Playing Time (or lack thereof): Excuses Coaches Make

These excuses are universal. As long as there's competitve soccer and kids, these excuses will prevail. No matter the age of the kids. No matter how "competitive" the league is. What really matters is how "competitive" the coach is.

"I'm not putting you in because [insert player's name who shares your child's position] is in the swing of the game."

"You're not being dangerous enough."

"You're being too dangerous."

"You missed practice this week."

"I didn't realize that you only played __ minutes. I thought that you played over half the game."

"I'm getting pressure to win from the club."

"You're just coming off an injury, and I don't want to risk injuring you again."

"Your side-to-side agility needs work."

"Your speed of play isn't fast enough."

"I was planning on putting you in the entire game next week."

"Can I really trust that you'll do with the ball what I need for you to do with the ball?"

"Playing time is determined by my individual relationship with each player [and I don't like you, so don't count on playing much]."


The injury and missing practice excuses do not apply equally to every player. The "core" players miss practice and still start the game when the weekend comes.
A "core" player can be out of commission for weeks with an injury -- an MCL strain or a concussion -- and step right back into his/her position the day he/she returns to practice. A "non core" player can come back from a mild injury -- a twisted ankle or an asthma issue requiring a quick puff of an inhaler -- and the coach worries protectively that throwing him/her into a game may be too deterimental to the player's well-being.