What is an acceptable score before the soccer game gets "shameful"?

[Anonymous]

Just wondering what the community thinks. I think we've all been at games where it's like 14-0 at halftime in one of these tournaments.

[Anonymous]

7-0

[Anonymous]

I’d say if it’s a double digit lead, it’s time for the winning coach to put some “good sportsmanship” limits in place like requiring a minimum of 5-7 passes before shooting, you must shoot with your non-dominant foot, always pass back to the GK and play out of the back, etc. Even at the ECNL/GA level, it’s still youth soccer after all and absolutely demolishing your opponent shouldn’t be the primary goal.

[Anonymous]

under 13 I would say 10-0
over 13 I would say 7-0

But its how they score that matters more. If they are just have 1 elite player that is carrying the team nobody cares and just writes it off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7-0

Yeah 7-0 is not competitive. With a 5 or 6 point lead the winning coach is pulling the top players from the field and the losing coach is parking the bus. That makes it hard to get to 7-0 at least for high high school ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7-0

Yeah 7-0 is not competitive. With a 5 or 6 point lead the winning coach is pulling the top players from the field and the losing coach is parking the bus. That makes it hard to get to 7-0 at least for high high school ages.

Your opinion lost its stock value when you referred to goals as points.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the matchup, doesn’t it?

[Anonymous]

5-0, maybe 4-0 depending on circumstances. DD’s team has a minimum passes before shooting rule after going up 5.

[Anonymous]

Tournaments should have a cap on goal differential (and I think many do). There is no reason to push the score beyond that cap. Our team has the 6 pass rule if we are up by more than 5.

[Anonymous]

It's not the score that is or can become shameful--it's adult behavior. Imagine getting in your car after the match your kid's team just lost 20-0 and NOT channeling your own feelings of inadequacy.

Rather, you could just say, "Welp, that was tough. The other team was really good. It takes hard work to become that good!"

For coaches and parents on the winning side, clap and cheer for your players without going overboard. And when the game is over let them feel happy but maybe remind them that not every game will look like that. And remind yourself, your kid's victory in U-ANYTHING soccer by whatever margin really doesn't matter

See, no shame anywhere! Just normal, healthy processing of feelings related to wins and losses.

[Anonymous]

There's no winning when teams are severely mismatched. Over the years, I've seen my kids' teams on all sides - getting crushed by a big score and winning big. It's tough all around. One way to go is to limit scoring after a certain point, but at the same time, I've seen teams pass 5, 6, even 7 times before shooting, and playing keep-away almost feels more disrespectful than playing full out. It is worst in tournaments, because kids and families have set aside time to come to an event, often traveling, and they want to play. They don't want to try to figure out ways to not play to compensate for mistakes in bracket placements. I wish coaches would use one-sided games to encourage their players to pass more or to try new things as a PP said such as shooting with the non-dominant foot, rather than simply running up scores by playing kick and run.

One thing to think about if you are on the losing side is that often in these mismatches, the coach has taken out starters and put in bench players who are weaker and don't play that much. It sounds crazy when parents are screaming for that 7th or 8th goal, but they are actually cheering a goalscorer who has never previously had so much as a whiff of a goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's no winning when teams are severely mismatched. Over the years, I've seen my kids' teams on all sides - getting crushed by a big score and winning big. It's tough all around. One way to go is to limit scoring after a certain point, but at the same time, I've seen teams pass 5, 6, even 7 times before shooting, and playing keep-away almost feels more disrespectful than playing full out. It is worst in tournaments, because kids and families have set aside time to come to an event, often traveling, and they want to play. They don't want to try to figure out ways to not play to compensate for mistakes in bracket placements. I wish coaches would use one-sided games to encourage their players to pass more or to try new things as a PP said such as shooting with the non-dominant foot, rather than simply running up scores by playing kick and run.

One thing to think about if you are on the losing side is that often in these mismatches, the coach has taken out starters and put in bench players who are weaker and don't play that much. It sounds crazy when parents are screaming for that 7th or 8th goal, but they are actually cheering a goalscorer who has never previously had so much as a whiff of a goal.

DD's first goal in travel was in her second year when she was guesting on a top team. Her own team was usually on the wrong side of these games. The team was under a passing restriction from the coach and she ignored it to score. She got chewed out by the coach, but she was incredibly happy and we absolutely cheered for her.

[Anonymous]

Whats bad is when your team is down 0-8 and the opposing teams parents continue to cheer each additional goal like it was a World Cup goal.

[Anonymous]

Do clubs like to brag goal differentials on social media?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do clubs like to brag goal differentials on social media?

As a coach up by 5 is when I really start to make changes and work to control the game. At 5 is when I feel like a jerk. It is difficult to tell a player who does not score very often if ever to not score. A lot of clubs brag about the goals and wins on social media. I would say if you aren’t ECNL or MLS Next this is your club really about development. If all you ever see post are wins and goal highlights does your club really care about development. ECNL and MLS Next are different stories.