Reply to Playing time expectations

Forum Index » Soccer

Reply to "Playing time expectations "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I fixed it for you.

To the OP, look at the tone of the complainers. If a kid is getting more time they are labeled as "favorites" and not considered to be better. Sure parents were unhappy and I'll give them credit for talking to the coach. But all they wanted was unilaterally more playing time without a consideration of how their kids could actually improve to earn more minutes. But they've covered the fruitlessness of that endeavor because in their eyes the other kids are "favorites" and not actually deserving or better players in a travel environment.

Similar things have been echoed by other "take my ball and go home" parents who have used words or statements like "believe" or the coach just isn't "interested in my kid".

The bottom line is that in order for a kid to actually get better and become a better player they have to admit that they actually need to get better. Simply leaving a club for greener pastures will not in and of itself make the player better in the long run.

Where this whole thread is really divided is there are two lines:

I am advocating that the real issue is how to help the kid get better as a player. I have made no statements about staying or leaving the current team. To me that is secondary and one should always go where they are happy, appreciated etc...

The other side is really only interested in the minutes and not really about the development. Not one of the opposing statements have mentioned anything about how their kid can improve. They believe playing time and development are one and the same. The coach is right about training being more important than games. Games are fun but they are not the development tool you believe them to be. The desire to play is strong and a kid should play where they can be impactful but that is not as important at 9 years old. Practicing with and against stronger players 3 times a week is more important than 5 more minutes in a game.

______________________________________________/

Start with explaining how the kid is getting better sitting on the bench?  Remember we are talking about kids who show up to every practice with good attitudes and work hard.  Are they learning better passing skills sitting on the bench?  Are they learning spacing?  Are they getting better with their dribbling in game conditions sitting on the bench?  What, exactly, are they getting better at by sitting on the bench?  And, if they are, in fact, getting "better" shouldn't the kids on the field also be getting "better" in the same manner?  Why are those kids being penalized by playing the games?  Why is it so important that player A sit on the bench for half or more of a game, but player B plays most of the game?  Is player A benefiting from sitting on the bench more than player is benefiting from playing in the game?  Really -- with your theory -- player B should just sit and watch the entire game, because he will then improve more.

[/quote]

I'll tell you why, because games simply do not offer the amount of touches necessary to improve in technical areas of the game. At 9 years old if a kid doesn't truly understand the game regarding off the ball movement then yes watching can be a learning opportunity. BUT it will not work if what to look for is not explained or good play is not pointed out in real time by the coach and obviously if the player is tuned out.

Kids at 8 and 9 years old are picked just as much for their potential as they are their ability to immediately offer impact. Soccer takes a long time to learn from technical to tactical and then the ability to pull it all off in a game with parents yelling. Frankly, some kids need to be brought along more slowly and everyone learns the game at different rates and stages. If a kid continues to make the same mistake over and over in game a coach would be doubling down on that mistake by leaving them in the game. Correcting the mistake should be done during the week and not in a game.

But calling the starters the coaches "favorites" is burying your head in the sand regarding your own kid. And if you really do not want to explore how your kid can get better then frankly you will not be missed on a team with kids who do want to get better. Getting better is why kids play travel. Getting to play equal minutes without consequence for fun is why kids play rec. Figure which one is your kid. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics