How much playing time is enough?

Riggins

Riggins

BRONZE
Out of curiosity, I wonder how much playing time most people think is appropriate to expect on a top level club team. I don't mean DA, but lets say SCDSL 11v11 Flight 1 (either Europa or Champions). I can image a different number if your kid is a "star" or a player coming off the bench in "relief". So why not just give two answers?
  1. On your kids team do starters tend to get 60%, 75%, more playing time?
  2. What about the players coming off the bench in relief, maybe 50%, 60%, or maybe below 50%?
Just curious since I'm sure we all are at the stage of hitting tryouts and one question I'd like to ask is "What kind of playing time can my kid expect, on average?" I've heard parents tell the coach after a try out, "My son is interested. He wants to start at 10 and he will need to play 90-95% of the game." Which seemed extreme. That said, I want to be able to have some realistic expectations as I wouldn't want to pay $3000 for my kid to play less that 50% of a game... week... after... week...

Thanks!
 
It is certainly a question that you should ask. But don't count on the answer being totally accurate. Not because the coach is a lying jackass (which he/she very well might be), but because they probably don't know yet.
How many on the roster?
How often will the team play? Tournaments, scrimmages, futsal, etc?
What is the policy on missing practices? Is it different during Spring/Winter when some kids may play other sports?
Does your age group have free subs or are there limitations (05 and older in scdsl do not allow for re-entry in the 1st half and 1 re-entry in the 2nd half).
Will they bring in players from other teams within the club?
Is his/her play time policy different for friendlies, tournaments, league games?
Is your kid willing/able to play multiple positions?
Will the team be sandbagging in a lower flight or reaching a little and playing higher than they might be ready for?

(I'd say if you hear a parent say "My kid is a striker and we are only signing if he plays 90% of all games at striker", and the coach tells them "Yes." - Then you should run away. Either because the coach is soft or you'll be sharing a sideline with a nightmare parent)
 
1. 80-100% for top few
2. Middle players get 50-60% and bottom few get around 25%.

Of course each coach is different, and as Timbuck says above there will be many variables throughout any season.

A better question for the coach is where your kid ranks on the team. If it’s bottom 3-4, then you should consider the risk that playing time might be low and decide accordingly. Starting out with low playing time isn’t always bad - sometimes players grow the most when they’re constantly pushed by stronger players in practice and when they have to earn their place. It depends also on your kid’s work ethic and mindset.
 
my son just joined a flight 1 team for 2009 age group and was promised he would get playing time and we are 5 games in and he hasn't played more than 25% in any of the games. he is way more talented than kids that are playing 60% of the game. the coach came to recruit him! we did not go looking to switch. what would you guys do?
 
PhilBrooks said:
my son just joined a flight 1 team for 2009 age group and was promised he would get playing time and we are 5 games in and he hasn't played more than 25% in any of the games. he is way more talented than kids that are playing 60% of the game. the coach came to recruit him! we did not go looking to switch. what would you guys do?
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5 games in? The season ended 3 weeks ago. How did you just join a team and play 5 games?
Tournament weekend?
Is the rest of the team the team that they played with during the season? Because if I was on that team and the coach brought out a new player to join before State Cup (when the payment period resets) and the new player was getting more minutes than kids who had been practicing all season - There would be an issue.

Talk (calmly) to the coach and ask what's going on. There might be a good reason for it
 
Depends on the kid. My kid wants start and be in the action. Don't matter what level as long as she is playing in the game and making an impact.
 
Any coach that promises that your child will always start and/or have substantial playing time is either a liar or incredibly stupid. Timbuck's post is spot on in term of factors to consider and questions to ask although take any answer from the coach with a grain of salt. Roster size is going to be the most relevant factor.

IMO, I think for youngers at least 75% playing time is reasonable, for olders maybe 50-60% is OK (or however much time your older is OK with). I don't think starting is all that relevant if your player is getting playing time.
 
timbuck said:
5 games in? The season ended 3 weeks ago. How did you just join a team and play 5 games?
Tournament weekend?
Is the rest of the team the team that they played with during the season? Because if I was on that team and the coach brought out a new player to join before State Cup (when the payment period resets) and the new player was getting more minutes than kids who had been practicing all season - There would be an issue.

Talk (calmly) to the coach and ask what's going on. There might be a good reason for it
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In the Mexican leagues they have played 5 games. I talked to the coach and he said that the team is still learning how to play with my son and he wants to ease him in
 
Take a look at the length of the bench. 12 players on 9v9 means plenty of playing time to go around. 16 players means some kids dont see much field time.
 
Riggins said:
Out of curiosity, I wonder how much playing time most people think is appropriate to expect on a top level club team. I don't mean DA, but lets say SCDSL 11v11 Flight 1 (either Europa or Champions). I can image a different number if your kid is a "star" or a player coming off the bench in "relief". So why not just give two answers?
  1. On your kids team do starters tend to get 60%, 75%, more playing time?
  2. What about the players coming off the bench in relief, maybe 50%, 60%, or maybe below 50%?
Just curious since I'm sure we all are at the stage of hitting tryouts and one question I'd like to ask is "What kind of playing time can my kid expect, on average?" I've heard parents tell the coach after a try out, "My son is interested. He wants to start at 10 and he will need to play 90-95% of the game." Which seemed extreme. That said, I want to be able to have some realistic expectations as I wouldn't want to pay $3000 for my kid to play less that 50% of a game... week... after... week...

