Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Players on my son's team still get equal playing time (if there's a disparity I can't see it) at U14.

At U9-U11, if that wasn't happening I would definitely leave.

Is this travel? What club? A, B or C team?

Probably outing myself, but it doesn't really matter -- Travel, A team, NCSL Div. 1.

I’m guessing Olney Rangers. It’s a big team so you aren’t outing yourself. If anything, you’re making the coach look good!

Well, then, I want to give the right coach props. It's FPYC. Though my son's team played Olney last week and they are really solid and seem to be well-coached as well.

Too bad we don’t live closer. But I do wonder if it’s just because the talent pool is very tight. On my son’s B team there is a huge range of ability. My son is at the lower end on the field from my observations.

Parents on a travel team all pay the same amount for their kids to be on the team; hence they expect equitable playing time. While this is fair on a monetarily, it’s not fair if a kid is not focused, out of position, doesn’t practice hard and/or consistently plays poorly but expects equal playing time with the kids. Either way, there will be unhappy parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Probably outing myself, but it doesn't really matter -- Travel, A team, NCSL Div. 1.

That's probably your answer - coach and club wants to maintain its A team's Div. 1 standing.

But it's not acceptable at U9 or even U11. Other than the keeper, playing time should be more equitable for all the reasons stated. Obviously it won't be equal.

You’re misunderstanding. I said our U14, D1 A team gives equal playing time to all players.

Anonymous wrote:

Probably outing myself, but it doesn't really matter -- Travel, A team, NCSL Div. 1.

That's probably your answer - coach and club wants to maintain its A team's Div. 1 standing.

But it's not acceptable at U9 or even U11. Other than the keeper, playing time should be more equitable for all the reasons stated. Obviously it won't be equal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Players on my son's team still get equal playing time (if there's a disparity I can't see it) at U14.

At U9-U11, if that wasn't happening I would definitely leave.

Is this travel? What club? A, B or C team?

Probably outing myself, but it doesn't really matter -- Travel, A team, NCSL Div. 1.

I’m guessing Olney Rangers. It’s a big team so you aren’t outing yourself. If anything, you’re making the coach look good!

Well, then, I want to give the right coach props. It's FPYC. Though my son's team played Olney last week and they are really solid and seem to be well-coached as well.

That can only be the U14 team (not u9-u12)...so, in fact, it is more common to have starters and non-starters at that age. Either way, just talk to the coach. He's a very open guy.

Development is not equal across a team, it is more on a curve. a coach can target the low end of the team, middle or high end. Just because a coach gives equal playing time doesn’t mean he is better at developing, he is just more focused on the bottom half of the team and the top players aren’t getting pushed as hard as they could. Most coaches aim at developing the top half of the team and try to encourage competition and push the top players. With that comes unequal playing time.

We stuck with MSI Classic with professional coach until U11. Each kid is required to play at least 50% of game and the objective (of our team, at least) is development.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Players on my son's team still get equal playing time (if there's a disparity I can't see it) at U14.

At U9-U11, if that wasn't happening I would definitely leave.

Is this travel? What club? A, B or C team?

Probably outing myself, but it doesn't really matter -- Travel, A team, NCSL Div. 1.

I’m guessing Olney Rangers. It’s a big team so you aren’t outing yourself. If anything, you’re making the coach look good!

Well, then, I want to give the right coach props. It's FPYC. Though my son's team played Olney last week and they are really solid and seem to be well-coached as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Players on my son's team still get equal playing time (if there's a disparity I can't see it) at U14.

At U9-U11, if that wasn't happening I would definitely leave.

Is this travel? What club? A, B or C team?

Probably outing myself, but it doesn't really matter -- Travel, A team, NCSL Div. 1.

I’m guessing Olney Rangers. It’s a big team so you aren’t outing yourself. If anything, you’re making the coach look good!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Players on my son's team still get equal playing time (if there's a disparity I can't see it) at U14.

At U9-U11, if that wasn't happening I would definitely leave.

Is this travel? What club? A, B or C team?

Probably outing myself, but it doesn't really matter -- Travel, A team, NCSL Div. 1.

Anonymous wrote:Players on my son's team still get equal playing time (if there's a disparity I can't see it) at U14.

At U9-U11, if that wasn't happening I would definitely leave.

Is this travel? What club? A, B or C team?

Players on my son's team still get equal playing time (if there's a disparity I can't see it) at U14.

At U9-U11, if that wasn't happening I would definitely leave.

Bottom line, your kid should be playing at a level where they are playing more than 50% of the game. If they are only playing 20% of the games then take the hint and seek a more appropriate level.

If this is a A team then ask if your kid can get some games in with the B team. If the training environment is good that is still the most important thing but the games are why kids are there. Acknowledging that don’t bang your head bemoaning how “it all should be”, it is what it is and accept it.

Talk to the coach about your kids shortcomings and go and work on them because changing teams or clubs will still not adress the deficiencies and if they are real then they will follow your child.

I think the Barca Academy is worth considering for this age group. Maybe others, but I'm just familiar with them. If they are within range for you driving wise, I think you might consider checking them out.

Anonymous wrote:NO decent club and NO decent coach would do that in those years. Only once they go full field. The entire point of u9-u12 is development (many/all positions, constant rotation, development over winning/gaining soccer iQ).

—Signed a former coach and D2 college player

Regardless of what should happen, what OP described is exactly what will happen when you put kids in a competitive system like travel. Clubs care about their reputations and aren’t going to tolerate losing teams for the sake of playing everyone equally because the reputation effect of losing at one level can affect recruiting for other years. If teams do poorly at u9-u11, what are the odds a good player considering switching clubs is going to join when that group gets to u12?

If that’s not the environment you want for your kid at this age, don’t put them in travel.