Practice field space

Soccer_dude

Member
May 25, 2016
67
Coaches what do you think? Do you get enough space at practice? I see 4 teams per field & it's tough. Do you think that's enough? How can you really teach the game with such limited space? Thoughts?? I always feel for that team in the middle!
 

LFC

Active Member
Aug 23, 2015
314
Coaches what do you think? Do you get enough space at practice? I see 4 teams per field & it's tough. Do you think that's enough? How can you really teach the game with such limited space? Thoughts?? I always feel for that team in the middle!

So lucky my friend , we have 8 teams @ NAP !
 

4_the_kids

Active Member
Oct 20, 2015
312
The simple answer is no we do not get enough space.
I would like to see the following:
U6-U7 - gym one day per week is enough
U8-U9 - One gym per week , add one quarter field per week for development teams ( academy environment would be best)
U10-U12 - two practice per week - at least one a week with the quarter field ( 1/2 8v8 field) the other practice might only be an eighth of a field if space is limited.
U13-U18 - two practices per week - at least one half field per week at the very least for metro and Div 1 teams)

Theory is you can run a technical session in smaller spaces , its really hard to work on tactical stuff, formations, positions, set plays the like without at least a half field. U12 and below development teams and Metro and Div 1 should receive the priority as available. Maybe for the rest you get one half field a month ?

Now in Surrey you can easily get half to full fields if you are willing to use gravel once and a while. Sucks but from a tactical learning perceptive might be worth it?
 

easoccer

Established Member
Aug 27, 2015
862
I think all teams deserve the same amount of space. maybe Metro or higher could get more as they pay more, but everyone else who pay the same fees should be treated equally. This is even more important at the younger ages. Development is nothing special imho. More focus should be on ALL kids at that very important age.
 

4_the_kids

Active Member
Oct 20, 2015
312
I think all teams deserve the same amount of space. maybe Metro or higher could get more as they pay more, but everyone else who pay the same fees should be treated equally. This is even more important at the younger ages. Development is nothing special imho. More focus should be on ALL kids at that very important age.
In a perfect world i would agree but if you have to allocate space then it has to start somewhere. In Div 3 and Div 4 you get such a variety of coaching, there are good coaches with good sessions and at the same I sit there and watch a Div 4 U16 team practice with 8 of 17 guys showing up, and all they do is take some shots and play a scrimmage and I cant help to think how much more I could teach my kids if that quarter field was freed up so I can use a half field...
 

easoccer

Established Member
Aug 27, 2015
862
Not really anyone elses issue what another coach does unless you are the td.

I said it before and Ill say it again. Not much seperates d3 from 2.

D3 and 4 could get gravel. But they all should get the same amount of space.
 

SU Coach

Member
Sep 15, 2015
20
I hate the way practice space is allocated at my club...we are a community club (supposedly), yet somehow the higher level clubs get preference while everyone else fights for the remains. In my opinion none of the teams (outside of perhaps HPL) should get more than 1 spot on turf until all teams have a spot on turf. Once that is accomplished, THEN you can work your way through the teams offering a second spot. And it should be a clear process, too...perhaps start at U18, then U17, etc...
I know it sucks to be on gravel, but there are lots of things you can do on gravel. And similarly there are lots of things you cannot do. So, everyone should get at least one spot on turf, and second spots would be on gravel, if that is all that is available. I squawk about this every year. I KNOW that there isn't the space we would all want, and understand the difficulty, but I hate that Div 1 gets priority over Div 4 at a community club.
 

easoccer

Established Member
Aug 27, 2015
862
I hate the way practice space is allocated at my club...we are a community club (supposedly), yet somehow the higher level clubs get preference while everyone else fights for the remains. In my opinion none of the teams (outside of perhaps HPL) should get more than 1 spot on turf until all teams have a spot on turf. Once that is accomplished, THEN you can work your way through the teams offering a second spot. And it should be a clear process, too...perhaps start at U18, then U17, etc...
I know it sucks to be on gravel, but there are lots of things you can do on gravel. And similarly there are lots of things you cannot do. So, everyone should get at least one spot on turf, and second spots would be on gravel, if that is all that is available. I squawk about this every year. I KNOW that there isn't the space we would all want, and understand the difficulty, but I hate that Div 1 gets priority over Div 4 at a community club.

