How you use your players in matches is a key part of your game model – and with many clubs in lockdown and training going online it is a great time to review your game time policy.
The rule that all players get equal time on the pitch is in essence a good one but that does not tell the whole picture when it comes to managing your team. Sometimes the suitability of players in certain games means they will get less time than some of your other players and fitness and discipline are also factors that need to be taken into account. But for sure when it comes to planning your game model and which players are involved you need to think about a full season of using substitutes.
Who plays and who sits on the bench should not reflect the game time a player has, it should be something that every player experiences not just the one or two who are at a different level of development to the others. I know that players hate starting the game on the bench and hate finishing the game on the bench so you must make sure there is a rota for doing this.
Where this falls down is when players miss training or turn up late for the match – of course they should start on the bench for the match because it isn’t fair on the players who do put the effort in to train and to get to the match when you want them to arrive.
Check out the advice below to help you work with your players so they and their parents are happy with the way you handle substitutes on match days.
Winning combinations and the need to develop individuals means that you cannot play matches with the same players on the subs bench. They will fall behind and the team will find it hard to be at their best when injuries or holidays mean players are absent from the team. How to handle the subs helps you to sort out who should be on the bench.
I had a letter sent to me that asked “I rotate my players each week but one dad is not happy his son is going to sit out a match – how should I deal with this?”. Read the email and my answerif you have had similar problems with parents not liking who gets subbed and who doesn’t.
Another assistant coach is having problems because the head coach is only giving some players 10 or 15 minutes on the pitch before subbing them. “Is this acceptable,” he asks? Read my reply and see if you agree.
Finally, Young players are often easily discouraged when they are a substitute or get subbed off and, once they’re feeling demoralised, it can get in the way of their performance on the pitch, so it’s in your interest to keep them in the loop and happy with their role. How to keep your subs involved gives them tasks to do to keep their focus during a game.
Young players are often easily discouraged and, once they're feeling demoralised, it can get in the way of their performance on the pitch, so it's in your interest to keep them in the loop and happy with their role. MORE
Winning combinations and the need to develop individuals means that you cannot play matches with the same players on the subs bench. They will fall behind and the team will find it hard to be at their best when injuries or holidays mean players are absent from the team.
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I question I was asked about subtitutes: "I rotate my players each week but one dad is not happy his son is going to sit out a match – how should I deal with this?" MORE
I help coach an Under-12s team playing 9v9 (One manager, 2 coaches) We have a squad of 13 players. The manager wants to involve all the players in the games and I agree with him. However another coach believes that they should only get a couple of minutes at the end. MORE
I was asked this week "how do I coach the false 9?". The false 9 is very much back in fashion as we can see lots of teams have gone back to playing 4-3-3 where the attacking players can switch positions in the attacking third of the pitch. MORE
At last an end is in sight to the sitting at home and meeting my team on Zoom twice a week. But what can I do with my players? There are no guidelines yet so I am waiting to see how this will all pan out. I know what to expect from my players, they will just want to play a game, score goals, make saves, cheer with each other, shout at each other and just generally get back to a normal world of all things football. MORE
Everyone finds it exciting when a player goes through 1 on 1 against the goalkeeper... if it's your attacker you are on the edge thinking this is it a goal, but if your team is defending you are looking for your goalkeeper to smother the shot. Attackers should score but often they will not due to a number of reasons like taking too long to shoot, missing the target, hitting the keeper with a shot and even slipping over. MORE
When you hear mentor's talking about getting your coaching point across to get the best out of your players, one of the ways to ensure all your players are tuning into your coaching is to use small-sided games. In these games you get a much clearer picture of which players are picking up on the coaching points you have been making. MORE
I keep fit pretty much all year round due to being outside coaching most of the time. And with the enforced lay off in the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic I've been keeping myself fit in other ways. However, being fit and having muscles ready to play sport is on a different planet. MORE
It is not easy coaching in a pandemic. But one thing I know my players like doing is to give them a task to do which involves watching a match on TV. Say it's Charlie who plays left wingback ... he's a Chelsea fan so his task is to watch Ben Chilwell and give good things or bad things that happen when he is defending. The players love it! MORE