Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What about playing time? What's a good or acceptable minimum, since everyone (excluding guest players) pays the same?
Work out the total number of player minutes on the pitch and then divide by the number of players (excluding the GK if they don't rotate). Come up with a baseline number that is totally equal and then set a minimum that is no greater percentage lower than the percentage higher the 'best' players will be on the pitch. So if the average works out to 50 minutes (out of 70 total) then some kids will play no less than 40 and some will playing more than 60, or something like that.
Or, since it is rec, just go for a straight average.
The above formula is what I always used and it works great. Since it's rec, but a tournament, I think the split above makes sense. Set the expectation in a pre-tournament email that playing time will not be completely equal since this is a competitive event, but everyone will get a chance to contribute. Then if you make sure every player gets at least 35-40 min (a little more than half a game), hopefully no one will go home completely pissed off.
It would be completely asinine to take kids to a rec tournament and then not give all of them a chance to play. There's not a lot of "recreation" going on sitting on the bench.