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Every coach does it differently, so there is not a universal answer to this. A lot of it has to do with how important winning vs development is to a particular coach. On my kid's team everyone plays at least 50%, but job security is not a concern for our coach who has a solid reputation.

To your questions #1 and #2:
Here is the math of it to give you some perspective. Assuming you have 16 kids on the team. Take away the GK and you have 15 kids for 10 spots and and an average of 67%. If you have 3 stud field players that play 100%, then that's 12 kids for the 7 spots left and an average of only 58%.

My DD went from a lesser team where she played 100% to a better team where she plays 65%. It's a difficult adjustment for me, but not for her. She knows if she wants to play more, she needs to earn it. I would stay way from anyone that promises you certain # of starts and a high amount of playing time. Every coach wants to win and would put the best XI players out there. In fact, most player contracts specifically state playing time is not guaranteed.

I use to over-think about these things myself :), but now I just apply some simple and unbiased (as much as a parent can) eyeball tests. Can your kid hang with the better players during practices? Is your kid a PRODUCTIVE player in his perspective flight? If so, it's all good and your kid will be the one determining his playing time.

Best of luck.
 
PhilBrooks said:
In the Mexican leagues they have played 5 games. I talked to the coach and he said that the team is still learning how to play with my son and he wants to ease him in
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First of all your coach is full of crap.

Second your coach is taking Mex League soccer way too seriously (not that there aren't parents that take Mex League soccer too seriously). The league really is for players to play in a less structured environment than club and play more freely. It is good for club players to play in to get supplemental touches without the pressure of club play. Also can be good to learn how to deal with physical play. Sounds like your coach is misguided and the roster is too big. Personally I'd expect just a few subs and in the neighborhood of 75% play. Best of luck.
 
watfly said:
First of all your coach is full of crap.

Second your coach is taking Mex League soccer way too seriously (not that there aren't parents that take Mex League soccer too seriously). The league really is for players to play in a less structured environment than club and play more freely. It is good for club players to play in to get supplemental touches without the pressure of club play. Also can be good to learn how to deal with physical play. Sounds like your coach is misguided and the roster is too big. Personally I'd expect just a few subs and in the neighborhood of 75% play. Best of luck.
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I should have mentioned that he is playing the kids that didn’t play much during the league season and mentioned that would be the case...they have 14 on the roster for Mexican league but only 12 during league play
 
PhilBrooks said:
Did I say it was a flight 1 Mexican league or did I say it was a flight 1 team? Reading is fundamental
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It's weird to have an organized flight 1 team play in Mexican league. As posters have said above, when club players play in Mexican league its generally for fun and to play in a less structured environment. It's odd that your coach would take a flight 1 team and put them into Mexican league, hence my short circuit. I could see a bronze coach doing that but flight 1, that's just odd.
 
Grace T. said:
It's weird to have an organized flight 1 team play in Mexican league. As posters have said above, when club players play in Mexican league its generally for fun and to play in a less structured environment. It's odd that your coach would take a flight 1 team and put them into Mexican league, hence my short circuit. I could see a bronze coach doing that but flight 1, that's just odd.
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I’m from Oxnard and we have a lot of our clubs out here, especially on the boys side, playing in the local Mexican leagues during the offseason. There’s not too many tournaments here in Ventura county so that keeps the kids playing. The league heads are real flexible with scheduling so it works.
 
JabroniBeater805 said:
I’m from Oxnard and we have a lot of our clubs out here, especially on the boys side, playing in the local Mexican leagues during the offseason. There’s not too many tournaments here in Ventura county so that keeps the kids playing. The league heads are real flexible with scheduling so it works.
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yeah I get that. Oxnard league isn’t exactly really Mexican league at least not the one at that elementary school. My son has played and I’ve reffed a few of those leagues. But if you are a flight 1 team playing there it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I’ve seen a few silver teams play. They crush the competition which means the only thing that’s happening is the kids keep playing and the teams development against other flight 1 teams is falling behind because they are all doing the tournaments. Which many answer the ops question...the coach may already be embarassed playing there and is giving the other kids off the bench playtime therefore he shouldn’t read anything whatsoever into the playtime, but should be very concerned about the teams development if he went to flight 1 to be on a flight 1 team.
 
Grace T. said:
yeah I get that. Oxnard league isn’t exactly really Mexican league at least not the one at that elementary school. My son has played and I’ve reffed a few of those leagues. But if you are a flight 1 team playing there it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I’ve seen a few silver teams play. They crush the competition which means the only thing that’s happening is the kids keep playing and the teams development against other flight 1 teams is falling behind because they are all doing the tournaments. Which many answer the ops question...the coach may already be embarassed playing there and is giving the other kids off the bench playtime therefore he shouldn’t read anything whatsoever into the playtime, but should be very concerned about the teams development if he went to flight 1 to be on a flight 1 team.
Click to expand...
There’s a few leagues out here. One is CalSouth sanctioned but most teams don’t play in that one. The Oxnard League at the 08 and 09 groups multiple levels (A & B) and the A is usually the gold/silver elite/silver CSL teams and everyone else is in the B. I know that probably isn’t the norm.
 
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