Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There aren’t enough specifics here to make a judgment call. It’s common for soccer teams to enter tournaments but add players from off the team, because not everyone from the regular season team can play in the tournament, or there are some good players someone knows who could boost the team’s chances of success in the tournament. There’s nothing unusual about that, and it isn’t wrong unless rules are broken. If other parents looked at you like you have two heads when you used the team’s regular season name, this could be why. They aren’t necessarily playing as that team. Sometimes 2 teams merge and take on a new name for tournaments.

I would downshift considerably before jumping to conclusions about the coach’s behavior.

They looked at me blankly because they didn't even know the name of the team. Only the color. Because their kids was not a member of the team or invested in the team in any way -- had not practiced with them every week, joined in their wins and losses, etc.

Everyone from our team was available, healthy and showed up to play. Are you saying it's still okay to bring in kids who are at a higher skill level than the competition so they can win?

That's news to me. I'm not into sports other than as a parent, so if this is the case, I'm surprised.

Yes it is. Kids that can't make a higher level team will grow playing with better and faster kids. It's 6th grade, this is not world cup and while winning can feel good it is basically meaningless.

Sometimes coaches will pull a kid or two up to challenge them.

The rules limit the # of guest players but it is all legal.

Anonymous wrote:It is not normal in basketball to bring in guest players. The rosters are much smaller. Only five kids can play at a time! If the coach brings in 3 guest players, that's more than half the kids on the court.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There aren’t enough specifics here to make a judgment call. It’s common for soccer teams to enter tournaments but add players from off the team, because not everyone from the regular season team can play in the tournament, or there are some good players someone knows who could boost the team’s chances of success in the tournament. There’s nothing unusual about that, and it isn’t wrong unless rules are broken. If other parents looked at you like you have two heads when you used the team’s regular season name, this could be why. They aren’t necessarily playing as that team. Sometimes 2 teams merge and take on a new name for tournaments.

I would downshift considerably before jumping to conclusions about the coach’s behavior.

They looked at me blankly because they didn't even know the name of the team. Only the color. Because their kids was not a member of the team or invested in the team in any way -- had not practiced with them every week, joined in their wins and losses, etc.

Everyone from our team was available, healthy and showed up to play. Are you saying it's still okay to bring in kids who are at a higher skill level than the competition so they can win?

That's news to me. I'm not into sports other than as a parent, so if this is the case, I'm surprised.

Anonymous wrote:It is not normal in basketball to bring in guest players. The rosters are much smaller. Only five kids can play at a time! If the coach brings in 3 guest players, that's more than half the kids on the court.

Anonymous wrote:My son's played travel soccer for years. This is normal and happens throughout the whole season. As long as the kids guesting are rostered in the league (i.e. have player cards with the league and have the right birthdays) it's common and not an issue.

Anonymous wrote:This is basketball, BTW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as they are the same birth year or younger, it's "guesting" not cheating. It's normal for coaches to bring in players to help out when needed.

Now, if the coach didn't really need to do it but just brought them in to stack the deck, then I can fully understand why you would be upset. I might talk to the higher ups and get a sense if this is SOP. If so, you might decide to change clubs for next year.

Everyone showed up. We were able to sub out every player when needed. He was definitely stacking the deck.

But was it illegal? Was it cheating? If not you need to leave it alone.

Yes, you shouldn't assume that the coach did anything against the rules. Soccer is the sport I'm most familiar with, and virtually all tournaments permit teams to bring up to 3 guest players. A coach's decision to do so may not be popular with the kids and parents who are displaced by the guest players, but it absolutely 100% within the rules. Check whether the league allows this before you talk to the coach or his boss.

You may well still have a legitimate complaint about why he brought the players, how he handled the situation, and the effect on the regular team players, but don't go in there guns a blazin' making accusations if the coach did not actually "cheat".

How do I find the rules?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as they are the same birth year or younger, it's "guesting" not cheating. It's normal for coaches to bring in players to help out when needed.

Now, if the coach didn't really need to do it but just brought them in to stack the deck, then I can fully understand why you would be upset. I might talk to the higher ups and get a sense if this is SOP. If so, you might decide to change clubs for next year.

Everyone showed up. We were able to sub out every player when needed. He was definitely stacking the deck.

But was it illegal? Was it cheating? If not you need to leave it alone.

Yes, you shouldn't assume that the coach did anything against the rules. Soccer is the sport I'm most familiar with, and virtually all tournaments permit teams to bring up to 3 guest players. A coach's decision to do so may not be popular with the kids and parents who are displaced by the guest players, but it absolutely 100% within the rules. Check whether the league allows this before you talk to the coach or his boss.

You may well still have a legitimate complaint about why he brought the players, how he handled the situation, and the effect on the regular team players, but don't go in there guns a blazin' making accusations if the coach did not actually "cheat".