12 Factors Other Than Ability That Impact Playing Time
Playing time for youth [tournament] soccer teams is a tricky situation. It’s impossible to make everyone happy, and it’s important that coaches don’t leave kids and parents in the dark about the factors that impact how often players see the field and where.
The truth is that ability is only one of the many things that a player needs. And ability alone will not guarantee time on the field. Similarly, a player who isn’t gifted with ability can find him/herself on the field more often than not if he does some basic things that any player can do.
This post is aimed both at the talented and less talented players. If your talented, don’t take that talent for granted. You must fulfill some other basic responsibilities.
If your child lack that talent, they can become a valuable member of the team by doing all of these things.
1. Most important of all. While kids have varying level of ability, every kid can — and SHOULD — hustle. All of the time. No exceptions.
It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are. Run as fast as you can. Everyone should be able to see the desire in your face!
Every coach will list this at the top of their list. We know from experience that too many losses occur every season because players don’t hustle. It can be that half step that leads to a tackle and ultimately either a win or loss.
A primary goal of every coach should be to hustle more than the opposition. If you run harder and worker harder than the other team, you are making them earn everything.
I also like when players hustle on and off of the field, to and from their positions. It shows a level of focus and commitment.
If you want to get into your coach’s good graces — no matter your ability level — do these things and he will love you for it.
2. We are a team. We are a family. Ridiculing a struggling player cannot be tolerated.
Every kid will find himself in a slump at some point. They suddenly can’t strike the ball. When they do, it finds a opposing player. They aren’t making the plays on the field. Their confidence is as low as it can get.
One of the primary ways of turning these kids around is providing them the support they need. Their teammates need to be there to reassure them that they are a good player and they’ll be okay.
Much of the chemistry of a team has its foundation in the bad times. A good team needs leaders to help their teammates get through it.
3. When you’re on the field in defense, do you talk with your midfielders about responsibilities?
When something goes wrong, do you communicate constructively with your teammates to make sure it doesn’t happen again?
Do you lead or do you follow, waiting for someone to tell you what to do?
Every team needs a vocal leader who is a player and not a coach. The vocal leader is the one who players are most likely to follow.
4. As a team, we win and lose as a team. The primary focus should be reflection on that team accomplishment.
After a big win, a good team player isn’t found pouting. After a tough loss, a good team player isn’t smiling and joking around, bragging about his four goals. A player focused on the team is most worried about team results.
Kids are immature, and it’s expected that there will be some level of selfishness. But the more selfless a player is, the more aware he/she is of their actions and the bigger contribution they make to the team.
5. Players who struggle to control their emotions can provide major distractions from the team focus. We need to limit overreactions after individual mistakes are made.
These are kids, but we want them to become soccer players. And if they lose control and react emotionally, they won’t learn from their mistakes.
Freaking out is not only counterproductive for the player, but it also sets a bad example for the team. It warns teammates that something is terribly wrong. It sets a tone of panic instead of confidence.
6. Mistakes happen all the time. It doesn’t matter what level you play at.
But the question is whether a player learns from those mistakes. A kid who loses control rarely has the awareness to learn from that mistake. They are focused instead on how angry or embarrassed they are.
You made an error, but what will you do to make sure it doesn’t happen again? Will you be prepared next time?
The kid who learns from their mistakes is the player who gets better. The kid who is stubborn and refuses to learn from his mistakes will be stuck in a perpetual holding pattern.
7. When the team is down by five, a coach needs the kids with the positive attitudes to step up. A team of players who mope in the corner can quickly spread the signal that it’s time to quit.
Players often don’t realize this, but their reactions impact teammates. Your decision to fight or quit is contagious.
This also applies to individual performance. Sometimes a player will get upset about a stolen ball that results in a score, due to an amazing play by the other team. By getting upset, the player is focused on the result rather than the process. He/She should feel good and give the opposing player credit for the play.
By focusing on the process, we can remain positive about the result — good or bad — as long as we did what we were supposed to do. If not, we learn from it!
No one wants to be around a negative person. It’s easy to be positive when things are going well. It’s the kid who remains positive during tough times who makes a special contribution to the team.
8. As a coach, I can tell you first hand that one of my biggest pet peeves is players who complain when the lineup is announced and they aren’t where they want to be.
If you’re playing in defense, you become the best darn defender you can be. If you do that, your role will increase. If you complain about it, expect more of the same or the bench.
