Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 15:21     Subject: Guest player scam?
Anonymous wrote:We have full participation (all players RSVPd yes) for our first tournament of the season but the coach or club added players from the team above ours. Now these kids are taking up playing time and a significant amount (not like starting as subs to give a break). The kids they added aren't on the regular team so not sure how this helps anyone (guest players are playing down, current team members don't bond and play together while losing out on minutes, touches and important decision making opportunities).

Is this normal in a 9v9 setting?


Yes, it happens. Then they will show up once in a while for games and tournaments and take all the playtimes away from the regular players (who paid $$$ and came to all the practices)

I learned that this is the DMV way.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 14:22     Subject: Guest player scam?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m new to soccer. I thought that they could play up but not down? If it’s against the rules to pay down how do they get away with it?

If the club that's cheating by playing older players down is the host of the tournament (its their tournament) who do you complain to? This is the issue. They're not going to report themselves.



There still are tournament directors who are supposed to deal with these exact issues (luckily around here this is all outsourced anyways). I have to laugh at the whole "host" club for a lot of these things. Yes they rake in some $$$$, but there are tons of teams/age groups and they aren't rigging it for every single one.

Also the whole 2008's playing on 2010 sounds just made up honestly.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 14:12     Subject: Guest player scam?
Anonymous wrote:We have full participation (all players RSVPd yes) for our first tournament of the season but the coach or club added players from the team above ours. Now these kids are taking up playing time and a significant amount (not like starting as subs to give a break). The kids they added aren't on the regular team so not sure how this helps anyone (guest players are playing down, current team members don't bond and play together while losing out on minutes, touches and important decision making opportunities).

Is this normal in a 9v9 setting?


Sounds like GFR.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 13:58     Subject: Guest player scam?
Because parents made the W's and trophies more important.
So coaches feel pressure to deliver, while feeding their ego
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 12:54     Subject: Guest player scam?
Anonymous wrote:I’m new to soccer. I thought that they could play up but not down? If it’s against the rules to pay down how do they get away with it?

If the club that's cheating by playing older players down is the host of the tournament (its their tournament) who do you complain to? This is the issue. They're not going to report themselves.

Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 12:02     Subject: Guest player scam?
Anonymous wrote:I’m new to soccer. I thought that they could play up but not down? If it’s against the rules to pay down how do they get away with it?


This playing down means 1st team players are guesting with 2nd team in the same age group.

You are correct that you cannot play down with younger ages.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 11:52     Subject: Guest player scam?
I’m new to soccer. I thought that they could play up but not down? If it’s against the rules to pay down how do they get away with it?
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 11:31     Subject: Guest player scam?
Another fun one that happened recently was at halftime while both teams were hudled with their coaches the refs got together in the center of the field.

While all that was happening a parent from the other team walked up to the refs and "talked" to them. I swear he slipped them cash because after we didnt get a single call to the point that it was weird.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 11:17     Subject: Guest player scam?
Hahaha you think this is bad it gets worse.

My g2010 was playing at a tournament. They beat everyone and in the finals were playing the host club. At halftime 4 new players that were obviously bigger than all other players showed up on the host clubs bench. People were yelling about it but the refs had deaf ears likely from $100s stuffed in each one .

My kids team still won but later we found out the "guest" players were g2008s. If this was a friendly no big deal but this was a tournament with ranking points on the line.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 11:06     Subject: Guest player scam?
Name and shame the club.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 10:58     Subject: Guest player scam?
That's a really crappy move by the coach to add players from a team above, especially if not short - especially for one of the first events of the season.

I'd be pretty ticked off about this.

I've seen it happen at the end of a season in a tournament where players were added to "help" a weaker team pick up some wins. And it was usually on a couple of kids.

Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 10:52     Subject: Guest player scam?
No, this is not ok.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 10:27     Subject: Guest player scam?
Name the club so we know to stay away. This is only acceptable if parents remain quiet.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 09:51     Subject: Guest player scam?
LAME AF.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 09:49     Subject: Guest player scam?
We have full participation (all players RSVPd yes) for our first tournament of the season but the coach or club added players from the team above ours. Now these kids are taking up playing time and a significant amount (not like starting as subs to give a break). The kids they added aren't on the regular team so not sure how this helps anyone (guest players are playing down, current team members don't bond and play together while losing out on minutes, touches and important decision making opportunities).

Is this normal in a 9v9 setting?