Well -- over now obviously.

This is not a unique situation -- sadly. But, it is time for a team meeting with all parents present. Everyone needs to be on the same page going forward as this will certainly not be the last time the team plays in the tournament.

Generally -- if you paid to be on a team then your kid plays at least half of every game, and likely more depending on numbers. A kid does not get better sitting on the bench. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It is, and must always be the unwavering law. Every kid on the team gets at least 1/2 of the game in playing time.

If the club does not want to play a kid at least half of the game -- it is easy. Do not put the kid on the team. Do not take his parents' money. Now you do not have to play the kid at all. If you take his parents' money then you have to play the kid.

What if the kid is really not that good, and we really want to win a tournament? Train the kid up then. It is never optional to play a kid. What if the coach says he will play the kid more some other game, but in this game he will not play? Nope. Every game. Every time. No excuses accepted. If a coach does not want to do that -- then it is time for the club to get a new coach.

The kids care and know if they won for not. I've seen this BS argument for so long in soccer - we're developing players, we don't care if we win! Well, if you are doing a better job than the next coach, you will win. It's such a dodge of responsibility. In no other sport in the US does anyone say 'we don't care who wins'. You have 10 - 12 years olds in Little League mastering the game - but at 10 in soccer we don't care who wins? More than a few years ago now, we had NCSL as the dominant local soccer league, but it had promotion and relegation, which required you to - horrors - WIN to stay in your division or else face relegation to a lower division. That league is now basically a shadow of what it was, so everyone can play in leagues that just require your check to clear.

I don't understand your point in the context of OP's post Winning is important so it is better for a coach to get players from elsewhere to give the appearance that his team won even though it wasn't his players who contributed to the win? Your argument might make sense if coaches were consistently training and playing he same group of players, not routinely adding and subtracting players to produce wins on any given day.

Tournaments are tiered. A good club/coach puts each team in the appropriate tier. If the team has no chance of winning without the guest players, then the coach isn't doing is job and the "win" is a cover.

Maybe my kids are weird, but at that age, the would have much rather played than won sitting on the bench.

I would be really upset that this paid coach can't seem to count, or think's OP is stupid enough to believe his BS story that he didn't realize how many players were playing in the second half. I'm sorry, NO WAY is that the truth.

Pick up the phone and call the club. Find whoever is in charge and talk to them.

Anonymous wrote:There have to trolls on these threads. Every time someone mentions a reasonable issue involving playing time someone suggests the parent demandes
equal playing time. OP never mentioned equal playing time, so there is no reason to tell her to take her son back to rec. Yes, it is common to use guest players in tournaments but it is ludicrous to play them exclusively over kids who are actually on the team and not in the doghouse for some reason.

These kids are 9 years old! Who cares if they win[i]. People are unhinged if they think this behavior is ok. If winning is that important, use the elite players but find a way to get the regulars in the game. Use the opportunity to play the elite players at different positions.

The big problem is finding something better. This is the norm, not the exception.

The kids care and know if they won for not. I've seen this BS argument for so long in soccer - we're developing players, we don't care if we win! Well, if you are doing a better job than the next coach, you will win. It's such a dodge of responsibility. In no other sport in the US does anyone say 'we don't care who wins'. You have 10 - 12 years olds in Little League mastering the game - but at 10 in soccer we don't care who wins? More than a few years ago now, we had NCSL as the dominant local soccer league, but it had promotion and relegation, which required you to - horrors - WIN to stay in your division or else face relegation to a lower division. That league is now basically a shadow of what it was, so everyone can play in leagues that just require your check to clear.

The guests were helping you out. You probably had a better result, and may not have been able to field a team without them.

Wait the coach did not know the entire second half but they were playing one man down?

I understand where you’re coming from OP. I have a son who plays more of in the situation of one of the elite players you are describing. His team actually plays U10 but they play up and he is U9. He is often asked to play with the U9 team in his club and often gets more playing time then some of the players who are actually on that team. I can see they would find it frustrating.

There have to trolls on these threads. Every time someone mentions a reasonable issue involving playing time someone suggests the parent demandes
equal playing time. OP never mentioned equal playing time, so there is no reason to tell her to take her son back to rec. Yes, it is common to use guest players in tournaments but it is ludicrous to play them exclusively over kids who are actually on the team and not in the doghouse for some reason.

These kids are 9 years old! Who cares if they win. People are unhinged if they think this behavior is ok. If winning is that important, use the elite players but find a way to get the regulars in the game. Use the opportunity to play the elite players at different positions.

The big problem is finding something better. This is the norm, not the exception.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not a recreation league - the coaches and the players play to win. You want equal playing time, play in a recreation league.

OP wants soccer socialism.

"Soccer socialism" until U15 or so is how you develop players and then win games when winning actually counts. The "US Soccer Way" is how our MNT gets lots of rest during world cup summers.

OP: Find a new club, new team, new coach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not a recreation league - the coaches and the players play to win. You want equal playing time, play in a recreation league.

That makes more sense but this coach imported random players who are not on their team to play! That’s bizarre!

U10??? Who the f cares about winning at u10? OP said it’s a developmental team. Seriously anyone saying stay is an idiot. There are multiple red flags with this coach. He did not know that he was playing a man down for a 1/2 and he was trying to win!!!

You teach your kid nothing by staying with this coach. Leave and find another team. Draft a letter today to the head of the club, do not send it today. Review it on Tuesday and send it then if you feel the same way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not a recreation league - the coaches and the players play to win. You want equal playing time, play in a recreation league.

That makes more sense but this coach imported random players who are not on their team to play! That’s bizarre!

Every tournament has specific rules on guest players. It is quite common. You have no idea what you are talking about.

Anonymous wrote:This is not a recreation league - the coaches and the players play to win. You want equal playing time, play in a recreation league.

That makes more sense but this coach imported random players who are not on their team to play! That’s bizarre!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I should clarify. The league they play in actually has rules that state players in a higher division cannot play down. Coach skirts the rules by getting players from an elite team not in the same league.

That sounds like obeying the rules. You sound like a nightmare parent.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I should clarify. The league they play in actually has rules that state players in a higher division cannot play down. Coach skirts the rules by getting players from an elite team not in the same league.

What a nightmare.

Come up with another plan for a college scholarship, I guess.

OP here. I should clarify. The league they play in actually has rules that state players in a higher division cannot play down. Coach skirts the rules by getting players from an elite team not in the same league.