Hot topic - Playing Time

[Guest]

Player A:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and goes through the motions at practice.
- Does not touch a soccer ball outside of training.
- Enjoys their winters and summers away from soccer

Player B:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve, but isn't there physically or mentally at their given age.
- Does not touch a soccer ball outside of training.
- Enjoys their winters and summers away from soccer

Player C:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve, but isn't there physically or mentally at their given age
- Juggles or passes a ball on their own at home
- Enjoys their winters and summers playing soccer in alternate leagues.

Player D:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve and does so.
- Goes to supplemental training twice a week
- Juggles and passes a ball on their own at home
- Enjoys their winters and summers playing soccer in alternate leagues.


Players A-D play for the same club team in hopes to play at a competitive level:
- Who gets more playing time?
- What options do players who see less playing time have to get more time?
- Are the coaches to blame for playing time?
- Are the kids to blame for playing time?
- Is it fair to have uneven playing time?
- Is it fair to have even playing time?
- Should player A look to move to a lower team?
- Should player D look to move to a higher team?

[Guest]

The players that make his/her teammates more successful. Nobody is owed playing time.

[Guest]

There's a team and skill level for everyone. Coaches need to be more transparent about playing time and parents need to be more realistic about their kids ability.

[Guest]

Don't you need 11 players on the field? They should all be playing if there are only 4.

[Guest]

Player A:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and goes through the motions at practice.
- Does not touch a soccer ball outside of training.
- Enjoys their winters and summers away from soccer

Player B:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve, but isn't there physically or mentally at their given age.
- Does not touch a soccer ball outside of training.
- Enjoys their winters and summers away from soccer

Player C:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve, but isn't there physically or mentally at their given age
- Juggles or passes a ball on their own at home
- Enjoys their winters and summers playing soccer in alternate leagues.

Player D:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve and does so.
- Goes to supplemental training twice a week
- Juggles and passes a ball on their own at home
- Enjoys their winters and summers playing soccer in alternate leagues.


Players A-D play for the same club team in hopes to play at a competitive level:
- Who gets more playing time?
- What options do players who see less playing time have to get more time?
- Are the coaches to blame for playing time?
- Are the kids to blame for playing time?
- Is it fair to have uneven playing time?
- Is it fair to have even playing time?
- Should player A look to move to a lower team?
- Should player D look to move to a higher team?

It depends on the team you joined. For example, most town programs will have even playing time regardless of level until 11vv11. A top pre-academy will not. In almost all instances, the kids putting in the most time will be the best, but not always. On high level teams, 99% of players are doing extra. I think parents need to open their eyes. If you join a top team, they play to win. Playing time is not guaranteed and you have to earn it. It becomes harder to do this when everyone is also putting in hard work. If you aren’t getting the playing time after trying to address weaknesses, up to player/family, but I would leave. Be careful before joining to look at roster sizes, how coach uses subs and be honest with yourself about where your child fits. With our kids, top/middle of the roster is ideal.

[Guest]

It depends on the team you joined. For example, most town programs will have even playing time regardless of level until 11vv11. A top pre-academy will not. In almost all instances, the kids putting in the most time will be the best, but not always. On high level teams, 99% of players are doing extra. I think parents need to open their eyes. If you join a top team, they play to win. Playing time is not guaranteed and you have to earn it. It becomes harder to do this when everyone is also putting in hard work. If you aren’t getting the playing time after trying to address weaknesses, up to player/family, but I would leave. Be careful before joining to look at roster sizes, how coach uses subs and be honest with yourself about where your child fits. With our kids, top/middle of the roster is ideal.

Exactly! It depends on the team you're joined. So many parents want their kids playing with or against 'the best', but get mad about playing time. They sign their kid up somewhere expecting them to be a top/middle player, but at that point in their life, they're not. It doesn't mean they can't be or won't be, but at that point they're not. Maybe they need to mature. Maybe they need to develop, and maybe that environment is not good for them to do so.

