SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Boys Varsity Soccer Should Subsitutions Be Limited ?

I personally believe that they should because limiting subs will show the abilities of a player to perform for a full 80-90 minutes of a game. Subs, when they are not limited will depend on the coach whether if he is willing to sub or not. If he doesn't, the other coach has the opportunity to keep totally fresh players on the field for the whole game. Unfair, in a way i think so.

What is your view on it ?

...no

it's high school not the FA CUP! Kids, even terrible billy who can't do inside-inside, should get an oppurtunity to play. Afterall it is for THEIR benefit (the children). Helming teams are coaches, not managers. The kids are still learning the game and can benefit from a quick pull or sub to get some coaching points and a quick drink.

i agree. this is hs soccer and it really is an after school activity. Most hs teams carry as many players as they can just for the sake of giving kids the opportunity to compete in sports. There are many games that the score becomes so lopsided such as 10+ goal leads that as much as the starting line up as possible should be pulled out.

im not saying it has to be a limit of 3, but i have seen some teams that have subbed more than 20 players in and out. The thing is they don't sub to give the bad player playing time, but they put those other guys in for 5-10 minutes each time just to keep their starters fresh.

their should be a limit in hs soccer. Probably like maximum 10 subs a game. Some teams are taking advantage of the subbing and not using them wisely.

How come in wrestling.....the starters play the whole game?

With all due respect, what teams do you guys play for? Go tell Wando or Irmo or Riverside or BE that high school soccer is just an after school activity. The notion that soccer is just an after school activity at the high school level is ludicrous. I can name about 50 schools right off hand where soccer is not just an after school activity but a passion and is played at a high level. Yes, teams do use subs to give starters a breather or to melt the clock, but that means that coaches are free to use all the players on their bench if they choose. If you limit subs then less skilled players will have even less of a chance of playing. It will also be more difficult to get younger players valuable varsity playing time.

Also, if a very skilled team is playing a less skilled team and gets a big lead, then they usually like to empty the bench and get younger or less skilled players some valuable playing time while resting starters. If you limit subs, that will mean that more starters will have to be in for the duration of the game which will lead to even more ridiculous score lines. Look at how many times we talk about 10-0 score lines on this message board-- limit subs and prepare to discuss 20-0 score lines. Also be prepared to discuss more career ending injuries as those teams losing 15-0 get frustrated and start whacking opposing players.

Also, unlimited substitutions allow for schools where soccer is just an after school activity to allow more players to participate in that activity. If you limit subs, less skilled players on less skilled teams will see far less playing time. Sub patterns, when to rest starters and how to maximize your bench is all part of the high school game.

One more thing.... if you limit subs, then the player who got in for that 5-10 minutes of time to give the starter a rest will not get any time at all.

Who cares why he gets in the game? It is the coach's responsibility to make sure his team understands the importance of that player's role b/c without that bench player, the starter would not get a rest and would be dead with about 10 minutes to go in the game. However, since we can freely sub, we can use many bench players, those players do not have to play out of position (and thus risk a game changing mistake) and, usually, that bench player is younger or less skilled than the starter but they get the excitement of stepping on the field, whatever their role may be.

Why not limit the roster size for these teams? or is that already done. Does that not ulitmately limit the number of substitutions where you wouldn't have these whole team substitutions. Yes, teams will still runup the score but you can't control some of those jerks. I believe that endurance is a big part of soccer. You actually get to see the heart of a player as they dig for that last drop of energy in the final minutes. In additiion. Soccer is about building a team not just one player. However, if just anyone can participate even with substandard skills the respect "in terms of soccer" will be lacking. Thus, building your "team" will be limited by these perceptions. By this age the kids are playing for the honor of representing their school. Does it not reduce the prestige/honor if anyone can participate?

I always thought that it would really stink to be second string in wrestling. You never get to play. The guy ahead of you "plays the whole game".

If it is acceptable in wrestling, why can't it be acceptable in soccer? Limit substitutions to four per game, no re-entry, and make fitness a factor again. It should be an essential part of the game.

Many schools, especially larger ones, already limit roster size by having one or multiple cuts. But, a small school may only have 20 or so people come out for the team and may have a co-ed team. Limiting substitutions would limit those players' playing time as well.

Yes, soccer is, in part, an endurance game. But, at the high school level, i would disagree with measuring a players heart by making them stay in the game for 80 minutes b/c of limiting subs. A senior, 3 or 4-year starter can probably do that. But, a talented freshman starter may not be able to and may need to be subbed 1-2 times during the half for 3-4 minutes each time. That's when the bech player goes in.

At some point, with this age, it is not measuring the heart of a 14 year old, it could be a health issue. Come to Charleston in May and play a game and see if most of the team could go 80 minutes, at a level that will allow you to win the game, without being subbed.