How do you manage a team of 10 players?

How do you manage a team of 10 players?

How do you fairly and evenly manage a team with 10 players without offending and upsetting people? How do you compile a roster or game plan to accomodate everyone, and what can you do to avoid upset around finals time?

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TOP ANSWER
Simon ThomasonCoach, Australia

Hi Kirby,

There are a lot of variables that may change the way you manage that many players in a team, e.g. age of players (at our association 10&Under and younger all have to play in each position throughout the season), mix of preferred positions, versatility of players, etc.

There are also lots of options when it comes to rotations that are up to your personal preference, e.g. the choice between rotating each quarter or only at half-time. The best suggestion I can make is to make sure you record game time. I have also found that nobody really wants to be off either the first or last quarter, so keep records of this also and share it around.

Here`s what I did last season with 10 players over a 15 week season.

Each week 8 players would play 3/4 and 2 players would only play 1/2. I would make changes each quarter so that players didn`t spend two quarters in a row on the bench. So the players only play a half would play either 1 & 3, 2 & 3, or 2 & 4. I have assumed that your spread of players is the ideal: 3 x defenders, 4 x mid-court, 3 x shooters.

Week 1-3: 2 x defenders play 3/4, 1 x defender plays 1/2. Same mix for shooters. Rotate which one of the three of each type of player only plays 1/2. All 4 mid-court play 3/4.

Week 4 & 5: 3 x defenders all play 3/4, with one of them playing defensive mid-court (WD). 3 x shooters all play 3/4 with one of them playing offensive mid-court (WA). 2 x mid-court play 1/2 other two play 3/4. These two pairs swap in game 5/

Week 6-8. Same as 1-3 with players rotating through their various position mixes.

Week 9 & 10: Same as 4 & 5. Mix up which mid-court player combinations only playing 1/2.

Week 11-13: repeat of 1-3 or 6-8 with further rotation through the different positions.

Week 14-15 repeat of 4 & 5 or 9 & 10 with mixups of combinations.

This would end up with every player having the same overall amount of court time, including out of position time. Of course.if anyone is away it has to be adjusted, but as the season goes on you then allocate slightly more time to those that have the lower total.

Does that help? Regards, Simon

ANSWERS
Simon ThomasonCoach, Australia

Hi Kirby,

There are a lot of variables that may change the way you manage that many players in a team, e.g. age of players (at our association 10&Under and younger all have to play in each position throughout the season), mix of preferred positions, versatility of players, etc.

There are also lots of options when it comes to rotations that are up to your personal preference, e.g. the choice between rotating each quarter or only at half-time. The best suggestion I can make is to make sure you record game time. I have also found that nobody really wants to be off either the first or last quarter, so keep records of this also and share it around.

Here`s what I did last season with 10 players over a 15 week season.

Each week 8 players would play 3/4 and 2 players would only play 1/2. I would make changes each quarter so that players didn`t spend two quarters in a row on the bench. So the players only play a half would play either 1 & 3, 2 & 3, or 2 & 4. I have assumed that your spread of players is the ideal: 3 x defenders, 4 x mid-court, 3 x shooters.

Week 1-3: 2 x defenders play 3/4, 1 x defender plays 1/2. Same mix for shooters. Rotate which one of the three of each type of player only plays 1/2. All 4 mid-court play 3/4.

Week 4 & 5: 3 x defenders all play 3/4, with one of them playing defensive mid-court (WD). 3 x shooters all play 3/4 with one of them playing offensive mid-court (WA). 2 x mid-court play 1/2 other two play 3/4. These two pairs swap in game 5/

Week 6-8. Same as 1-3 with players rotating through their various position mixes.

Week 9 & 10: Same as 4 & 5. Mix up which mid-court player combinations only playing 1/2.

Week 11-13: repeat of 1-3 or 6-8 with further rotation through the different positions.

Week 14-15 repeat of 4 & 5 or 9 & 10 with mixups of combinations.

This would end up with every player having the same overall amount of court time, including out of position time. Of course.if anyone is away it has to be adjusted, but as the season goes on you then allocate slightly more time to those that have the lower total.

Does that help? Regards, Simon

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