Is it better to be on a winning team and play less than half a game. Or play on a losing team and play majority of the game. Style of play is similar.
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Winning isn’t everything when kids aren’t taught to play properly. -
So many factors. Age? Are the teams in the same league? If both teams are playing similar level of competition and kid is younger than 14, stick with the team where your kid plays more. If younger ages, look closely at how winning team plays. Do they ever rotate player positions? Does the same player take all corners, free kicks, throw ins? Will they play kick and run if they need to win the game?
I think people way overestimate the importance of being on a winning team at a young age.Comment
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Yes, this is too simple.
Obviously everyone would prefer to be one of the top players on a team that regularly wins in the highest level of competition. But that's not always possible for a variety of reasons.
So you take the tradeoffs based on your local options, which are often fairly limited.
The problem with being on a losing team is that the players may not be very good and therefore might not challenge your kid in training. Also, it can be psychologically difficult to lose all the time. But, if the team is a good level and just in a very competitive league, and if your player is holding up well psychologically despite the losses, then more playing time would be preferable.Comment
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Winning is everythingComment
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The problem I have with the losing team is it becomes less fun when you lose a lot. But then winning means nothing if your kid isn’t playing and contributing.Comment
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I prefer a winning team even you play less in such a good team.
Keep losing is no fun at all. Losing team will become weaker and weaker because the relatively good players may lost interest and leave the team and it is hard to attract good new players.
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Has to be a balance. Sometimes losing if your playing obvious better competition can help kids learn to fight and grow. While losing is like cancer, it sucks and is usually hard to stop….if the club and team is playing good fundamentally sound soccer, winning isn’t always most important especially at a young age. But never let a child think it’s ok to lose. Because it’s NOT. If it wasn’t they wouldn’t keep score. With that said no one remember the record of a u13/u14 team when they are playing in college or top level high school!Comment
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Playing. Winning and watching won't do you any good.Comment
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I don’t care how good the team is. If my kid is consistently playing less than half….most likely not keeping them there.Comment
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Depends on what your goals are. If you are playing for trophies, be on a winning team. If you are playing to develop to play beyond a level you are currently at, then you need to play. Nobody cares about results expect for parents anyway.Comment
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Very open ended question that is highly subjective. Everyone has an opinion. Learning how to win and developing a tough mental attitude is a fundament part of a players development. Playing an entire game and playing on a losing team in my opinion is not development.Comment
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Development is learning to play, learning to win, learning to lose. Playing on the front foot, playing from behind, learning when to push for a result, learning when to sit back and soak up pressure.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
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No simple answer, but my general take is that you develop as a player by training with better players and playing against better players. So if your goal is to get better and prepare yourself for something like HS varsity or college, then focus on getting better. If your goal is to play a lot for fun and win, then do that.Comment
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Learning to lose? What does that even mean in your world?Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
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