Is It Better to Be on a Good Team or Get More Playing Time?

I’ve heard many parents ask if it’s better to be on a good team or get more playing time.

The former will probably make a player better over the long-term. The former will provide a player with more game experience and joy.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. It can vary from player to player but I’ll lay out the considerations.

Hopefully, this can make your decision easier!

Pros and Cons of Playing on a Better Team & More Playing Time

Here are the pros and cons when evaluating your decision…

Pros of Being on a Good Team:

• Higher Competition: Playing against tougher opponents pushes you to improve.
• Sharper skills: A good team may mean a better coach as well. Better players and coaches can improve your skills faster.

Cons of Being on a Good Team:

• Less Playing Time: You may get limited minutes if the team is stacked with talent. This can affect your overall development.
• Pressure: The competition can be intense, leading to higher expectations and stress.

Pros of More Playing Time:

• Skill Development: More time on the field means more chances to sharpen your game skills.
• Confidence Boost: Regular play builds confidence and allows you to take more risks.

Cons of More Playing Time:

• Lower Competition: Playing on a weaker team might not challenge you enough to grow at the same rate.
• Limited Exposure: You may miss out on scouting and other opportunities down the road.

Benefits of Being on a Good Team

One of the most significant advantages of playing for a good team is the exposure to higher-level competition.

When you play against tougher opponents and teammates, you are forced to improve your skills and adapt. This can make you faster, sharper, and better over the season.

Also, this environment can provide you with the opportunity to learn from talented teammates and coaches.

Collectively, they will all help level up your game.

Advantages of Getting More Playing Time

While being on a good team can offer many benefits, getting more playing time can also be advantageous.

When you play more, you have more opportunities to develop your skills and gain valuable experience.

This can be especially important for younger players who are still learning the game.

Getting more playing time can help you build confidence and improve your overall performance.

It can also increase the joy of the sport. Games are more fun than practices.

What Would I Choose?

9 out of 10 times, I would choose a better team if my child has high ambitions to get better.

A better team would make him or her push themselves. In club soccer, this is ten months of development and improvement. This is huge especially if the player is U-13 or younger.

If my child is on the fence about soccer, I would encourage them to get on a team with more playing time. Until they commit, making it more fun might be more beneficial.

At the end of the day, you want to match your child’s ambition to their environment the best you can.

It’s not an easy decision but I hope this helps!