Desperate Soccer Moms

With preseason tournaments in full progress, the thorny problem of borrowed players is once again facing coaches and parents. One certain way to create a Desperate Parent is to restrict their child’s playing time, because the coach plays a borrowed player for many minutes. How much should a borrowed player play? Should they ever start the game? What happens if the team reaches the Finals? There are several reasons for borrowing players for Tournaments. When a team suffers a string of injuries and the team is simply struggling for sufficient numbers.

In the case of my club CVMSC we have many children away on family vacations which is understandable during Summer school break. A more unique situation involves my U13 boys team playing in the upcoming Surf Cup Tournament. We currently have 14 very strong players on the roster, if we were to advance to the Finals on the Monday, we would be required to play 6 tough games in three days!!! Even avoiding injuries, we have seen from past experience that few of the players can perform at top level in the Semi Finals and Final game without regular breaks.  We know we need at least 16 or 17 players should we continue to advance requiring us to borrow 2 or 3 TOP Quality players. Problem 1, we don‘t really need them for the first game because my own regular 14 players are fresh and fit. Maybe the same for game 2! Can you really ask elite players to sit out and wait 2 games? What happens if we don ‘t advance and we only play a Total of 3 games? Also note that two of the boys (and their families) are travelling from Las Vegas to San Diego a 600 mile round trip just to play for us! Keeping our own parents and players happy is obviously vital, at the same time being fair to these quality borrowed guys and in this case all the players are high quality.

In past problems when teams have borrowed players with much greater skills than the regular team members, obviously the coach is tempted to play the borrowed star player to hopefully achieve greater success during the game and in the tournament. To lessen potential problems the coach should have a frank open discussion with the parents on their team before borrowing players. The coach should also have the same discussion with the players on their own team. It is also vital to be clear with the borrowed player and parents what the playing time policy will be throughout the tournament. It should be understood that the borrowed player and parents is giving up their weekend to help out the borrowing team.

I will let you know how it works out after the Surf Cup is over.

If you have opinions or have experienced these types of issues share with me the end result.

Best wishes for a great season,
Jeff Illingworth

As Director of Coaching for Carmel Valley Manchester Soccer Club, in San Diego, The Surf Cup is a BIG DEAL. Just being accepted is an honor. To win gives that team National exposure and credibility. Guaranteed acceptance requires success in State Cup or Nationals. Failing this a team must put together a strong argument, to convince the Tournament Selection Committee of their credentials and strength. Last year CVMSC had 5 teams accepted but this year only 2 of our teams earned a guaranteed invite. Our u12 girls team, coached by our talented Felicia Kappes reached the semi -final of CYSA Nationals, losing on penalties, for the second consecutive year in a heartbreaking thriller against Arsenal, the eventual winners.Our u10 boys, coached by my partner Billy Garton lost in the State Cup Final, 3-2 in the last second of a magical game.

Both of these teams had now secured their places in the Surf Cup for July 2009. My u12 boys team have played in the past 3 Surf Cups with great success-Winning in 2006, losing in2007 in the Final (both games against our good friends LAFC) and losing in the Quarter Final in 2008 in a Penalty Shoot -Out. However, with our loss in the last sixteen of Nationals, we left ourselves hoping for a sympathetic hearing on our application to the Surf Cup!

Why is this tournament so important to my Club?

1. Practically-the tournament is held only 5 minutes from our own home field-No hotels .No travel
2. An opportunity to play against many of the top Competitive teams in the USA
3. Magnificent fields-20-side by side
4. Impeccable organization
5. Fantastic weather
6. Great refereeing (Honestly!!)
7. Great food and entertainment

As the Decision Day grew closer my parents, players and myself became more tense by the day. We had made our case, showing our many Tournament successes during the past season, whilst emphasizing our great results in the past 3 Surf Cup Tournaments. A negative response would cast an early cloud over our early season preparations,  especially as we had added 4 great new players to last seasons team, including a National Level goalkeeper, 11years old and 5 foot 7inches tall!!!

Finally, the call came. We were IN!! For the first time in 30 years the Surf Cup had accepted 20 teams in one age group, due to the quality of the teams applying. We had made it -Barely.

With 6 weeks to go we are now in full training mode, to prepare for what will surely be a World Class U13 battle between Americas Finest.

I will let you know how all three of our teams do in my favorite Tournament.

If you have any comments or questions on the Surf Cup feel free to send them to me on my Web -Site  http://www.DesperateSoccerMoms.com

Best wishes
JeffIllingworth
Author of Desperate Soccer Moms (and Dads)