What would you do? Soccer roster issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:38 - this is why they have different divisions. In Division 1, most/all of the teams have at least 1-2 select players. If you're getting blown out at every game, you're in the wrong division. If you're getting blown out in the lowest division, you might need to look at why - are the players not showing up to practice or games? Is the coach not following the drills they provide?

Teams move within divisions between seasons. Teams that go 8-0 or 7-1 in division 2 move to division 1 and teams that lost most division 1 games move to division 2. none of our games were blowouts last year - all the wins were close, which tells me the seeding is pretty good.

I get it - teams should be fair. But when it comes down to telling one girl on a team of 11 that she has to leave, the whole thing sucks. And telling her that not only does she have to leave, but she is the only one who has to leave, and she has to go to a team where she doesn't know the other 10 girls - that's tough. The point of rec is having fun with your friends.

We mainly stayed on our rec team last year when my daughter was also doing travel because she was on a travel team with mostly older girls (she has a late birthday) where she didn't know anyone. Most games that season were total blowout losses, she didn't get much playing time and she would have been really bummed if she hadn't had her rec team to play with also. She likes the girls and the coach and we like the parents, and it's nice to have the continuity.

I like the 2 of 3 playing solution, but what do we do if we're low on numbers for a game? If we only have 7 girls available for a 7x7 format, which has happened, are we supposed to forfeit? (or 6? which has also happened.)

Division 4, playing multiple teams where I know (because I know the families) that at least 2-3 kids on the team are ADP/travel. They didn't get blown out by the other teams, those games were competitive and they won some, lost some. The teams with the select players blew them out with scores along the lines of 9-2.

[Anonymous]

13:35 - we want to keep our kids because those kids have been on our team since kindergarten. (now 3rd grade.) The kids enjoy playing together. We'd fight it if they tried to take our other kids away too - the ones who aren't select players, some of whom aren't very good. But nobody's trying to make them leave the team because they're not considered good enough to move the needle.

Plus if we're allowed 3 select players next year in 4th grade anyway, why lose one girl this season just to bring her back next season? Makes no sense. How much can possibly change before next year?

14:03 - this is outdoor soccer for Arlington, which has three levels of teams at this age. Travel, ADP, Rec. The first two are considered select, and most kids drop rec once they get into Travel or ADP, either because of the time/logistical challenges or because they don't want to bother with a lower-level team once they make a higher team.

[Anonymous]

how about keeping the ADP player only, and add a new non-select player to fill out the roster. The two travel players can request to be moved together to another team currently with no select player. I'm sure they will be warmly welcomed and fit in very quickly and become leaders by mid-season. (wink wink i'd love to have them on DD's team!!!)

[Anonymous]

I would lobby to keep them all, pointing out that all three will be allowed next year, and say that you will commit to having one sit out each game. If that isn’t allowed I would explain to the last travel player to sign up that we would love to have her back next year, but that we’ve reached quota for this year. IMO the ADP player should stay since she consistently makes the practices.

[Anonymous]

The travel players don’t “have” to find another team. They have a team, the travel team. Those players shouldn’t be upset because they have been able to play both rec and travel, they should choose one or the other. It is also not fair to the rec-only kids that the 2 travel players are just showing up for the games but not practice. Not the best message to send.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are travel kids playing on rec teams? That's not allowed in our league.

Same.

It happens nonetheless. MSI is not supposed to allow travel players but there are always a bunch and MSI management claims not to know anything about it but they do.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I agree the travel players who don't show up for practice would be the sensible ones to go. And having both go together would solve the problem of cutting one kid and her being by herself.

If you do negotiate for all 3 of the players to stay, then if you don't have 7 kids show up for a 7x7 game, yes, you play one player down. You have to act like that 3rd player doesn't exist, or else you're not really compromising. Remember, you're playing against another team, they deserve the fairest situation possible. One presumes they could have stacked their team with an extra travel player as well, but they followed the rules and shouldn't be penalized for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would lobby to keep them all, pointing out that all three will be allowed next year, and say that you will commit to having one sit out each game. If that isn’t allowed I would explain to the last travel player to sign up that we would love to have her back next year, but that we’ve reached quota for this year. IMO the ADP player should stay since she consistently makes the practices.

actually they may very well change the rules again next year to cut it to two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:13:35 - we want to keep our kids because those kids have been on our team since kindergarten. (now 3rd grade.) The kids enjoy playing together. We'd fight it if they tried to take our other kids away too - the ones who aren't select players, some of whom aren't very good. But nobody's trying to make them leave the team because they're not considered good enough to move the needle.

