I've noticed some clubs have 16 kids and some have 12 kids on the team. If the max is 16 why do teams have only 12 kids?

So all the kids can get playing time?

Way better to be on a team of 12 vs. 16 for playtime

$$$$$$$
Managers and coaches will fib say it they need it bc some kids don’t show up and so on but it’s just about the money. They can’t resist it. It’s so offensive and we see through it. Coaches have a hard time rotating 16 kids into a 9v9 formation and it shows. Watch the pattern of play and how disruptive the subs are in a 16 roster 9v9 versus a 12 one with 3-4 subs. It’s awful and the leagues should NOT allow it bc the clubs will do anything for the money. It limits player time and development too!!

We'd pick a club with 12 players vs 16 at this age - playing time is super important for development.

My kid experienced both for 9v9. Way better experience the year with 12 players vs 16. With 16 it was full line changes like hockey except for center d and goalie.

It's all about the money.

I have to assume it's the money because there is no good reason to have 7 subs for a 9 v 9 team. 4-5 subs is plenty and even then you have people complaining about playing time.

Anonymous wrote:I have to assume it's the money because there is no good reason to have 7 subs for a 9 v 9 team. 4-5 subs is plenty and even then you have people complaining about playing time.

A team of 12 only has three subs.

We have at least 2 kids out each game. Usually different kids. Its helpful to be sure you have subs.

We have games where we can barely field a team of 9 even with a roster of 16.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to assume it's the money because there is no good reason to have 7 subs for a 9 v 9 team. 4-5 subs is plenty and even then you have people complaining about playing time.

A team of 12 only has three subs.

And I said 4-5 subs is plenty, so your point is what? That you can subtract? Well done!

In Rec, kids sometimes don't show up. At more competitive play, kids show up and want to play.

Anonymous wrote:In Rec, kids sometimes don't show up. At more competitive play, kids show up and want to play.

And a lot of well to do parents splurging on travel still have their kids doing other travel sports and activities at this age so subs needed. U12 is where people start to drop off though to specialize

Anonymous wrote:We have at least 2 kids out each game. Usually different kids. Its helpful to be sure you have subs.

So with 12 kids on the team, when this happens, the rotation kids get to play more. Choose a team of 12 vs 16. Don't chase the badge, pre (insert letter league here) teams that roster 16. Why do teams roster 16? Some parents like to brag about their kid being on the pre letter league team. What they don't tell people is their kid plays 10 minutes a game.