Equal Playing Time For Players ?

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.

soccerdivahmom22 wrote:

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?  

KeeperCommander wrote:Lets stop talking about participation trophies please. Yes everyone on a team should play. No not every player deserves to get equal playing time. There is a reason there are starters and subs. Subs are not necessarily the mop up crew or entitled to or even equal to most starters. Yes there are some exceptions and I know several myself. However lets stop thinking that all these girls are deserving of more minutes just because they are on the team.

KeeperCommander wrote:Lets stop talking about participation trophies please. Yes everyone on a team should play. No not every player deserves to get equal playing time. There is a reason there are starters and subs. Subs are not necessarily the mop up crew or entitled to or even equal to most starters. Yes there are some exceptions and I know several myself. However lets stop thinking that all these girls are deserving of more minutes just because they are on the team.

ElClassico wrote:So let me get this straight...

Little 11 year old Suzy gets told to man up and deal with this playing time crap herself because she's old enough to deal with this coach's BS even though both her parents fell for his DA line like starving founders.

So coach 1 says that she's missed practice 10 times, doesn't work on her own, can't pass, can't dribble and can't shoot. 

Coach 2 says because she's not good enough and she needs to work harder. However he's really got no clue as in reality she's just as good. He just made a decision at some point and is too stubborn to change.

Coach 3 tells her he is the coach and she shouldn't question him.

Coach 4 says everything 1, 2, and 3 says but plays other girls who are worse because they're friends or their mom is hot.

Coach 5 actually takes time and points out deficiencies in her game and promises playing time if she can improve. She believes him because she's seen it before.

So my question is how do you think your Preteen DD will respond to coaches 1-4?

And how many coach 5's actually exisit in NTX?

dadof3 wrote:

KeeperCommander wrote:Lets stop talking about participation trophies please. Yes everyone on a team should play. No not every player deserves to get equal playing time. There is a reason there are starters and subs. Subs are not necessarily the mop up crew or entitled to or even equal to most starters. Yes there are some exceptions and I know several myself. However lets stop thinking that all these girls are deserving of more minutes just because they are on the team.

Perhaps this wasn't directed at my response, but if so, I must have missed where someone advocated for participation trophies. I answered a direct question about when a DD is to approach a coach to talk. I think pretty much everyone agrees that in select soccer:

1) If you can't find the field you are on the wrong team.
2) Playing time should be offered to all, but some players deserve/earn more.
3) If your DD is unhappy with her PT, then ask the coach why...

Disposessed wrote:Y'all can talk "should" all you want.  I bet everyone of you expect equal playing time for an equal amount of $$$.  And you should as a customer. 

Disposessed wrote:Y'all can talk "should" all you want.  I bet everyone of you expect equal playing time for an equal amount of $$$.  And you should as a customer.  There is a life lesson.  Never met a parent yet that didn't expect it.  Youth pay-to-play is just a service and don't make it out to be more than it is.  When your DD is playing at the privilege of someone that is not beholden to your money, like at school or pros, then you should have no expectations.
Even at the DA level you are doing your DD a disservice if you don't expect 30-40%.  The team is mismanaged if the superstars can play a whole game without taking a break.  

SoccerDad75070 wrote:Ding Ding Ding

If there was not an expectation for their kids, parents would not be one of the major problems with the sport and system.

As long as its a pay (a lot) to play system, you should have an expectation for your payment and efforts. You should not expect equal, but you should expect fair. However, this being 2017, we can have no expectation of reasonable thinking from most.

Now the last bit about the superstars playing every minute is right on. That does not make the team better, limits their development, and does not allow those that do not play to improve. All players should get time at different positions and all players should get rest. Players can only really improve if they get to play, and playing in different roles is how they improve the most.

Disposessed wrote:Y'all can talk "should" all you want.  I bet everyone of you expect equal playing time for an equal amount of $$$.  And you should as a customer.  There is a life lesson.  Never met a parent yet that didn't expect it.  Youth pay-to-play is just a service and don't make it out to be more than it is.  When your DD is playing at the privilege of someone that is not beholden to your money, like at school or pros, then you should have no expectations.
Even at the DA level you are doing your DD a disservice if you don't expect 30-40%.  The team is mismanaged if the superstars can play a whole game without taking a break.  

db10 wrote:Shouldn't expectations of playing time be in tune with the level of the team? Let's be honest, giving player #16 playing time on a D3 team is a bit different than expecting it on a DA team. Maybe we should stop thinking every team in NTX is on the verge of something big and every result is a big deal.