Some Kids are Playing Too Much


Some kids are playing too much, but no one seems to be reducing the number of games the kids are playing. Like the old saying about the weather, everyone complains about it, but no one does anything about it.

Most of the problems are associated with the traveling teams, the premier teams, and the elite teams, not the intramural or the recreational teams. The opportunities for competition are staggering, soccer magazines and websites carry an ever increasing number of competitions for any age group in all areas of the country. By the time you add up all the league matches, cups, school matches, and tournaments, a player may be playing 80-100 games a year.

Have you heard coaches say , we have to do it to be competitive. We can’t compare with the pros, where it’s a business and the owners aren’t making any money if the turnstiles aren’t turning. It’s understandable that clubs host their own tournaments to make money as a fundraiser, however, several tournaments are sufficient and how many more do you have to do?

A misconception is that training is for development where players learned and practiced new skills and tactics. Matches for applying that development. Sometimes, the only rest players get is if they are injured. They play or practice several times a week and play two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday. Players many times will pace themselves to be able to play several games and not play up to their potential. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has state that he would like to see not more than 60 games in any year for youth players. He, like many other leaders in soccer, are concerned that poor form comes from over competition.

A few interesting findings in top level soccer before the World Cup found players who performed at the optimal levels of expectation played the equivalent of one match a week, and that match congestion (too many matches) caused physical and mental fatigue, leading to under performance.

Growth and Development in youth soccer comes primarily from practice and training, so whoever works with the players as a coach and trainer is extremely important.