of playing...you're an ass and in whole scheme of things you shouldn't be coaching.

I agree with both. However the DA was just an example. As far as the second one, yes that makes him less an admirable coach and more just part of the big problem.

Ask the coach BEFORE you sign where he projects her on the roster, and hold him to his words. All kids should play SOME or she shouldn't be on that team. If there is a pattern of benching or NO explanation why she is benched, then discuss it with coach. You CAN always move team-may be more expensive or whatever, but if the kid hates soccer, it isn't worth being on that team.

Sho'Nuff wrote:When the first FBR is published.

You are absolutely correct!

Just don't join an academy or select team that has more than 12 for 9v9. Pretty simple.

dadof3 wrote:Ask the coach BEFORE you sign where he projects her on the roster, and hold him to his words. All kids should play SOME or she shouldn't be on that team. If there is a pattern of benching or NO explanation why she is benched, then discuss it with coach. You CAN always move team-may be more expensive or whatever, but if the kid hates soccer, it isn't worth being on that team.

Quick question to add to this conversation, at what age does your DD become responsible for her soccer development. By that I mean, when do we as parents back away and have DD talk to the coach herself if she is concerned about playing time or what she needs to do to improve and obtain more field time?

1st year select. Coaches really don't care about what the parents think anyway.. If the player wants on the field she needs to bring it in practice and make sure she executes on what the coach wants her to execute. Practice hard, play hard, and minimize mistakes and the player will stay on the field as long as she can run. Otherwise, she will spend minutes on the bench until she is able to do what coach wants her to do.

TxFutbal wrote:1st year select.  Coaches really don't care about what the parents think anyway..  If the player wants on the field she needs to bring it in practice and make sure she executes on what the coach wants her to execute.  Practice hard, play hard, and minimize mistakes and the player will stay on the field as long as she can run.  Otherwise, she will spend minutes on the bench until she is able to do what coach wants her to do.

Thanks, I agree completely but I have only heard ONE parent in my DD's 5 years of Club play agree with me on that. I always told DD that she plays soccer, I don't. I am her taxi and bank, not her voice.

melashbrew wrote:Just my opinion...if a player is "good enough" to be on the team, the player should get some field time. If the player is holding the team back or can't keep up with the rest of the team, I think it is ridiculous for a coach to sign this player knowing they won't ever play. That said, the amount of play time a player gets should be based on merit.

Agreed!
I think there's a difference in rec soccer/ vs competitive soccer. If you are paying to be on a competitive team then I feel it is the coach's duty to only sign quality/ qualified players. This is my biggest concern with newly signing my daughter on a competitive academy team. I see players on her team that frankly- are NOT good. It will be telling to see if the coach is more selective this summer when select tryouts begin. If they sign all existing players from the academy team then our fears will come true- they are money hungry and not picking the best players to round out the team.

On rec- I think you should play everyone. Maybe not an equal amount of time but everyone should get their chance.

Parent