Mismatched Teams Etiquette

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Ghost of Andrew Eaton
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12:21p, 4/27/22
So, I watched a number of high school games this year and of course, not all teams are equal and probably shouldn't be on the field together. How should a coach handle this? Most coaches try to avoid getting to 10-0 and end up playing keep away or shooting to miss/hit targets outside of the frame. Or should backups be put in and the score is what the score is?

I've talked to coaches who have been on both sides and there doesn't seem to be a consensus. Some say getting to 10-0 is disrespectful while others get upset by the passing the ball around.
If you say you hate the state of politics in this nation and you don't get involved in it, you obviously don't hate the state of politics in this nation.
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randy828
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In reply to Ghost of Andrew Eaton • 12:59p, 4/27/22
AG
Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

I've talked to coaches who have been on both sides and there doesn't seem to be a consensus. Some say getting to 10-0 is disrespectful while others get upset by the passing the ball around.
That's your answer these days. There is not going to be a consensus.

Some people say you shouldn't run up the score and some say you should give 100% and it is the other team's responsibility to stop you from scoring.

I was in the room here one day... watchin' the Mexican channel on TV. I don't know nothin' about Pele. I'm watchin' what this guy can do with a ball and his feet. Next thing I know, he jumps in the air and flips into a somersault and kicks the ball in - upside down and backwards... the dang (sc) goalie never knew what the hell hit him. Pele gets excited and he rips off his jersey and starts running around the stadium waving it around his head. Everybody's screaming in Spanish. I'
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AustinScubaAg
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1:14p, 4/27/22
AG
Empty the bench but do not ask the 3rd string striker not to try and score.
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jeffk
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1:32p, 4/27/22
AG
When I was coaching HS in Houston this was a pretty common occurrence and I've been on both sides of it a good number of times. It's honestly a really challenging thing to manage.

Personally, when we were the better team, I wanted to avoid embarrassing the other team, but I also didn't want to lose the utility of the moment for my own guys. So I'd empty the bench (even occasionally playing a man down), move kids to their less preferred positions (but not places where they would be a detriment to the team), and set realistic goals on specific things to focus on (playing the ball in from wide, playing out of the back, working at switching the point of attack multiple times). Now that the short-term goal is accomplished, focus on improving for the next game. And I'd sub guys off for being selfish *******s. Edit to add that we still tried to score. I don't believe in removing the ultimate goal of the game, but I would add in restrictions or sub-objectives to make it more meaningful for our development.

When we were the worse team, I would take off guys who were injury worries or who were getting frustrated. Lots of rotation to keep it fair. Give the team realistic goals to work towards (man-marking, correct body position, no fouling, stringing short passes together, etc.) and take the focus off the score. Stressing long-term over the short-term goals of winning. As a coach, it's easy to go into your shell when your team is getting waxed too, so coach your ass off so your players can see you care about them and not just the score. Encourage them through it, but also correct their mistakes to improve long-term.
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deadbq03
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1:38p, 4/27/22
AG
Any coaches ever come up with creative ways to handicap themselves? Seems like soccer offers opportunities to do so without sacrificing intensity. You could play some key guys out of position which offers a great opportunity to develop weaker skills… swap that midfielder who needs to work on shooting up to forward. Bump that forward who sucks at defense back to wingback. Etc.

Or taking this to the extreme, you could voluntarily play a man down. Take off the guy who deserves some rest and give the remaining 10 a challenge.

Obviously both of the above mess with your tactics… but quite frankly, so does running it up or passing it around… and using subs messes with match fitness for your starters.

Edit: looks like Jeff answered my main question. Thanks.
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LeonardSkinner
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1:55p, 4/27/22
When I was in high school, the starters got the first half to try to get to 10-0, then the reserves came in to finish it out.

As a referee later on, I would be mad when teams would come out playing to win and then intentionally slam on the brakes. Saw a few players get unnecessarily hurt in the 70th or 80th minute when the game could (and should) have been finished at halftime.
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carl spacklers hat
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In reply to deadbq03 • 2:23p, 4/27/22
deadbq03 said:
Any coaches ever come up with creative ways to handicap themselves? Seems like soccer offers opportunities to do so without sacrificing intensity. You could play some key guys out of position which offers a great opportunity to develop weaker skills… swap that midfielder who needs to work on shooting up to forward. Bump that forward who sucks at defense back to wingback. Etc.

Or taking this to the extreme, you could voluntarily play a man down. Take off the guy who deserves some rest and give the remaining 10 a challenge.

Obviously both of the above mess with your tactics… but quite frankly, so does running it up or passing it around… and using subs messes with match fitness for your starters.

Edit: looks like Jeff answered my main question. Thanks.
Make right-footed players only play their left foot and vice-versa. Same for shots on goal. Shoot with the stronger foot and get rotated out.
People think I'm an idiot or something, because all I do is cut lawns for a living.
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bbry81
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2:28p, 4/27/22
I always make mine do different things to score. Must be a corner, one touch finish, a certain pattern to finish.

On the other end I always had objectives for us to accomplish. If we did those things then we consider it a success even if we lose 10-0.

The thing I get mad about is when the teas coach that is winning big gets mad when one of the losing teams player goes in hard for a tackle. If you are trying to score still then expect the other team to still try and stop you.
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Ghost of Andrew Eaton
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4:26p, 4/27/22
I currently coach at the junior high level in a larger district and for the foreseeable future, I'll probably have one of the best teams in the district. The drop-off between our schools can be dramatic and I don't want to rub anyone the wrong way when dealing with this "problem".

