No. This is not the norm at such a young age. At u9-u10 I think everyone got at least 20 minutes and most kids much more. I’d walk for sure in your shoes.

It changes as they get older. DS plays u16 where there is no guaranteed playing time. Some of the kids on his varsity team don’t play at all. I mean zero minutes in some games. But on his current club team, pretty much everybody gets at least 15 minutes. It’s just very coach dependent.

USYSA rules up through u12 provide that every player must play at least 30 minutes every game. No ifs ands or buts other than injury, sickness or league approved discipline. Not an option.

Here’s the thing, no one knows who will develop and keep playing. The best players at 9 are not the best at 13 and those are not the best at 18. My daughter played 4 years of soccer in college and played very high level club soccer from age 9 to 18. The coaches on the top teams are making sure everyone is playing. If they did not - kids would move on to another club.

Anonymous wrote:You pay $3000 for your kid to play soccer? OMG!!! What a racket.

To play 5 minutes in a game.

Nobody pays $3k for Rec soccer. In Travel, which costs $3k and more, the best players play, the others jump ship and play at other clubs where their kids will play. The clubs get this, and while they used to have 2 teams per age group, they want to make $$, and now have 4, 5, and 6 teams per age level. There's a su@ker born every minute

Anonymous wrote:You pay $3000 for your kid to play soccer? OMG!!! What a racket.

I’m a PP with a kid that does rec. This is why we don’t do travel, it’s all a big scam but so many people fall for it. It’s madness.

Anonymous wrote:OP here...

By recruited I mean they have a sort of rec type league. He played in that last fall. The coaches saw him and invited him to practice with and then join the travel team. So there was no tryout but they were familiar with his ability.

It is reassuring to hear that this is not the norm.

Oh honey. A club with multiple teams tells lots of rec parents their kid should do travel. They just want as many paying customers as possible and will usually just keep making teams in an age group until they run out of people willing to pay. But lots of people fall for it! You need to talk to the director (over the coach) and insist on half the game in playtime or a refund. Be a pain in the butt. Stick up for your kid. Sitting on the bench the whole game at u9 is absurd.
You werent gojng to stay there either way after this season, right?

I think US youth soccer sets guidelines on playing time for the younger age groups. Our club follows this and guarantees a minimum of 30 min playing time for each kid. It’s not the best for winning but definitely better for development which is what matters when they’re young. I would be asking your club why they’re not following the guidelines.

You pay $3000 for your kid to play soccer? OMG!!! What a racket.

Not normal at all. Talk to coach.

Anonymous wrote:OP here...

By recruited I mean they have a sort of rec type league. He played in that last fall. The coaches saw him and invited him to practice with and then join the travel team. So there was no tryout but they were familiar with his ability.

It is reassuring to hear that this is not the norm.

That is not the norm. Most travel coaches know to develop U9-U12 players and get them in about half the game at least. I would look for a club with multiple teams (Red, White, Black, Blue which are mostly sorted out on skill.) so that your player can get on the right team and get lots of playing time. My daughter moved up from being a great player on her team and playing most of the whole game to the red team on an older age group, she doesn't start, but the coach still gets har 25-35 minutes in the game. I may move her back down so she can start for the team. If they aren't getting the subs about half a game, it is best to move clubs because 5 or 10 minutes per game is terrible development.

OP here...

By recruited I mean they have a sort of rec type league. He played in that last fall. The coaches saw him and invited him to practice with and then join the travel team. So there was no tryout but they were familiar with his ability.

It is reassuring to hear that this is not the norm.

At u9 to u12 every kid should play at a minimum close to half the game. It won’t be equal but shouldn’t be 5 minutes either. I had 2 kids play for a large club and the only time I saw a kid play that little was in a state cup final at u12. Never at u9.

What does it mean to be recruited? Genuine question?
My DD is 11 and only does rec soccer because I’m not revolving my life and finances around a sport. They all get pretty equal playing time.
I’d be pissed if they didn’t.
I feel like this is a question all the parents who pay lots of money for leagues like yours should ask up front.
My kid tries out for school basketball next week if she gets on the team it’s $180. Im definitely asking if she’s getting equal playtime before I fork that over.

I should also add that they have basically only had him play one position this entire time. He is always striker. Is that normal for a 9 year old?

What should parents reasonably expect with regard to playing time at the youth level? Should the playing time be roughly even or does it vary a lot from team to team?

My son was recruited to join a team. We were excited. He started with them last winter. Then in the spring and fall he has often seen very little playing time. It is super frustrating to see, especially given the high costs ($3k+ per year) and the time commitment. He will regularly be played 5 minutes in the second half whether there are 7 guys on the bench or today 2. It's not that I think he's a star in the making. Idk. He's 9 and a December birthday. He is very athletic but he needs time on the pitch to develop. I get incredibly angry because it just seems downright disrespectful from the coach. And this has happened with multiple coaches in the club. Not just the head coach.

We are definitely leaving this club. I planned to quit soccer altogether but while looking into another club online they say on their website which age groups are developmental and will have equal playing time. It makes me wonder how unusual what we've been experiencing is.