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

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.

I've seen lots of posts on other parts of this site relating to improving the level of ability of our better players.
Limiting subs in HS play and club play would help. If you can name 7 and use 3 in every game, two things happen. First, players improve their stamina to be able to play a full 80/90 minutes.
Second, the 11 staters develop an understanding that becomes almost instinctive. Players know how their team mates think and play. When fully developed you can have players making passes to team mates without looking up, because they know that player will be there and is thinking just like him.
I also see that with multiple subs, players come in and out and often play in 2 or 3 different positions. Players should specialise, find their best position and concentrate all efforts at getting better in that position.
The point about blow out games is well taken. But the HS League can take that off the table by doing the sensible thing: have a mercy rule for soccer. If a team is up by 5 goals by half time, game over. If it goes into the second half, as soon as a 5 goal differential is reached, game over. I've seen teams come back from 3 down, but never 5.

It seems to me that both teams would be playing in the unbearable May time Charleston weather! With that said it comes down to more strategy by the caoches. If a coach wants to gamble on young man whose endurance is not as great as others than that is his choosing. Please don't tell me it is a health issue either the player is in condition and able to perform or not. I watched numerous games this summer in 104 degree weather by all age groups. Again, both teams are playing in it. Soccer should be a game of endurance. I did not say that you measured the heart of a player but had visibility into his heart in the later stages of a crueling physical contest. That is competition and this competition is what makes soccer so enjoyable to watch. I watched games this weekend where parents of players were upset that Johnny got hurt on a physical and fair play. Although, Johnny was playing up in age group the parents still had a problem with the big kid on the other side who was just playing hard. If a kid can't play at that level then they shouldn't play at that level. That is why you have different levels of competition (IE JV & Varsity).

ok, here's my situation....

I coach at a small 1A high school with some soccer talent. Due to the way that 4A regions are paired up, it is impossible for us to get 4A teams to play us in the regular season. There are only three 3A teams with soccer within 2 hours. Our region consists of 3 teams including us.

Now, in order to get a full schedule, we have to schedule certain teams. We have a JV, home and travel varsity squad. For us, it is very important to have younger players get experience and to get our starters off the field against some of those teams in order to prevent ridiculous score lines, give the starters rest and prevent critical players from getting whacked.

You are telling me that (with sub limitations), i have to 1. leave starters in longer increasing the margin of victory 2. risk injury to key players 3. not be able to get younger players valuable playing time and 4. not be able to call up JV or less skilled player to give them the excitement of playing in a varsity match.

well said voice of reason

how about this a compromise but a little complicated. at the beginning of every game you are given 5 subs. for every goal you are up or down by you are given an extra sub. so it encourages getting the better players off in blow outs such as games where one team is winning by 6+ goals and limits the use of wasting time in close games.

good try...i'm assuming you play somewhere where the score is usually ugly but not in your favor?

says he supports ben lippen there benp

UH OH INFAMOUS 1

oh...i know who he is, i didn't see that it said where he was from...thought i'd joke with him.

Goals, I'm not sure how much the adding subs with each goal may be a factor. While in theory it may seem like a good idea, realistically, the refs would have to keep track of subs and how many each team has left and whether or not injuries count as subs. Some teams might abuse the priviledge and might try to sub too many people in without the ref keeping track.