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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Well -- over now obviously.

This is not a unique situation -- sadly.  But, it is time for a team meeting with all parents present.   Everyone needs to be on the same page going forward as this will certainly not be the last time the team plays in the tournament.

Generally -- if you paid to be on a team then your kid plays at least half of every game, and likely more depending on numbers.  A kid does not get better sitting on the bench.  There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  It is, and must always be the unwavering law.  Every kid on the team gets at least 1/2 of the game in playing time.

If the club does not want to play a kid at least half of the game -- it is easy.  Do not put the kid on the team.  Do not take his parents' money.  Now you do not have to play the kid at all.   If you take his parents' money then you have to play the kid.

What if the kid is really not that good, and we really want to win a tournament?  Train the kid up then.  It is never optional to play a kid.  What if the coach says he will play the kid more some other game, but in this game he will not play?  Nope.  Every game.  Every time.  No excuses accepted.  If a coach does not want to do that -- then it is time for the club to get a new coach.  
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Just curious - are you a coach?

In a past life.

Interestingly, the whole point of high level club play finally, DA and ECNL, is to develop players to keep moving on up.

It has taken a while, for sure. But, if there are any coaches out there these days who think it is more important for a u10 team to win a game over playing kids (absent a disciplinary issue) then they absolutely should be fired.

How to handle things now?  Set up a meeting towards the end of a practice.  The coach and club development director for that age group should both be there.  All team parents should be present - if they can make it.  The club policy on playing kids at that level should be reviewed and restated. The club policy on guest players should be reviewed and restated.  Guess what?  No club has a policy that says kids won’t play a half game in a tournament at u10, or that a team will take guest players on to try and win a u10 tournament.

Finally, as an aside; I would be very concerned about a coach who could not figure out their team was down a player for an entire half.  For a minute - sure.  “I forgot to tell John he is in to start the half”.  To let it go for an entire half?  That’s not normal.

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