Playing Time Standards
The most frequent area of conflict within youth soccer typically concerns issues over playing time. While who plays and starts will be the coaches decision we have developed these age appropriate guidelines to help players have realistic expectations.
U10 Age Group -
The expectation is that each player on the team play at least 1/2 of every game during the course of the season and during tournaments. The expectations to earn playing time are the following: (1) The player consistently attends practice; (2) The player works hard in training; (3) The player puts forth an acceptable standard in trying to improve, listens and follows team rules. This expectation applies to players who may be playing up in a age group.
U12 Age Group -
The expectation is that each player on the team play at least 1/2 of every game during the course of the season and during tournaments. The expectations to earn playing time are the following: (1) The player consistently attends practice; (2) The player works hard in training; (3) The player puts forth an acceptable standard in trying to improve, listens and follows team rules. This expectation applies to players who may be playing up in a age group. The only exception would be games which determine championships. If a player doesn’t play 1/2 a game, it would be expected that during the next game that the player would play additional minutes to average 1/2 per game standard over the course of the last two, or even three games.
U14 Age Group and Older -
While in the younger age groups playing time is somewhat set, in the age groups of U14 and above, all playing time is to be earned based on whatever criteria the specific team coach sets. It would still be the expectation that players (1) Attend practice regularly; (2) work hard in training; (3) meet minimum standards of expectation in terms of learning, listening and following team rules.