By moping and complaining, players are simply providing support for why their role shouldn’t be expanded. It’s selfish and shows a lack of self awareness.
Someone has to fill that role. If you don’t, someone else will. So by saying that you should be playing another position (one you haven’t earned) and a teammate should take your role, a player shows his selfishness.
Instead of complaining, pull your coach aside after a practice or game. Tell him/her how much you’d love to play that position. Ask what you can do to make yourself good enough to play there. And remind the coach that you’ll play wherever he/she and the team need you.
9. These are kids so our expectations need to be reasonable depending on the age. But a player who remains focused is the player every coach wants.
While in the bench, are you talking about things unrelated to soccer while the game is going on?
While on the field, are you set and ready when the ball is first kicked ?
Not only can a lack of focus set a bad example, but it is also a safety issue. A kid not paying attention is a magnet for accidents. And I can’t put such a player in harm’s way.
10. Coaches love players who can follow instructions. Those who don’t — particularly when repeated — create unnecessary frustration.
But eventually, a coach learns who he can trust and who is going to do whatever he/she wants to do.
11. It doesn’t matter what position you play, they all have responsibilities. Lots of them!
So whether you’re the goalie, defender, midfielder or striker, you should know what your responsibilities are inside and out. You should know who covers the other positions and when.
A coach’s job is to prepare the players and educate them on these responsibilities. But a player’s job is also to accept this education and apply it.
The kid who does what he/she is supposed to do without being constantly reminded is a hugely valuable member of the team.
12. A coach can talk and talk until he loses his voice, trying to help the players understand their roles, what they need to do and why. But eventually, something needs to click within the player. They need to start putting two-and-two together to understand why they should do things in certain situations.
Again, it’s the coach’s responsibility to prepare and educate his/her players the best they can. But the coach’s voice will eventually become noise during a game situation if he is constantly reminding the players of every scenario.
A player who is thinking in the field about the situation and what they need to do — without the coach saying a thing — is the coach’s best friend!
A kid who applies these things — even without natural size, speed, leg strength or power — becomes a great youth soccer player. And while all of these things require work and preparation, none of them require ability.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I copied this from another article I read and adapted it to our kids sport.
Playing time for youth [tournament] soccer teams is a tricky situation. It’s impossible to make everyone happy, and it’s important that coaches don’t leave kids and parents in the dark about the factors that impact how often players see the field and where.
The truth is that ability is only one of the many things that a player needs. And ability alone will not guarantee time on the field. Similarly, a player who isn’t gifted with ability can find him/herself on the field more often than not if he does some basic things that any player can do.
This post is aimed both at the talented and less talented players. If your talented, don’t take that talent for granted. You must fulfill some other basic responsibilities.
If your child lack that talent, they can become a valuable member of the team by doing all of these things.
1. Most important of all. While kids have varying level of ability, every kid can — and SHOULD — hustle. All of the time. No exceptions.
It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are. Run as fast as you can. Everyone should be able to see the desire in your face!
Every coach will list this at the top of their list. We know from experience that too many losses occur every season because players don’t hustle. It can be that half step that leads to a tackle and ultimately either a win or loss.
A primary goal of every coach should be to hustle more than the opposition. If you run harder and worker harder than the other team, you are making them earn everything.
I also like when players hustle on and off of the field, to and from their positions. It shows a level of focus and commitment.
If you want to get into your coach’s good graces — no matter your ability level — do these things and he will love you for it.
2. We are a team. We are a family. Ridiculing a struggling player cannot be tolerated.
Every kid will find himself in a slump at some point. They suddenly can’t strike the ball. When they do, it finds a opposing player. They aren’t making the plays on the field. Their confidence is as low as it can get.
One of the primary ways of turning these kids around is providing them the support they need. Their teammates need to be there to reassure them that they are a good player and they’ll be okay.
Much of the chemistry of a team has its foundation in the bad times. A good team needs leaders to help their teammates get through it.
3. When you’re on the field in defense, do you talk with your midfielders about responsibilities?
When something goes wrong, do you communicate constructively with your teammates to make sure it doesn’t happen again?
Do you lead or do you follow, waiting for someone to tell you what to do?
Every team needs a vocal leader who is a player and not a coach. The vocal leader is the one who players are most likely to follow.
