Is this a real question? Take the best player between here and Richmond, put them up top and see what happens when those 2-3 kids can’t complete a pass but have to play, and as is usually the case get outsized playing time. It’s not rocket science. I recall a game just like this where hands down the best player Id seen at that age group in NoVa (it was around 10-11) was pretty much useless in a 8-0 game against my kid despite being far and away the best player on the field. |
What that poster is asking and what I’m now explaining is your equating wins/losses with development. That is why he asked how those 2-3 kids are having an impact on your kid. |
If the kid was by your own admittance the best player on the field, then you're proving the point that their weaker teammates didn't impact their individual skillset and development |
You must be a parent of the 2-3 kids if your takeaway from that is thinking an individually talented player spending 20-30 games over a year having minimal impact in a team sport due to inferior teammates doesn’t hurt development. FWIW, said player moved on shortly thereafter as most do in those situations. |
Every team has a best player and 4 or 5 strongest players A year or two in that scenario doesn't take away individual skills from the best player who attained majority of his higher level skills outside team practice |
Are we really talking about 10-11 year olds and being “the best” player on the team 😂 Hands down the best I’ve seen in that age group 😂 |
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Clearly PP is conflating winning with developing, which makes no sense at u11 and below. There are many things a coach can do that increase the odds of winning but don’t affect or even hurt development.
E.g. kickball/long ball; punting instead of building out the back through inconsistent learning players; making someone play full time goalie; training set plays for corners and throw ins; keeping players in set positions; etc. |
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Yall do know that a lot of good young players actually like being competitive and are ok with losing, right? And their parents are, gasp, ok with it too as a natural part of development along with all of the other things?
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🎯 |
| I really don't see how 2 or 3 weak players on a team of 18 ruin practice. That's ridiculous. |
Agree. |
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It almost never happens mid season. The only one I can think of is a kid moving from HG to AD because they wanted to play HS soccer.
I have seen kids move up, or get guest play and practice time to prep for a move for next season. I've also seen newer coaches have practices substantially degraded by 2-3 kids who can't behave. One of my kids teams shared a field and I'd see them goofing off and think how glad I was to avoid that. |
| Sounds like those coaches have poor practice management. |
At younger ages the teams are 14 max (some as little as 10 or 11)... both my kids' teams have been 13 or less. So, during practice when one or two are missing and 3 aren't very good, you get about 1/3 of the team that can't make a proper pass or follow directions. This screws up the practice dynamic. Yes, the coach can mitigate this, but then you get partial segregation and its noticeable by both kids and parents. |