Plus if we're allowed 3 select players next year in 4th grade anyway, why lose one girl this season just to bring her back next season? Makes no sense. How much can possibly change before next year?

14:03 - this is outdoor soccer for Arlington, which has three levels of teams at this age. Travel, ADP, Rec. The first two are considered select, and most kids drop rec once they get into Travel or ADP, either because of the time/logistical challenges or because they don't want to bother with a lower-level team once they make a higher team.

You’re pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how about keeping the ADP player only, and add a new non-select player to fill out the roster. The two travel players can request to be moved together to another team currently with no select player. I'm sure they will be warmly welcomed and fit in very quickly and become leaders by mid-season. (wink wink i'd love to have them on DD's team!!!)

I would do this. Or I would draw straws.

[Anonymous]

Many rec soccer leagues don't allow people to keep whole teams together like this for many years, because it creates situations like this and is unfair to the other teams of motley randoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:38 - this is why they have different divisions. In Division 1, most/all of the teams have at least 1-2 select players. If you're getting blown out at every game, you're in the wrong division. If you're getting blown out in the lowest division, you might need to look at why - are the players not showing up to practice or games? Is the coach not following the drills they provide?

Teams move within divisions between seasons. Teams that go 8-0 or 7-1 in division 2 move to division 1 and teams that lost most division 1 games move to division 2. none of our games were blowouts last year - all the wins were close, which tells me the seeding is pretty good.

I get it - teams should be fair. But when it comes down to telling one girl on a team of 11 that she has to leave, the whole thing sucks. And telling her that not only does she have to leave, but she is the only one who has to leave, and she has to go to a team where she doesn't know the other 10 girls - that's tough. The point of rec is having fun with your friends.

We mainly stayed on our rec team last year when my daughter was also doing travel because she was on a travel team with mostly older girls (she has a late birthday) where she didn't know anyone. Most games that season were total blowout losses, she didn't get much playing time and she would have been really bummed if she hadn't had her rec team to play with also. She likes the girls and the coach and we like the parents, and it's nice to have the continuity.

I like the 2 of 3 playing solution, but what do we do if we're low on numbers for a game? If we only have 7 girls available for a 7x7 format, which has happened, are we supposed to forfeit? (or 6? which has also happened.)

Is it fun for the other teams if one team is stacked with travel players and slaughters them? Rec leagues try to keep teams even in skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The travel players don’t “have” to find another team. They have a team, the travel team. Those players shouldn’t be upset because they have been able to play both rec and travel, they should choose one or the other. It is also not fair to the rec-only kids that the 2 travel players are just showing up for the games but not practice. Not the best message to send.

This.
Remove both Travel players or ask tne families to flip a coin

Change us hard but it's going to happen in a season or two anyway as the kids are older and moving on to other activities. Don't get so caught up. These things happen and you will cause yourself so much stress and guess what next season some of the girls won't return and the whole team changes and you will wonder why you stressed so much over something like this,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The travel players don’t “have” to find another team. They have a team, the travel team. Those players shouldn’t be upset because they have been able to play both rec and travel, they should choose one or the other. It is also not fair to the rec-only kids that the 2 travel players are just showing up for the games but not practice. Not the best message to send.

This.
Remove both Travel players or ask tne families to flip a coin

Change us hard but it's going to happen in a season or two anyway as the kids are older and moving on to other activities. Don't get so caught up. These things happen and you will cause yourself so much stress and guess what next season some of the girls won't return and the whole team changes and you will wonder why you stressed so much over something like this,

But, but they win games! Have some sympathy:/

[Anonymous]

Keep all three and play up a year so it’s legal. Kids love to feel special because they’re playing up, and if your team has been successful in div 1 third grade, they’ll surely do fine in doc 1 or 2 fourth grade- depending the challenge you want to give them. This sounds like a win for everyone! Also, that’s what I’m asking the league to do with my third grade team together since K, because I think being together since K is as much an advantage as having travel players when you’ve got a good volunteer coach and the kids and families know one another. Plus, they really will all enjoy the challenge. Worst case scenario is that they lose a lot and are better players when they play the same division next year. Best case is they all grow together and have a great time.