Last week we essentially played keep away for more than half the game. I brought my starters off after going up 3-0 and then my non-soccer players proceeded to score 4 quick goals. These are kids that haven't played since YMCA days in 3rd grade. So we passed it around with my starters and killed the game. It was a waste and the coach and other team seemed irritated but WTF and I supposed to do.

This week we were up 2-0 at halftime and then scored 3 quick goals to start the 2nd with about half my bench players. I played my starters for the least 8 minutes and they were only allowed to score on headers and from outside the twenty, so of course we do that really quickly and they were amazing goals. That coach got upset because it was my starters in at the end. At some point, I have to be able to let those kids play as well and 7-0 isn't a massacre.

This is not a "problem" but it's an annoyance. I don't want to embarrass anyone but I also want my kids to get to play since they come to practice and this is their thing.
If you say you hate the state of politics in this nation and you don't get involved in it, you obviously don't hate the state of politics in this nation.
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Pahdz
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7:31a, 4/28/22
I coach at the U12 girls level and last season we were placed at a level that had some really bad teams. I'm if the opinion trying to do anything other than playing the game as intended is a giant slap in the face.

Moving players around is first step, but at this age asking my girls to do anything other than try to score goals isn't fun for anyone. Thankfully we're out of that division for the spring and we might be on the receiving end of some of these now but the girls will get more out of it.
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jeffk
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8:41a, 4/28/22
AG
I'll add that any league that doesn't have some sort of mercy rules or clock concession is doing its players and coaches a disservice. One year in HS ball, they wouldn't even let us have a running clock (still made refs stop it after goals and for injuries) when the game is out of hand.
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LeonardSkinner
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In reply to jeffk • 9:30a, 4/28/22
jeffk said:
I'll add that any league that doesn't have some sort of mercy rules or clock concession is doing its players and coaches a disservice. One year in HS ball, they wouldn't even let us have a running clock (still made refs stop it after goals and for injuries) when the game is out of hand.

I don't think we had a rule calling for a running clock, but almost to a man, the referees in our organization would go to that when we were able to and thought it appropriate.
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jeffk
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In reply to LeonardSkinner • 9:38a, 4/28/22
AG
We would get a call from the AD if we allowed the refs to go to a running clock. It was beyond stupid.
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PatAg
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10:34a, 4/28/22
AG
A lot of good stuff shared already.

It may seem obvious, but don't let your players go crazy celebrating after goals when you are blowing the other team out.
That is not only just classless, but you are asking someone on the other team to make a dirty tackle against you.

I was never on the receiving end of one of those games, but I think I would be more insulted by the other team not even trying to score anymore.
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LeonardSkinner
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In reply to jeffk • 11:04a, 4/28/22
jeffk said:
We would get a call from the AD if we allowed the refs to go to a running clock. It was beyond stupid.

We seldom told the coaches/teams. We did standard time for the first half, but if team A was going to mercy rule team B without much trouble, it would be a quick halftime conversation:

"Running clock?"
"Yup."
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jeffk
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In reply to LeonardSkinner • 11:12a, 4/28/22
AG
Oh, I do the same as a ref now.
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Ghost of Andrew Eaton
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In reply to PatAg • 3:50p, 4/28/22
PatAg said:
A lot of good stuff shared already.

It may seem obvious, but don't let your players go crazy celebrating after goals when you are blowing the other team out.
That is not only just classless, but you are asking someone on the other team to make a dirty tackle against you.

I was never on the receiving end of one of those games, but I think I would be more insulted by the other team not even trying to score anymore.


Agreed and we don't. The biggest celebration was for the 4th goal because the worst player scored and the entire team was genuinely excited for her being rewarded for all her hard work.

I've been on both sides of this and there is no right answer. But I'd prefer my kids get some game time against real soccer instead of just playing keep away. And I've seen players get dirty with that as well.
If you say you hate the state of politics in this nation and you don't get involved in it, you obviously don't hate the state of politics in this nation.
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Rudyjax
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8:47p, 4/28/22
AG
Pull all your starters. Put your keeper in the 9. Etc.
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jessexy
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In reply to jeffk • 8:30p, 5/3/22
AG
jeffk said:
We would get a call from the AD if we allowed the refs to go to a running clock. It was beyond stupid.
You Probably cuz some parent called the AD complaining that the game was shortened and their kid missed out on some playing time.
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bigjag19
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7:48a, 5/6/22
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At the HS level especially there needs to be a true mercy rule that ends the game. Nothing good comes in a game with a 6 goal lead at the half.
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Ghost of Andrew Eaton
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3:55p, 5/6/22
If you say you hate the state of politics in this nation and you don't get involved in it, you obviously don't hate the state of politics in this nation.
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jeffk
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In reply to Ghost of Andrew Eaton • 3:58p, 5/6/22
AG
The adults - refs shouldn't be making wagers of any kind and coach shouldn't be letting that dictate their strategy.
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greg.w.h
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4:06p, 5/6/22
AG
Winning by 3-0 at the top levels means one team more than dominated and might be showing its backside. Use 2-0 and 3-0 advantages to work on lockdown defense.
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