I'm coacing my son's team -- top grade under 12's -- and there's a problem I've had to deal with from the first game...
Playing time.
All of the kids are good players (in their respective positions. A few are great utility players, but for the most part the backs are backs and the forwards are forwards, and never the twain shall meet). I've got 2 reserves (a squad of 13). The goalie, barring injury (knock wood) is a permanent position. He is good at it, loves it, and is better in goal than anyone else on the team.
So that leaves me 12 players to fill 10 spots. the parents seem to be evenly split -- 1/2 want a win, even if some players don't touch the pitch and the other 1/2 want an equal distribution of time on the grass.
Balancing these two as a coach is probably the most difficult aspect of my role.
Any suggestions?
"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. - Carl Sagan
