Signed, TBU

[QUOTE=Unregistered;2100427]What is an appropriate amount of players to have on a team, by age...

what are you trying to figure out?

Playing time is important to development for U15 and below so if you have so many players that players are only getting half a game then it's too many. I've seen kids sit way too long on top teams...what's the point. Even if a kid is struggling get them out there...the process should include working through slumps when your young.

I agree but then the parents and players need to be educated on how it works. It isn't about gasping and complaining when a weaker player comes into the game. How else can a team rise if everyone is not given time to rise with game experience. There will always be a weaker player even on college and pro teams. What I do not like to see is what is happening on our daughter's team taking 25 on a roster and then farming them out to help other teams or making them stay home for travel games saying they must earn the games they get to attend. The top players never having to sit out of a game. Perhaps it should become a pay per game because they each paid the same fees up front to be on the same team.

You should be searching for another club/team If your kid isn't getting playing time. Don't fall for it. They will string that kid along as long as you keep paying those checks. All the club is doing is paying that coach more while looking for more talent. Sorry for the blunt truth but i've seen it happen over and over.

[QUOTE=Unregistered;2100427]What is an appropriate amount of players to have on a team, by age...


U9 - 12
U10 - 12
U11 - 15
U12 - 15
U13 - 18
U14 - 18
U15 - 18
U16 - 18
U17 - 18
U18 - 18
U19 - 18

I think ideally you might WANT to be a couple players lower than these numbers, but these numbers give you wiggle room in the event players are out for any number of reasons, especially at the older ages when injuries become more prevalent. But if you have the ability to use guest players from within your club for situations where you might be shorthanded then subtract 2 players from the amounts above.

Agree. At some point parents need to do what is best for their child. When a child consistantly rides the bench it messes with their confidence.

Poor play messes with your confidence too. I think right around u15-u16, kids should be earning their playing time. Certainly a quarter of playing time should be the minimum a player sees, but outside of that, I think you have to perform and beat out other players for time.

Playing time doesn't have to be equal but should be fair. No player will improve if they're given a few token minutes now and then. Up to U14 or so coaches should do their best to insure all players receive a good amount of PT, even if it means possibly losing. But instead clubs and parents want the results - clubs need the wins to stay highly ranked, get into good events and attract more talent. Coaches have big egos and want to keep their jobs. Parents want their kids teams to win to prove their getting their money's worth. They're clueless about development.

Once you hit the HS age PT is solely an earned right on highly competitive and school teams. But if you're playing in a lower level league, really more for fun, then why bench kids who just want to play? That won't help build a soccer culture - it just turns more kids and families off.

Too many parents would rather brag their little Clayton plays on an A team, even though Clayton usually sits on the bench and is miserable. Find a team that is a good fit for your player. He doesn't have to be the star, but he should get good PT and have a coach who is a good teacher.

I think that is a good point....

This site does a good job of making parents feel like bad people of their child isn't playing in one of the premier leagues. They will push and do everything they can to get their child on one of those teams just so they can say they are on that particular team. It doesn't matter if the child actually gets game playing time because now the parent can mention that DA/ECNL distinction.

In the end, find a place your child can get more than 50% playing time, yes it is great to get the training at one of the top leagues, but if they don't get a chance to get in the game, what does it matter?

As far as numbers...

I like the idea of 4 reserves...just enough to give needed relief and allow plenty of playing time.

In HS you need more - injuries are more common and often more severe, and in certain ages players have college visits and SAT testing that ramps up conflicts.

[QUOTE=Unregistered;2100605]U11 and U12 might be a little high, I would say not over 13. They don't have as many outside activities and reasons to miss games at those ages, also less injuries.

I personally think earning play time should start at college and not before. If I'm paying for my player to play, then my player should play. I have and will continue to leave any team where my child does not play a lot. In this situation, either my player needs to move down and get more experience in game situations, or its just not a good coach fit. As the parent, I take it as my responsibility to recognize and find a better situation.

I do not commit to a team that does not commit to my player. If there is a coach that quits on my player, we quit that team and don't waste time. If my player isn't playing, they don't need my player and my player is not letting anyone down. A direct conversation with the coach always gave me the direction I needed on whether to stay or move. We moved twice - once to a higher level team, and once to a lower level team in 7 years.

So far, it has worked out fine for my player, who does not play on the top team in the age group at our club currently but has in the past when the situation has been beneficial, and starting 9th grade has three div I coaches interested as expressed through invites to visit their schools and check out their programs and provide a play schedule (the result of state cup and a ID camp this past summer). Not letting my player make any decisions about colleges or whether to play in college at this young age, but you can see that players can develop without always needing to be on the toppest team that will take them and your money, and that is why I am sharing our experience. The future is so uncertain there is a lot of value in shedding ego and getting your child onto a team that will provide a rewarding experience right now.

Our current coach has a philosophy I like: if I pick your player then they will play and I will keep working with them because I picked them. He commits to them for a season. He does however sit kids for attitude/behavior problems which I support.

Good luck to all your kids this season and hope they all find a rewarding experience.