Playing Time in Select

I have a kid that plays in Academy U8 and they have about 11 kids on the team. My son plays quite a bit but they also have kids that do not get to play much. The coach does a good job trying to mix them in, but in some games it is hard.


Once you go select, is the coach less fair about the playing time and only plays the best kids? Are then times at say u11 when a kid may not get in the game at all? What has your experience been?

It doesn't change as you get older. The weaker players will be on the bench the majority of the time if they get in the game at all. I'm sure there is the exception, but most coaches will keep their best players on the field unless they are up by 5 goals or more.

Do you ever run into problems with the parents of the kids that don't play getting mad at the coach or the parents of the kids that play more? I imagine once you go select the coach will simply tell the parents where their kid stands with regard to playing time.

I was curious if you have noticed any coaches at select that make a bad decision for the team and play the weaker players just to give them time?

Ah, the ageless debate over whether long term development is better achieved through coaching to win versus coaching for player development. There is no one answer. Much of it depends on finding the right mix--right coach, right group of kids for your particular player.

But, remember, this is select/competitive/classic soccer (whatever name you want to give it--one of the definitions is that means players have to try out for spots on a team and there is no guaranteed playing time at all--playing time is earned. This is not rec or AYSO.

Some coaches think playing time is earned through hard effort, drive, attention, and a willingness to keep on trying to learn and apply lessons learned in game situations, and will play perceived lesser skilled players in games. Others will only play those that are percieved as the strongest in a game, saying you have to earn playing time at practice, and that little time you do play in games. Others don't care, and only coach to win--let's face it, this is a livelihood for many coaches and sometimes the amount of that livelihood depends on winning and recruiting more players through winning.

Then again, some coaches actually employ game tactics based on certain specific matchups, change strategies and formations based on what is happening, pay attention to conditioning and substitute players to maximize the use of what conditioning the players have.

SOme parents get mad, other not. Some coaches have trouble dealing with parents talking to them at all, others are open and receptive and provide useful feedback. Honestly, for any of my kids I can usually see with an objective eye the reasons they are being played, or not played, and if not getting time address the issue with them and help them understand what they need to work on to get more. On the few occasions where I was uncertain, I have talked with coaches and not complained, but asked what my kid needed to do to or change to improve. Personally, I would steer my kid away from a coach who I felt would not engage in that type of conversation.

Then again, my boys tend to get solid playing time on strong teams, so this could all be BS.

My kid came off the bench and now plays 90% of the game. I agree with ballcoise but I think he forgot one more category: the kid on certain teams who have "the connection." Whether their big bro was an incredible player or daddy tosses a few extra Grants at the coach, somehow, this kid stays on the field no matter what. The rest of team is dumb-founded when this kid stands on the field and never goes after the ball...but doesn't get pulled out EVER.

Could be the manager's kid. Been there done that.

Do we belong to the same club? I have had this issue last year or so. I am in limbo if I should keep my child with the same club. I recently emailed my coach to just check on my BB progression. Still no response. He does not communicate with the parents and very few times u will see him even have a friendly conversation with anyone. It had been times where kids will have lil or no playtime in a game because the focus is in winning a game not allowing a child to get game time experience. Your right in these Academy years play time is very essential. Why pay all these fees for your child to sit on the bench. That saying Is hard to leave certain teams or certain coaches because you know that he is a good coach. Now ur in a perdictiment where should u stay to allow ur child to get good skills training and lil game time or should u find a team where your child has an equal balance?


is mhath"]Ah, the ageless debate over whether long term development is better achieved through coaching to win versus coaching for player development. There is no one answer. Much of it depends on finding the right mix--right coach, right group of kids for your particular player.

But, remember, this is select/competitive/classic soccer (whatever name you want to give it--one of the definitions is that means players have to try out for spots on a team and there is no guaranteed playing time at all--playing time is earned. This is not rec or AYSO.

Some coaches think playing time is earned through hard effort, drive, attention, and a willingness to keep on trying to learn and apply lessons learned in game situations, and will play perceived lesser skilled players in games. Others will only play those that are percieved as the strongest in a game, saying you have to earn playing time at practice, and that little time you do play in games. Others don't care, and only coach to win--let's face it, this is a livelihood for many coaches and sometimes the amount of that livelihood depends on winning and recruiting more players through winning.

Then again, some coaches actually employ game tactics based on certain specific matchups, change strategies and formations based on what is happening, pay attention to conditioning and substitute players to maximize the use of what conditioning the players have.

