2nd Grade Soccer Playing Time

[Anonymous]

went to pick up my teen who's new to reffing, so i arrived early to check out how he's doing, and got to watch about ten minutes of an exciting and competitive soccer game. There's one strong player who's probably coach's daughter, really stood out from the rest of the field, and was exciting to watch. She also played the entire time I was there while other players were being subbed. on the drive home DS commented how one player on this team never got much playing time until the very end of game, and wondered why playing time wasn't more evenly distributed. He understood the player might've been a late arrival but he was still bothered by how late she finally entered the game.

i remember when DS was this age his coaches rotated everyone as fairly as possible, but that was six or seven years ago, so perhaps things are a bit different now? and the parents are probably okay with how coach runs this team if our observations were not far off?

[Anonymous]

It's never too early to introduce players to the concept of being a back up.

[Anonymous]

if it's a volunteer coach who is donating their time and effort at no cost and their kid is the best player who's going to tell them they can't keep them in the whole game

[Anonymous]

We used to have this girl on the team who was there because her parents wanted her to play soccer. At practice, she didn’t want to really be there and kept running back to her mom asking to go home. At game, she would cried when the coach put her in. Most of the times she would stand on the field or run a bit with the crowd but it was obvious she didn’t want to play soccer. They eventually quit and tried something else. It’s true that the coach should try to get everyone equal playtime as much as possible but sometimes it’s just impossible. This happen quite a bit in Rec team that the kids were there because the parents want them to be there not because they want to.

[Anonymous]

My DH coaches 2nd grade rec. He and the other coach rotate the kids as fairly as possible. Every kid gets at least two quarters and the ones who get 3 will sit out more the next week (they make note). They are also careful not to give our kids anything they looks like preferential treatment.

[Anonymous]

I assume we're talking about rec here.

Yes, they should have equal playing time. However, when you have parents coaching, you can't control what they do or how competitive they are. You also can't assume that the ref will have anything to say about it.

[Anonymous]

Yep lots of rec coaches think it’s the World Cup and all the girls are pro players. If it’s rec, all players get equal time. Most of the rec leagues have it in the rule book. Rec is just for the girls to have fun....nothing more

If it’s travel, it’s a different thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep lots of rec coaches think it’s the World Cup and all the girls are pro players. If it’s rec, all players get equal time. Most of the rec leagues have it in the rule book. Rec is just for the girls to have fun....nothing more

If it’s travel, it’s a different thing.

You see this in all age groups boys and girls. It is what is fundamentally wrong with US Soccer Rec Coaches. I understand that Rec coaches are volunteers however it is the clubs responsibility to train them and oversee how they perform. For Rec all players should be playing at least half of the game and should be as equal as possible however the human nature of the desire to win will always supersede that. You will have less skilled players on the bench and strong players getting the most playing time. At the cost of the other child's development. Not sure what makes it so difficult to understand that its REC Soccer...there are no standings, for the most part, everyone should play. Its sad

[Anonymous]

If you have 6 or 8 players for a 4v4 game it’s not difficult to have some play half a game and have it look like not equal time. It doesn’t have to be equal time, just at least 50% of the game.

As a rec coach, I really strived to be creative with sets of rosters for opportunity and challenges and it felt like some kids sat a while because i didnt sub every 2-3 minutes. kids played 6 or 12 minute rotations depending on the groupings.

One plea to OP: As a ref, please pay attention to making good calls and not substitution decisions.

[Anonymous]

Yes this is rec. didn't specify because I wasn't aware of any non rec soccer for 2nd graders. In our club it's rec only until 3rd Gr.

[Anonymous]

Every rec soccer league has rules about playing time, usually roughly equal or every player should play at least half the game.

Giving the coach the benefit of the doubt, it can be easy to lose track of the subbing AND sometimes kids need more breaks and want to play less than their share of time. (Tire easily, asthma etc)

[Anonymous]

Our 2nd grade rec soccer doesn't have referees-its 4 vs 4 with coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is rec. didn't specify because I wasn't aware of any non rec soccer for 2nd graders. In our club it's rec only until 3rd Gr.

Travel (like a lot of rec leagues) is organized by birth year. My December-second grader is in travel.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the coach and level.

Some coaches think it’s best to rotate everyone even if it means losing. I think that’s probably best esp for rec and young ages.

It also depends on the parent. I get that it’s desirable for your kid to play the highest level but sometimes they get more experience in all positions in the lower levels.

[Anonymous]

In rec, especially in 2nd grade, equal time is the standard.

You may not have enough familiarity with the kids to pick up on which kids are asking to be subbed out. You may not know that one of the kids who's staying in didn't get to play at all last week and the coach tries to make things equal over time. Or the kid who's only played 15 minutes total has just gotten cleared to return to play from an injury and the parents asked for limited field time in this game. Some coaches have rules. I think 2nd grade is a bit young for it, but my DC had a rec coach in an older grade where if you missed practice, you were only getting the minimum playing time in the next game. Or if you were late to the game, you were only getting the minimum playing time. Some kids don't want to be there, and the coach is doing his best to encourage them onto the field.

It's possible your son saw a problem. He could tell his supervisor and ask for guidance. But generally, I would expect kids and parents to handle playing time concerns.

It's very sweet that your son was so concerned with fairness.