Playing Down in Youth Soccer...what's legal?

[Anonymous]

So at a tournament this past weekend I saw a player that I know is on the top team of a local club playing on the second team.
The player helped the team win the championship in the second division.

Against the rules, or just bad sportsmanship?

[Anonymous]

You'd have to read the tournament rules. But he was likely a "guest player" and as long as the right age, it was fine.

[Anonymous]

It definitely happens. As long as he was rostered to B on the tournament roster and didn’t play for both teams during the tournament it’s allowed. I initially thought your question was going to be that the player was playing in a lower age group which would not be allowed. I personally hate when teams do it but it seems to be common practice from my experience.

[Anonymous]

If the player was from a very strong first team, then it sounds unfair, even if allowed by the tournament rules.

If the the first team isn't too strong, then probably wouldn't make that much of a difference.

We usually see guest players moving up, not down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the player was from a very strong first team, then it sounds unfair, even if allowed by the tournament rules.

If the the first team isn't too strong, then probably wouldn't make that much of a difference.

We usually see guest players moving up, not down.

OP here.
One of the best players from a very good first team.

[Anonymous]

I'd have no issue if the 2nd team was playing in a top division, but bringing a 1st division ringer into a 2nd division bracket is poor sportsmanship.

[Anonymous]

tournaments always seem to have some kind of odd thing going on. I’d just get used to it, just a game. let the kids rise to the challenge.

is it fair that there are significant physical maturity divides at early ages? all part of the same coin.

[Anonymous]

With spring break many teams struggled to fill rosters this weekend.

[Anonymous]

As a parent, I’d be more pissed that a guest player is playing on my kids team. it disrupts team chemistry and is kind of lame that a coach feels the need to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So at a tournament this past weekend I saw a player that I know is on the top team of a local club playing on the second team.
The player helped the team win the championship in the second division.

Against the rules, or just bad sportsmanship?

Only playing down in age is against the rules. Clubs do this and is essentially a nothing burger.

[Anonymous]

I know a team recently that had 3 ECNL guest players in a lower division tournament. They won, no surprise.

[Anonymous]

Let me guess, Annandale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent, I’d be more pissed that a guest player is playing on my kids team. it disrupts team chemistry and is kind of lame that a coach feels the need to do that.

If they were short players and invited him/her--okay. But, the it is usually rewarding a player from the lower team to play up that weekend. It's fairly shitty to have the star player, play down and it really sends a bad message for the kids on the lower team.

[Anonymous]

Do you consider it as bad sportsmanship if a top A team player decides to join the B team because he/she likes the coach better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the player was from a very strong first team, then it sounds unfair, even if allowed by the tournament rules.

If the the first team isn't too strong, then probably wouldn't make that much of a difference.

We usually see guest players moving up, not down.

OP here.
One of the best players from a very good first team.

So what?