4. As a team, we win and lose as a team. The primary focus should be reflection on that team accomplishment.
After a big win, a good team player isn’t found pouting. After a tough loss, a good team player isn’t smiling and joking around, bragging about his four goals. A player focused on the team is most worried about team results.
Kids are immature, and it’s expected that there will be some level of selfishness. But the more selfless a player is, the more aware he/she is of their actions and the bigger contribution they make to the team.
5. Players who struggle to control their emotions can provide major distractions from the team focus. We need to limit overreactions after individual mistakes are made.
These are kids, but we want them to become soccer players. And if they lose control and react emotionally, they won’t learn from their mistakes.
Freaking out is not only counterproductive for the player, but it also sets a bad example for the team. It warns teammates that something is terribly wrong. It sets a tone of panic instead of confidence.
6. Mistakes happen all the time. It doesn’t matter what level you play at.
But the question is whether a player learns from those mistakes. A kid who loses control rarely has the awareness to learn from that mistake. They are focused instead on how angry or embarrassed they are.
You made an error, but what will you do to make sure it doesn’t happen again? Will you be prepared next time?
The kid who learns from their mistakes is the player who gets better. The kid who is stubborn and refuses to learn from his mistakes will be stuck in a perpetual holding pattern.
7. When the team is down by five, a coach needs the kids with the positive attitudes to step up. A team of players who mope in the corner can quickly spread the signal that it’s time to quit.
Players often don’t realize this, but their reactions impact teammates. Your decision to fight or quit is contagious.
This also applies to individual performance. Sometimes a player will get upset about a stolen ball that results in a score, due to an amazing play by the other team. By getting upset, the player is focused on the result rather than the process. He/She should feel good and give the opposing player credit for the play.
By focusing on the process, we can remain positive about the result — good or bad — as long as we did what we were supposed to do. If not, we learn from it!
No one wants to be around a negative person. It’s easy to be positive when things are going well. It’s the kid who remains positive during tough times who makes a special contribution to the team.
8. As a coach, I can tell you first hand that one of my biggest pet peeves is players who complain when the lineup is announced and they aren’t where they want to be.
If you’re playing in defense, you become the best darn defender you can be. If you do that, your role will increase. If you complain about it, expect more of the same or the bench.
By moping and complaining, players are simply providing support for why their role shouldn’t be expanded. It’s selfish and shows a lack of self awareness.
Someone has to fill that role. If you don’t, someone else will. So by saying that you should be playing another position (one you haven’t earned) and a teammate should take your role, a player shows his selfishness.
Instead of complaining, pull your coach aside after a practice or game. Tell him/her how much you’d love to play that position. Ask what you can do to make yourself good enough to play there. And remind the coach that you’ll play wherever he/she and the team need you.
9. These are kids so our expectations need to be reasonable depending on the age. But a player who remains focused is the player every coach wants.
While in the bench, are you talking about things unrelated to soccer while the game is going on?
While on the field, are you set and ready when the ball is first kicked ?
Not only can a lack of focus set a bad example, but it is also a safety issue. A kid not paying attention is a magnet for accidents. And I can’t put such a player in harm’s way.
10. Coaches love players who can follow instructions. Those who don’t — particularly when repeated — create unnecessary frustration.
But eventually, a coach learns who he can trust and who is going to do whatever he/she wants to do.
11. It doesn’t matter what position you play, they all have responsibilities. Lots of them!
So whether you’re the goalie, defender, midfielder or striker, you should know what your responsibilities are inside and out. You should know who covers the other positions and when.
A coach’s job is to prepare the players and educate them on these responsibilities. But a player’s job is also to accept this education and apply it.
The kid who does what he/she is supposed to do without being constantly reminded is a hugely valuable member of the team.
12. A coach can talk and talk until he loses his voice, trying to help the players understand their roles, what they need to do and why. But eventually, something needs to click within the player. They need to start putting two-and-two together to understand why they should do things in certain situations.
Again, it’s the coach’s responsibility to prepare and educate his/her players the best they can. But the coach’s voice will eventually become noise during a game situation if he is constantly reminding the players of every scenario.
A player who is thinking in the field about the situation and what they need to do — without the coach saying a thing — is the coach’s best friend!
A kid who applies these things — even without natural size, speed, leg strength or power — becomes a great youth soccer player. And while all of these things require work and preparation, none of them require ability.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I copied this from another article I read and adapted it to our kids sport.
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