Playing to win vs. playing to develop

Also known as, “Winning vs. learning”

Issue

           In youth soccer circles today, an over emphasis is being placed on winning.  This often results in a stifling of individual player development and on poor retention rates.

Recommendation

Developmental considerations:

At the U-12 age and below, all decisions involving players need to be based on the player’s individual development and learning.  The primary objective of game participation and training is to provide the players with learning opportunities.  Teams should “strive to win”, but, this should not be the primary goal.

At the U-13 age and above, careful consideration needs to be placed on balancing instances where the team’s primary objective is to win games with games that are primarily used for developmental purposes.  Training opportunities should likewise reflect these priorities.

Practical Considerations

Playing up:

When it is appropriate for soccer development, the opportunity for the exceptional player to play with older players must be available.  Players should not be kept down in order to allow that particular team to “win the game”.

Substitutions:

Up until the U-13 age level, players should be allowed to play at least 40% of each game.  The team should be managed so that substitutions are made with playing time and safety in mind.  The players are thus asked to solve their own problems on the field instead of having the coach make substitutions in order to solve the problem for them.  Players should not be “platooned” in and out in order for the team to be able to “wear an opponent down”.

At the U-14 age level and above, FIFA substitution rules should be enforced, no re-entry.

Positional Play:

At the U-15 age and below, players need to be encouraged and required to play the different positions on the field.

League Standings:

There should be no league standings or individual player awards such as “leagues leading scorer” at the U-10 level and below.  Local standings can be permitted at the U-11 and U-12 levels. State and Regional competitions are to be reserved at the U-13 age levels and above.

Tournament Play:

At the U-13 level and above, careful consideration needs to be placed on selectively choosing which tournaments are to be “played to win”.  It is not in the best interest of the players to have a schedule that requires players to participate in highly competitive environments on a weekly basis where the sole purpose for participation is winning.  Players need to be able to occasionally play where the primary goal is to develop and learn.  Clubs need a yearly calendar made with this rhythm in mind.

Systems and Styles of Play:

The system and style that the coach selects should be based on matching the skill and abilities of the players and not to achieve a result, especially at the younger ages.

Player Selection:

Care must be taken at the younger levels to select players based on their soccer abilities and not on their ability to achieve an immediate result.  At the U-12 level, it is easy to win games by just using big, early physically maturing players.  As a result, the smaller, skillful players are at times not chosen, as they are not able to “win” the game.  Special care and attention must be given these “smaller” players.

Pre-season Parent Meeting:

Care must be taken to educate and involve the parents before seasons begin.  The goals and objectives of the club must be clearly stated so that conflicts are minimized.

A carefully formulated plan in regards to the emphasis placed on winning and loosing is a necessity for all levels of soccer.  A thoughtful plan based on the developmental level and needs of the players will significantly improve their rate of retention, improvement, and enjoyment.

“There are many people, particularly in sports who think that success and excellence are the same thing and they are not the same thing.

Excellence is something that is lasting and dependable and largely within a person’s control.  In contrast, success is perishable and is often outside our control¼.

If you strive for excellence, you will probably be successful eventually¼. people who put excellence in first place have the patience to end up with success¼. An additional burden for the victim of the success mentality is that he/she is threatened by success of others and resents real excellence.  In contrast, the person fascinated by quality is excited when he/she sees it in others.”

Joe Paterno – Penn State Football Coach - 1990