That also doesn't mean that environment is bad. "I pay money and my daughter is not developing". Your kid is not something you just pay and upgrade. It unfortunately takes work. It unfortunately takes obstacles and hurdles to form and shape young athletes. Some kids have it to grow from those obstacles and some top out. Either end is ok for that kid. It doesn't mean they failed if they don't play for the best. Enjoy and praise them for their accomplishments at any level.

If you as a parent think they're capable of more, then sign them up for more training. Watch a soccer game with them. Put them in an environment where they are actually top middle of the roster. Watch how they carry themselves at practice. What does their body language tell you? Are they performing drills properly, at speed, good touch, pass, etc? Are they beating players 1v1 or are they even attempting to challenge themselves 1v1? How many passes go no where or to no one? Are they making the right play or continually making the same mistake over and over?

[Guest]

Player A:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and goes through the motions at practice.
- Does not touch a soccer ball outside of training.
- Enjoys their winters and summers away from soccer

Player B:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve, but isn't there physically or mentally at their given age.
- Does not touch a soccer ball outside of training.
- Enjoys their winters and summers away from soccer

Player C:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve, but isn't there physically or mentally at their given age
- Juggles or passes a ball on their own at home
- Enjoys their winters and summers playing soccer in alternate leagues.

Player D:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve and does so.
- Goes to supplemental training twice a week
- Juggles and passes a ball on their own at home
- Enjoys their winters and summers playing soccer in alternate leagues.


Players A-D play for the same club team in hopes to play at a competitive level:
- Who gets more playing time?
- What options do players who see less playing time have to get more time?
- Are the coaches to blame for playing time?
- Are the kids to blame for playing time?
- Is it fair to have uneven playing time?
- Is it fair to have even playing time?
- Should player A look to move to a lower team?
- Should player D look to move to a higher team?

Based on how you classified each group, it sounds like you are stating that C and D are more dedicated than A and B. If that dedication doesn’t make them better players than A and B, they need to keep working. On lower level teams coaches tend to play everyone. On higher level academy teams, coaches want to win. People think that because they pay thousands for an academy team that their player is entitled to playing time. It’s doesn’t work like that.

Also, at every level there is favoritism. That doesn’t always land on the best player. Your player should talk to the coach if play time is in question.

[Guest]

Let's say a kid is on an MLSN team training 4x per week plus playing in 1 or 2 games per week. Is this type of kid also doing supplemental training or do most avoid this to lower the risk for overuse injuries?

[Guest]

Player A:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and goes through the motions at practice.
- Does not touch a soccer ball outside of training.
- Enjoys their winters and summers away from soccer

Player B:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve, but isn't there physically or mentally at their given age.
- Does not touch a soccer ball outside of training.
- Enjoys their winters and summers away from soccer

Player C:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve, but isn't there physically or mentally at their given age
- Juggles or passes a ball on their own at home
- Enjoys their winters and summers playing soccer in alternate leagues.

Player D:
- Goes to their club's training twice a week and gives effort to improve and does so.
- Goes to supplemental training twice a week
- Juggles and passes a ball on their own at home
- Enjoys their winters and summers playing soccer in alternate leagues.


Players A-D play for the same club team in hopes to play at a competitive level:
- Who gets more playing time?
- What options do players who see less playing time have to get more time?
- Are the coaches to blame for playing time?
- Are the kids to blame for playing time?
- Is it fair to have uneven playing time?
- Is it fair to have even playing time?
- Should player A look to move to a lower team?
- Should player D look to move to a higher team?

I coached for years, High school, club, academy teams need subs and they should show those players respect with fair playing time. They need to give fair, not equal.
The subbing rules are also awful and strangle a team’s potential subbing rhythm in a youth game.
Unfortunately there is also a focus on winning in many clubs due to outside and inside pressures from staff, management, families, players, and leagues. US Soccer as a whole would benefit from not worrying about winning in youth system, ESPECIALLY at the young ages where we lose so much time developing in the US.

