One of the "hot buttons" in sports today is the conversation around playing time.
It's part of youth, high school, club, and even collegiate sports. From time to time I will hear a comment that goes something like this... "How are they supposed to get any better if they don't get more playing time?" I think the question is well-intentioned. That said, I would suggest that playing time isn't where improvement lives, it's where mastery is displayed. A game is an outward expression of the skills mastered through intentional preparation. By the time game day rolls around, the opportunity to work on the technical and tactical aspects of any sport will have already happened (or not). In practice with teammates. In the backyard/driveway. In taking extra reps after practice. In coming to practice early for more reps. In studying film to learn from others. In watching professionals. In asking coaches questions at practice. In white-boarding concepts at practice. Notice how many times the word practice keeps popping up. That's intentional, too. There is no short-cut to progress. So how should we handle it when someone says "Why didn't so and so play more today...or at all?". It's not an attack on your coaching, it's an opportunity for a healthy conversation. Still don't believe me? Let's look #InTheClassroom. You wouldn't expect to earn an A on a test if you never studied for it, or did homework and practice problems. You don't get better because you took the test, you get better because you prepare, and are ready for the test. The test is an outward expression of your intentional preparation. Still not sure? Think about relationships. The trust you are trying to earn from the people around you isn't demanded, it's earned. Over time, and intentionally. Just like playing time. Earned. So the next time that playing time comes up, take a step back. Don't look to defend your position, see it as an opportunity to continue to manage expectations. Yes, I said continue. Progress is a process, not an event. Once parents know where you stand, why you stand there, and what you are looking for...they will likely stand with you to help their child make progress. #OnTheField #InTheClassroom #InTheCommunity And if they don't? You just got stronger as a team because one of your distractions is headed in another direction. You're welcome. :) I'll close by saying that nothing brings me greater joy than to see players I've coached learn, grow, and achieve moments they weren't sure they could. Yes, personal development is part of player development. I've coached long enough now to see former players start great careers, getting married, starting families of their own...and beginning to coach themselves. And while we may look back and talk about a game here and there...none of it matters as much as we thought it did then. Shocker, I know. :) No one focuses on how much they played, when they know how much you cared. But they do remember that they were there, who they were with, and that they had a great experience...together. Value the conversations and the journey, not the confrontations and wasted energy. We'll talk more about this topic on and off in my blog. I hope that each time we do, you take it as an opportunity to be a positive influence in the lives of your student-athletes, and their families. Thanks for stopping by, coach. And if you are a parent happening by today...it's great to see you, too. Please know that as coaches we are trying our hardest to provide a great experience for your kids, and honored to be part of your family's journey through life. Well...gotta run. I have a practice to prepare for.
18 Comments
Mike
5/21/2016 02:28:58 pm
I love the face value of this well crafted letter. There are a few realities that creep in that affect playing time, as well. Like it, deny it, minimize it or not, team politics impact playing time as well. Think the Booster president/ team mom's kid is just sitting the bench the whole time? How about if your own kid is on the team? What about the new kid that moves into the district and has nobody to work with that makes him look good? Every coach want to put a winning program on the field but there are definitely other ugly truths that keep equally skilled kids off the field.
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Bob
5/22/2016 09:58:21 am
Mike,
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Rob
5/23/2016 07:34:02 pm
I do believe they some kids are made to make it and some are not. That is up for time to tell not a young or uneasiness coach to decide. At an age under 15 all players have not connected with anything concert with there skills or ability. That's where the opportunity and coaching comes in to lift up the kids that need the coaching to achieve the potential. Then when qualified and unbiased coaches reach that level for our youth to succeed they have done there job. Then the kids can decide it it is a future option and they can that there coaches.
Rob
5/23/2016 07:40:13 pm
Yes the ugly truths can do a lot of damage. Inrepairible at time to a young mind.
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Paul crowhurst
5/23/2016 11:54:48 pm
It is very hard to please all the people all the time, in my case my son has suffered more than others, I am the coach and I would take my own son off to make sure I was not overly favouring him over the other boys. If your intentions are made clear at the beginning of the season as to whether you are going to compete to win trophys or make sure everybody gets a good length of game time then the kids and parents can make the choice.
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TAL
5/23/2017 10:44:40 am
You hit the nail on the head. Playing time is earned in a competitive league, not mommy/daddy ball rec. league where cliques and biases tend to hinder progress for all.
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Billy Costine
5/21/2016 11:31:35 pm
Hi John, a good letter defining your arguement. Hope all is well.
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TAL
5/23/2017 10:58:28 am
Absolute truth right there.
Dave
5/22/2016 08:16:25 pm
As a coach I appreciate your take on this but I must disagree with you on one point. Maybe playing time isn't where improvement lives, but more playing time leads to improvement. I believe skill development does happen in games. I have seen quite a few players master a skill in games, especially tournaments, where they get to play competitively 3 or four games consecutively with no practice in between. In fact I would go so far as to say there is no substitute for in game experience. The practice habits of a player are critical to this but I favor a more balanced approach to playing time at least up to U13, especially since we as coaches cannot predict who will develop into the best athletes and who will even stick with the game.
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Robert Tenamore
5/23/2016 07:26:35 pm
Wow many props on the comment. Agree all the way. Coached for last 10 years or more. This year my middle son wanted to do travel soccer. I did not coach. After going to all extra trainings and leagues was set to go full throttle. Didn't play for 3 straight games and for 2 was only one. Left field with tears not wanting to play anymore. Back pocket coaching and league, now my son is without a team and just wants to play /learn and have fun.
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Dave
5/24/2016 01:39:18 pm
Isn't the point that everyone takes the test, pass or fail? At some point the best talent will rise to the top, not at age 10 or even age 13-14. Some athletes practice well but can't handle the pressure of the game.
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Bwin
5/25/2016 01:02:23 pm
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Kara M
5/26/2016 11:05:00 am
If talking about high school sports, I agree. I 100% disagree for players in grade school. Specially for late bloomers, children that weren't fortunate enough to play for travel teams, or for children that didn't have parents around 24/7 to take them
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Rob
5/26/2016 07:28:02 pm
Said very well in deed! All kids deserve the chance to let there skills come out but for some it comes later than others. By not playing a youngster thats is trying his best, you are derailing the pursuit to become a better player.
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Sydney
5/30/2016 05:39:08 am
My son’s coach emailed this article to the team after our last game of the season - a U13 State Cup game in which he decided not to sub. Instead he put in the eleven best/most fit players in his mind. We lost 1:3. If I didn’t think my son would bear the brunt of my comments I would email the reply below to his coach. A bit of a background to put the letter in context: My son plays on the Premier (Travel) U13 team. The club (Sparta) has two lower U13 teams. Throughout the year the coach has subbed normally and most kids played at least 50% of each game. The team had to win or draw the last game of the State Cup in order to move to the quarterfinals. It was this game in which the coach suddenly decided not to sub. - He sent this article to the team as justification for his decision.
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Sydney
5/30/2016 05:40:52 am
Continuation from above: For Forza:
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Rob
5/30/2016 07:49:45 pm
All these great comments on how all our kids should be given the opportunity to learn and be part of something without selfishness. Should be a win-win for them not a win-win just to win. Leave a Reply. |
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