I agree. 1000%.
 

4_the_kids

Active Member
Oct 20, 2015
312
I hate say it but if a div 1 player pays $50 to $155 more per season than a div 4 player ( which is the norm) shouldn't there be some benefit to that?
If a player goes to evals and is playing a team that is selected shouldn't that team have some greater benefit than a house team.
There isn't enough resource for all teams to be treated equally, and there is a distinct difference between a div 1 and div 4 team, not just in ability but in attitude and approach to the game as well.
 

easoccer

Established Member
Aug 27, 2015
862
I hate say it but if a div 1 player pays $50 to $155 more per season than a div 4 player ( which is the norm) shouldn't there be some benefit to that?
If a player goes to evals and is playing a team that is selected shouldn't that team have some greater benefit than a house team.
There isn't enough resource for all teams to be treated equally, and there is a distinct difference between a div 1 and div 4 team, not just in ability but in attitude and approach to the game as well.

Last year in div 3 we regularly had 18 players out to practice. Our fees were the same as div 2 at least. we had 1 practice in turf and another on a gravel swamp. On those nights that we had turf we never missed and on a regular basis we had half a field because the div 2 and 1 teams would take a night off. Those teams had 2 prime turf spots per week as well as technical coaches out to practices and/or games 2x per month.

Now you can say whatever you want d1 is this and that, but I guarantee you that there are very good and dedicated teams that are in the lower levels who with the right push can be much better.

Also, if we were give the option of paying $50 more per player to get the same treatment Im sure all parents would go for it.

Now, I agree that give each a spot first and go from there. A field marshall and/or td would be able to keep track if those that are not utilizing the space and then given a chance to change or reallocate.

If a div 3/4 coach is only practicing 1x per week that could also be taken into account.
 

4_the_kids

Active Member
Oct 20, 2015
312
Sorry for spelling. lol. on mobile.
Totally agree with that argument, if teams are not utilizing there allocated space for whatever reason then it should be given to other who will.. And yes commitment is more about the coach than anything especially after say U14 ... many coaches cancel on rainy nights and such... There is no perfect solution , i am just presenting the argument to what a clubs logic maybe. resources are limited.
I am luck I have also had 2 turf times and i use them, i would love to get a half field once and awhile but thats unlikely unless a add a practice on gravel a Sunday on grass if open and available..
 

SU Coach

Member
Sep 15, 2015
20
There are some good points here. If Div 1 is in fact paying more, then perhaps some accommodation could be made, but no, I don't think that accommodation should be that they get turf time while Div 4 teams do not. Perhaps "1st pick" is reasonable, and a chance at a second spot once all teams have a 1st (i.e. you would almost never see a Div 4 team get 2 spots on turf). And I think it is a great idea that the fields should be monitored for use...if a team has a spot it is often not using, then they should lose that spot...I don't think that is unreasonable at all. Also, the opportunity to pay a little more and get a second spot is a good idea, BUT you have to have the space to allow it...not sure that we do at the moment. We will have a new turf field next year, so that should help.
 

TKBC

Established Member
Aug 21, 2015
1,256
Coaches what do you think? Do you get enough space at practice? I see 4 teams per field & it's tough. Do you think that's enough? How can you really teach the game with such limited space? Thoughts?? I always feel for that team in the middle!

6 teams on a turf field is not unusual. Space is at a premium, and it's not sufficient. My club is doing a good job giving teams adequate space - we're fortunate.

Teams cannot learn spatial awareness properly in small spaces. Clubs forget that this is a critical aspect of player development.

The issue is there aren't enough fields when it starts to rain and things get closed. However, the amount of time we spend on turf when it's beautiful outside is also not appropriate.

Clubs have a difficult job, but appropriate training space should be a priority.
 

TKBC

Established Member
Aug 21, 2015
1,256
You're telling me. Life in Newton. Usually a minimum of 6.

We have 6 at ours - sometimes more. But with the football endzones and a full 8v8 practice pitch there's quite a lot of room. Especially if coaches adapt the direction they are training. Not every club is so lucky.
 
Back
Top