Is playing up a good idea?

[Anonymous]

Or a bad idea? My 2007 player is playing on a U15 team in a very high level. He’s mostly sitting on the bench. Next year he will play with kids his age. So, my question is: will he likely get better by practicing with older and definitely bigger players? What’s the thinking on this? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

A player should only be playing up if they are able to start for the top team at the older age group.

[Anonymous]

It does no good to "sit up" -- "playing up" a year if your kid is appropriate size is okay.

[Anonymous]

Diminishing returns when physicality makes it so they can’t keep up.

At U13/14, I’ve seen it’s time from a few play ups to go back down to their correct age group.

[Anonymous]

He can definitely get better if he’s training or playing pick up with older boys. Should he be playing up? There’s no one size fits all answer, and if he’s not getting minutes it’s a waste of his time, better to be in his own age group where he has more time and space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He can definitely get better if he’s training or playing pick up with older boys. Should he be playing up? There’s no one size fits all answer, and if he’s not getting minutes it’s a waste of his time, better to be in his own age group where he has more time and space.

Agreed. Friend has the same issue due to COVID. U15 playing up on U17 due to numbers.. Physically she’s not there, but technically and in soccer IQ she’s improving and will be much better when she drops to her correct age group post COVID. Granted she’s still not earning a starting spot and is not playing the full game. She does get at least 40 minutes in a 90 minute game consistently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A player should only be playing up if they are able to start for the top team at the older age group.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Coach here

My U16 only has 5 players. My U15 has 12. For obvious reasons my U16 games I have all my U15 players. Some are able to play and some have a hard time. If you have heart and willingness to learn you can get a lot of benefits. Currently we are first in the division for both teams. If your child is being brought up to warm the bench the coaches are conning you and your child will get nothing out of it. My $0.02.

[Anonymous]

If you’re kid is playing up but on the bench it would be smarter to have him play with his own age but train with the older team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re kid is playing up but on the bench it would be smarter to have him play with his own age but train with the older team.

This is what i was thinking.

[Anonymous]

Playing up has advantages until they hit that age when the opponents they are playing up for are going against teams that are MUCH bigger. It'll happen... about the U13/14 (depends for girls vs boys), the opposing team is stout. All of a sudden your "speed and quick feet" hold very little weight against a defender who hip bumps you and you crumble. Also, I saw from other girls playing up is that when they eventually play with their proper aged team, they've lost a lot of cohesion and comradery the other players have who've been together those 2-3 years while you were playing up. It sounds like a great idea, but rarely does it work out. Like other say, if you're playing full time and enjoying it, there isn't harm... but the consequences could comes quick and it's hard to just leave one team for another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re kid is playing up but on the bench it would be smarter to have him play with his own age but train with the older team.

This is what i was thinking.

Doesn’t make sense if they are not starting/ playing significant minutes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Playing up has advantages until they hit that age when the opponents they are playing up for are going against teams that are MUCH bigger. It'll happen... about the U13/14 (depends for girls vs boys), the opposing team is stout. All of a sudden your "speed and quick feet" hold very little weight against a defender who hip bumps you and you crumble. Also, I saw from other girls playing up is that when they eventually play with their proper aged team, they've lost a lot of cohesion and comradery the other players have who've been together those 2-3 years while you were playing up. It sounds like a great idea, but rarely does it work out. Like other say, if you're playing full time and enjoying it, there isn't harm... but the consequences could comes quick and it's hard to just leave one team for another.

I think this is happening to my son. The kids are so much bigger physically.

[Anonymous]

Coach here -

He should only be playing up if they are head and shoulders above the team he would be playing on. Even then, if he isn't getting play time on the team he's playing up for I'm not sure what the point is.

Having said that if the training is MUCH better than the training his normal team would get, it may not be a terrible trade off.

But in my humble opinion a lot of things have to go right for playing up to be the best choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or a bad idea? My 2007 player is playing on a U15 team in a very high level. He’s mostly sitting on the bench. Next year he will play with kids his age. So, my question is: will he likely get better by practicing with older and definitely bigger players? What’s the thinking on this? Thanks!

Playing up is the most misused and abused concept I've seen in American youth soccer. Most kids who play up shouldn't and it's an ego trip for parents. If a kid isn't a difference maker playing up, the kid should play in his age group. Too often kids are played up to their level of mediocrity. They may be great at their own age group, but then they get played up and are just average. Struggling to hang onto the ball, struggling to win or even keep the ball becomes defeating, and what they lose confidence. I can't tell you how many kids I've seen who were on their way to becoming great players and got ruined by excessive, improper playing up.