TPM #312 : The Coaching Skill Of Managing Playing Time
When youth athletes rise to the highest levels, managing playing time becomes a critical coaching skill.
Welcome to edition #312, and this week we tackle the topic of managing resources. In the workplace we may call that “managing human resources”. In youth sport, we talk about “coaching playing time”.
While the ideal at the entry levels is that all play equally, the reality of uneven playing time kicks in as the caliber rises. As our young teenage athletes hit 14 and over, and the caliber rises, the reality is that better players play more.
I have seen firsthand the impact of having really good athletes on the teams, both as a coach and parent.
As a coach, I am always very careful of playing time demands on a young athletes, making sure the demands of the game are in line with their physical capabilities. While it is very easy to trot out your best players, it is not so easy to rest them when the competition level rises. A coach must monitor workload as much as he/she develops skills or strategy in our players.
Let’s clarify philosophy. At the local or ‘house league level’, the focus should be on skill development, learning and enjoyment of the game for all on the team. Basic skill development and fun. That means pretty much equal playing for all, in multiple positions. End of story.
When we talk about regional competition at the AA or AAA level, where athletes go through a tryout process for the purpose of bringing together the best from the region, and over 14, then playing time realities start to shift naturally.
The better players will be asked to play more and others will play less. This is the real world of youth competitive sport.
Where things get tricky are when the demands get to be too much for the better players, and the playing time too little for those not playing as much.
I have seen the latter occur more as a parent and lived it on both sides. Let’s explore some examples.
Youth baseball 18 and under. Regional team. My son’s team had 2 pretty good pitchers, and 1 good catcher. They were relied on way too much. The first time our schedule asked the team to play 3 or more games in 4 days or less, either in a tournament or due to a scheduling quirk, a very good team became not so competitive. When our best pitchers, and catcher could not handle the workload, not only did the play suffer but one of the pitchers got injured. The team ended up winning as many as losing, but they had a very talented team that could have had a lot more fun if the workload had been spread earlier on. At this level, the team is made up in September for the following summer. Winter training starts in January for competition start in May. Both tryouts and training could have prepared the roster around the strength and weaknesses of the players. Good athletes have enough opportunity to work on pitching if they were not pitchers before. Same for adding depth to catching position. The lack of planning on managing the “assets” played a big role in the performance and health of the team.
Junior baseball 22 and under. As a parent, I watched a regional team that had tremendous players go through their regular season with relative ease. They had depth at every position and most were at, or, on their way to college to play. This was their summer team. The team qualified for provincials, which brings together the best 24 teams at the top level in this age bracket. The team was stacked. They had forgotten one thing. To play more than the 8 regulars and 3-4 pitchers. They relied on this lineup 100% of the time through tournament play, and had their top players play injured. The went on to win the provincials by the narrowest of margins, but when they got Nationals had nothing left in the tank and missed out on a national championship because their main guys were injured and,or tired. Their secondary guys, or “role players” were not called on until it was way too late. These were players a little less talented but college athletes in their own right. Never given a chance.
A few things stick with me a few years later in looking back.
This junior baseball team was a summer team put together to keep the kids competing in preparation for college. College ball was the main priority. So was their health. Having 5-6 guys come out of the summer season injured did a disservice to the individuals and their careers.
A competitive team will not win championships without relying on depth. This happens at the highest level of sport all the time. For the coaching group think they could stick with 8 regulars to play 15 ball games over 2 weeks through these tournaments showed their inexperience at this level, and their lack of concern for the health of the athletes. In the last 4 weeks of the season, key contributors during the whole season saw their playing time go down to almost zero. For this to happen while their higher end players never got a break: 2,3 games in a day for your regulars , including relying on 1 catcher, was destined to struggle.
The sour taste it leaves for the regulars cast aside is significant. Not just because they did not play or the team did not reach its full potential, but because no one communicated any plan to the reserves. Elite athletes 18 and over understand the realities of playing time. Communicating a plan allows them to be ready when called on, and stay mentally and physically sharp. This is also a big part of managing playing time. A national championship became the goal, and this team was the most talented. They forgot to use the resources (athletes) that helped get them there.
Currently, we are witnessing a fantastic NHL hockey final. The 2 teams are talented, experienced and their depth is better than any other team’s in the league. During many of the interviews, star players and coaches on both teams talk about the importance of their secondary players in contributing to their success. Secondary players sometimes sit out, 1 -2 weeks at a time before they get their chance. Some play only a few minutes a game, yet they all feel committed to the cause of winning that elusive championship. Players and coaches are all on board because they know the plan. The plan is communicated repeatedly, and players understand. They are selected because they are willing to work within these expectations.
Different playing time is a reality of high-level youth sport. How it is managed will make the difference between a team and players reaching their full potential and those who do not. When you factor in the injury risk in overplaying top players, all roads lead to building a communication and management plan for all in order to have a successful experience.