In this scenario it sounds like A&B although perhaps more naturally talented will not hack it on this team for long.
Commitment & drive should be the #1 criteria for making a team let alone playing time. Dedicated players always pass the uncommitted kids who scored 20 goals a season in u8-u12.

[Guest]

Are you assuming that Player D is the best player? What if Player A is the best player on the team?

[Guest]

Are you assuming that Player D is the best player? What if Player A is the best player on the team?

Not the op and that can happen. Some players phone it in because it's easy for them. As the funnel tightens into HS that kid can get passed by someone who kept working at it.

in the end what matters is fit with a kids skills, goals and work ethic. Find a coach and team that meets that. It very well may not be a top team and that is ok. Some drop it altogether in MS because they want to pursue other things they're more enthusiastic about. Or some stay lower level because they know the top level isn't for them.

[Guest]

A lot of people miss the fact that soccer is an athletic sport, yes you maybe able to juggle or do cone drills at a high level but if you can’t keep up athletically you will struggle to impact a game positively. For younger players that are struggling athletically the best thing a parent can do is put them on a team that is at their level so they get time in games. There is always the unknown when puberty hits but you don’t want your child to fall out of love with the sport. For older kids that struggle athletically they need to be advanced mentally on the field to cover their weaknesses, give more space defensively, play quick passes, etc. Every player has a level it is key for parents to take blinders off and find the appropriate level for their child if they love the game.

[Guest]

I coached for years, High school, club, academy teams need subs and they should show those players respect with fair playing time. They need to give fair, not equal.
The subbing rules are also awful and strangle a team’s potential subbing rhythm in a youth game.
Unfortunately there is also a focus on winning in many clubs due to outside and inside pressures from staff, management, families, players, and leagues. US Soccer as a whole would benefit from not worrying about winning in youth system, ESPECIALLY at the young ages where we lose so much time developing in the US.

In this scenario it sounds like A&B although perhaps more naturally talented will not hack it on this team for long.
Commitment & drive should be the #1 criteria for making a team let alone playing time. Dedicated players always pass the uncommitted kids who scored 20 goals a season in u8-u12.

What specifically do you feel about subbing rules are awful and strangle a team?

Winning is not important to me, but, effort, challenging yourself, and learning from your mistakes is. All of which are part of development. After all you can't get better unless you make mistakes and are comfortable making them. Soccer is a sport were you can lose 1-0 but mentally and physically have won the game and showed great development. The same 1-0 loss can be a total disaster where you didn't maintain any possession, zero awareness was seen on the pitch, and the same mistake after mistake was made.

That said there's a time, place, and team at a given level of play for everyone. All I see on this board is parents bad mouthing teams because they signed their kid up at X level and are blind to their abilities. The same parents **** on kids or a team because they lose a game.... Makes no sense

[Guest]

Are you assuming that Player D is the best player? What if Player A is the best player on the team?

OP here. I guess I didn't take that into consideration. It's been a few years now that I've seen someone who gives no effort able to be the best. As someone else said, those players start to disappear after a while as the players around them develop.

[Guest]

What specifically do you feel about subbing rules are awful and strangle a team?

Winning is not important to me, but, effort, challenging yourself, and learning from your mistakes is. All of which are part of development. After all you can't get better unless you make mistakes and are comfortable making them. Soccer is a sport were you can lose 1-0 but mentally and physically have won the game and showed great development. The same 1-0 loss can be a total disaster where you didn't maintain any possession, zero awareness was seen on the pitch, and the same mistake after mistake was made.

That said there's a time, place, and team at a given level of play for everyone. All I see on this board is parents bad mouthing teams because they signed their kid up at X level and are blind to their abilities. The same parents **** on kids or a team because they lose a game.... Makes no sense

The 5/7 subbing rules with no re-entry in MLS Next, ECNL, GA