While the benefits of equal playing time are clear, implement the actual strategies to achieve a more fair game for your young athletes can be challenging.
Here are a few strategies for volunteer coaches and parent coaches to consider.
- Set Clear Expectations
Communicate your aim for an equal playing time policy to parents and players at the beginning of the season. This can diffuse or discourage any speculation about favoritism or biases. You could also use a minimum playing time policy instead of strictly equal time. You could guarantee a minimum percentage (e.g. 50%) to all players. This helps provide some flexibility for coaches. - Use Rotation Systems
Implement a fair rotation system to ensure all players get equal time across different positions. This starts in practice, of course, so that players are equipped to sub in for any position during the game. Ideally, you should balance talent across lineups. Mixing stronger and developing players rather than always using the best players together allows for more equal time while maintaining competitiveness.
- Focus on Development
The scoreboard doesn’t tell the story. You do. Emphasize skill development and personal improvement over winning, especially in younger age groups. If winning becomes an ultimate desire for your athletes, some teams have strategized with “win weeks,” a system where the focus on winning and play their strongest lineups one week per month, while prioritizing equal time in other games. - Educate Parents
Just as you reframe your idea of success from Ws versus Ls to a growth mindset, make sure parents are seeing what you’re seeing as well. Help parents understand the long-term benefits of equal playing time for their child’s development, particularly for those athletes under age 12. The Ws matter more later. - Track Playing Time
Use apps or simple spreadsheets to monitor playing time and ensure fairness. We have one we like a lot. A youth sports tracker, like InTimer, can help ensure all players get meaningful playing time, even if the total minutes aren’t exactly equal. InTimer also allows volunteer coaches to be transparent with players about playing time decisions to help them understand the strategy.
Equal playing time in youth sports is not just about fairness; it’s about creating an environment where all children can thrive, develop skills, and foster a lifelong love for physical activity.
By prioritizing equal playing time, we can create a more inclusive, enjoyable, and beneficial sports experience for all young athletes. This approach not only helps retain more children in sports over the long run but also contributes to their overall physical, mental, and social development.
Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash
