Minimum Play Players, Favoritism, & Parents
I planned to write about defense today, but I received an email last night which begs me to address minimum play players, favoritism and parents in today’s blog post. My coaches and I rank our players each week and use these rankings to determine who will start and what positions they will play. I develop a depth chart each week from these rankings. I do not believe in favoritism. Our players win a starting position based on intelligence, physical abilities, football skill and football knowledge. Just because a player is a top starting player and plays a majority of downs, does not equate to favoritism, it equates to smart coaching. Coaches should field their best talent.
In today’s youth sports, many coaches must weigh fielding the best talent and playing the minimum play players. How do you weigh the needs of the team above the needs of one to three minimum play players (MPP) and their vocal parents? This question frustrates me each week. I want all my players playing every play of the game. I want all players getting a good rest on the sidelines. I want everyone to score a touch down. But the reality is, this is not Drake and Josh afternoon TV. Some players are not ready to play more than the mandatory minimum plays. I want to win American Idol but I can’t hold a note. Should the network force American Idol to allow me to sing at least once in front of National TV audience? I doubt it.
But many MPP parent’s feel the coaches are playing favorites by not playing thier children more. I am sure there maybe a minority of coaches playing favorites, but if your child can contribute to the team then your child will play more. I’ll guarantee it.
One last point that I find surprising. Why doesn’t anyone talk about the starter who must sit out while someone takes his place? How do they feel? Are they upset that we substituted a player in the game that does not do the work required to play the position? Who is speaking up for the starting player and their feelings?
If I had one wish as a coach, I would wish that all the players on my team were starters. Now that would solve my problem. Although, I have 24 players on my team. Hmmm, I needed to be more specific. It’s always something!
You are so full of crap.
Thank you for your comment.
maybe your handle shouldn’t be “anonymous” but “coward.” Since you wont even give your name. You are indeed a coward and represent everything that is wrong with this sport at every level. If you really are a “true-blue-american-football-fan,” then let us know who you are and stop hiding behind your computer. I certainly don’t want you coaching my kids or having anything to do with this sport…and let’s keep in mind, it is just a game, genius! Don’t waste my time or money anymore coward. grow some balls and talk to me like a man!
We are parents of an freshman football player who is extremely athleticly gifted, and teachable, but, due to coaches favoritism to boys that came from the middle school where he teaches…. get all the playing time, even though they have a losing record. He doesn’t sub in anyone even though he has a deep talented bench. Some of the boys play both ways, wearing them out and frustrating the players who could be substituted in and given a chance to prove themselves. We have discussed our sons playing time with the coach and he skirted around the issue, and never gave us a difinative answer about why he isn’t playing. What’s our next step?
Sometimes you just have to ride the horse to the end of the trail and wait for the next trail. I totally understand what you are saying. I know from personal experience and from other friends and former players. Like in the real world, there are bad coaches just like bad bosses, bad friends, bad people, etc. Football is no different then life. When you get a really bad coach you can quit or ride the season out. One thing I tell some of my former players in this situation is to be so good that the coaches can’t ignore you. Because if you are just slightly better than their favorites they will play their favorites but if you are so good that your team mates are requesting you play then the coaches cannot ignore that fact. I know this is hard to hear but you must be great not just good.
My son is a Freshman in High School in a Pay to PARTICIPATE program. He has played football since he was 6 years old and attends many off season football camps. Football is his passion. He has played Center for most of these years and was starting center during summer scrimmages. We received a new young head coach right before school started who immediatetly removed my son as starter and told him that he had “no place for him on the team” and he “does not have the skills to play football.” My son is devastated. He has been made to bring water and carry gear and has been the brunt of many jokes at the expense of the coach, I have personally coached youth sports for years but am at a loss on how to deal with this coach.
Bad coach. Sorry for your situation. Sometimes you must cut the coach as a player and find a new coach. Cutting players and coaches is a two way street. Its not quitting if the coach is a jerk and does not know how to properly coach football. I know many of you live in towns with only one team, but if you want to play bad enough you can find a way to play football with another team and coach.
Have you sat down and spoken to the coach about your son’s situation? If the coach is open to meetings, I would schedule a meeting and find out what is going on.
Trust me I personally understand your situation. My oldest son is having issues with his coaching staff, which is new and young. They are inexperienced coaches and many parents on the team are upset since their son’s youth football coaches were much better. Its hard going backwards.
Good Luck,
Steve Parker
Hi coach, My son loves football and he is always at practice and so eager to play. he is in 9th grade and him and his classmates get to dress and go with the varsity team, he doesn’t get to play much in the varsity games cause of his age, but he does play most of the time in his jv games. Last night our school had the first round of the play offs and my son said that he might get to play depending on how the game went. While they (the team) were ahead 32 to 0 at the half and in the third quarter they got to 46 to 0 , so I figured that they would put in the second and third strings to give them some playing time on varsity. I kept looking for my son, because they were substituting all the younger players with that big of a lead, but I didn’t see my son out on the field at all. After the game I asked him if I had missed him out on the field but he said the coaches didn’t put him in. Don’t you think with that much of a lead that the coaching staff would want to give all the players some playing time and make them all feel like part of the team’ no matter there skill level? All of his classmates got some playing time,so what gives here??
I think your son was lucky to suit up with the Varsity. Many freshman across the country do not get that opportunity. Enjoy the opportunity. High School football is not a rec sport and they do not have rules about playing players minimum plays.
Like I tell my son, that is struggling with his Freshman football experience since he has not hit full puberty and gotten his growth spurt like most of his team mates, if you want to play you must show the coaches something special that the coaches and other players cannot ignore.
I feel your pain as a parent, but unfortunately we cannot control every situation our child is involved with in their lives, although I would like to too.
~ Steve Parker
SO, Genius!. You do play favorites! My daughter is a sanctioned gymanast. (9 girls on her team. They have all been taken in for “special extra” practice. All except my child.. She is good, won state champs last season in a few events. But this year she is struggling….SO with these so called special practices she has been ousted and set aside. So, thanks to her coaches and people like yourself her self esteem has suffered. All in the name of competition. Hats off to you for continuing the assjerk syndrome. Hate you all self obsorbed misfits who cant find a real job. Rot in hell
Your daughter may have more of an issue at home than with her coaches. I will pray for you both.
My son is 7yrs old and is playing flag football for the first time! He is so excited about learning the game but his coach only allows him to hand off ball to QB during practices and today they had their first scrimmage and he didn’t get to play! It’s flag football DUDE they are suppose to be learning the fundamentals of the game my son was so disappointed he says “I didn’t sign up to be a cheerleader! I want to learn how to play I should’ve been out there running” He is right,he should’ve been out there participating. Most of the children on his team have played football prior to flag and are pretty good; but it’s Flag Football not Junior Varsity,Varsity or College ball! Am I wrong to think all children on flag football teams should have playing time experience players and inexperienced? Should I say something to my child’s sorry coach?
Not sure about your situation and what type of league you sign up for. Most recreation leagues have minimum play rules and so everyone must play about 20% of the game. Have you spoken to your coaches to find out why your son is not playing? I would start here. If your son was put on an established team and is not as good as the other players and its an open type Select league, he may have to get better in practice before he gets any playtime in games.