Playing Time: Are you not playing enough?
This is a common problem, if you experience it, just know, you are not alone. Please share your experiences so it can help many others like you.
Ways to deal with it:
1. Self-Audit
• Ask yourself, Am I doing enough?
• What did I do last game when I did play?
• Do I need to work harder?
2. Advice/Analyze others
• Ask other parents what their thoughts are
• Look at the other kids in your position
• Try to be better in practice than them
3. Speak to the coach
• Ask the coach, Why don’t I play as much?
• Follow-up by saying, What can I do to play more?
• Agree on a timeframe to see a change
Our advice after this would be to see out the season or see out the next 2-3 games and then make a decision. If you implement changes but don’t see any change in your game-time, it may be best to find a new opportunity. You have shown patience, ability to change, and willingness to analyze yourself.
I agree. My son wasn’t playing much in his early days but we tried to be calm about it… even though that was hard at first.
My husband had a word with our son, James and eventually he was even better for not just leaving but beating out the person in his position. It definitely made him more resilient and also taught him patience. His and our perspective is now different.
We have seen parents approach the coach angrily and it normally doesn’t end well for either.