SOme parents get mad, other not. Some coaches have trouble dealing with parents talking to them at all, others are open and receptive and provide useful feedback. Honestly, for any of my kids I can usually see with an objective eye the reasons they are being played, or not played, and if not getting time address the issue with them and help them understand what they need to work on to get more. On the few occasions where I was uncertain, I have talked with coaches and not complained, but asked what my kid needed to do to or change to improve. Personally, I would steer my kid away from a coach who I felt would not engage in that type of conversation.

Then again, my boys tend to get solid playing time on strong teams, so this could all be BS.[/quote]

I've had a number of kids involved in select soccer, but don't have any kids in academy anymore, haven't for a while now, but doubt it is much different. The politics and issues are really not much different than in select. I agree that there can be the manager's kid, favorite player for no apparent reason (OK, maybe the DI coach said DII coach take this guy and get him upt to speed). It happens. Nothing you can do about it. Focus on your child and listen to him.

Right now, for one of my kids I have a 94 going into his last season in DI--we didn't force any of our kids in any particular sport, and this one didn't focus in on soccer (wanted to do it all for a while) until the end of June going into 7th grade. So, being realistic, I took him to tryouts at the start of that July for some PPL teams with major clubs. Not the norm, but he earned a spot on a Texans team that had been knocking on classic league's door. FIrst year was tough--though the coach saw skills he wanted, he had a group that had been together for a few years and the politics of that and certain other understandable blinders made playing time difficult, despite my son's talents. I told him to keep working hard. The club changed coaches toward the end of the season, we saw the potential for some opportunity to learn and grow so we stayed, and next year he played most all the time. Even though he played, that 2d coach was a disaster in many respects and my son had grown well beyond the level of that team, so the June going into 9th grade I took him all over the place for open tryouts. He found a DII team where he fit very well with the other players and had respect for the coach, and has been with that team ever since in their ride to earning a DI spot. He fit, he played,he learned and developed, so he stayed. He has had interest from colleges, but is going in a different direction not focused on soccer--we knew he wouldn't, but I wouldn't give up the select soccer for anything--it adds much more.

I could go on with with examples for other kids of mine. Sorry, we don't have any particular club loyalty. Playing time isn't everything--playing all the time can mean you are not being challeged and the team is below your ability and holding you back. At the same time, being on a team where you ride the bench simply to be able to say you are on X team isn't really getting anywhere either. Then again, if you are riding the bench but have potential to advance, practicing with better players can help that.

The point is, if you look at your child objectively, really objectively and without the blinders a parent's love naturally include, and equally importantly, listen to what he has to say, you will know if he belongs where he is. Thankfully, there are a lot of opportunities in NTX. It takes some work, but you should be able to find a place where your child fits and can grow. Some coaches work for some kids, others not. SOmetimes kids stop hearing one coach because they get to comfy and change is good. Keep your mind, ears, and eyes open, and things will be OK.

Running wrote:Once you go select, is the coach less fair about the playing time?

No. He/she relies on factors such as:
Favorites
Manager's kid
Parents who pay on time
kid's attitude
and sometimes, skill

He/she never relies on:
which kids regular attend practices
how much sucking up a parent does

kickit wrote:

Running wrote:Once you go select, is the coach less fair about the playing time?

No. He/she relies on factors such as:
Favorites
Manager's kid
Parents who pay on time
kid's attitude
and sometimes, skill

He/she never relies on:
which kids regular attend practices
how much sucking up a parent does

That is your select experience? You actually paid someone money to do that. I've got some great real estate, stocks and a used car I'd like to sell you.

Running wrote:I have a kid that plays in Academy U8 and they have about 11 kids on the team. My son plays quite a bit but they also have kids that do not get to play much. The coach does a good job trying to mix them in, but in some games it is hard.


Once you go select, is the coach less fair about the playing time and only plays the best kids? Are then times at say u11 when a kid may not get in the game at all? What has your experience been?

When my son participated in rec soccer, all the players had equal time on the field which was fun and all, when he went on to play club a few years back I found that attending every practice, maintaining a positive attitude, the willingness to learn worked his way up as a solid starter.

The players that only made half or less of practices, goofed off during training, was almost guaranteed a spot on the bench to sub for a few minutes here and there, that's what I've seen from a parents standpoint over the years.

With Classic coming up in another year, athleticism, attitude and skill is what is going to count most for my son or any player to continue up the ladder in the sport as a starter imo.