8th Grade Team Breakdown

[seahawk08540]

This year our club team will have 32 players at the 8th grade level. We want to avoid putting together a 'A' and a 'B' team. What other choices do I have to make up this team where equal playing time is there for everyone? Is there some kind of rotation that can be used?

Also how do you handle the parents who want to see the 'A' team and nothing else?

[MCconor3]

Okay this happened to my team when i was in 7th grade also so heres what you do make 3 equal team such as RED BLACK WHITE make them have 11 players on each except for one having 10 and have them all practice together but for games only have 2 team show up such as RED and Black. we used this and we ended up winning are championships so I thinks its a pretty good idea.

[spenny]

can you make 2 B teams?

[seahawk08540]

No, we only have the 32 8th graders. We thought about making a 7/8 grade team but do not have the numbers to do that either.

[spenny]

ive done teams with 16 kids, and thats fine if everybody shows up for EVERYTHING, but 18 really is the perfect number of kids for a youth team.

you cant find 4 more kids?

[seahawk08540]

In our town (Montgomery, NJ/near Princeton) the parents put these kids into 10 different activities at once, so we usually don't get very good numbers at all the functions. One game we could have 15 players and the next game 30. Its crazy and can be very frustrating from a directing point.

I like the idea of rotation because then we could always steal players from the other team that is not playing. The only problem with the rotation is then we get angry parents who want the 'A' and 'B' teams.

[spenny]

coaching youth sports is best done with orphans. --Coach Joe.

i hear you. we get a pretty dedicated group so we can do 18. in your case running shifts is the best choice if you dont want to cut kids.

ps tell the parents that want the A team and nothing else to go away.

[Emerican]

Our 7th and 8th graders split up the team like this

you evaluate each player from strongest to weakest ability. you give the odd numbers to one team and even to another.

as for lines, for every kid of weaker ability, try to have one with stronger ability to compensate. like 2 weaker middies, and one really strong one, etc.

and if theres 2 goalies, they are divided first..maybe give the weaker goalies team the odds so he gets the top player etc.

idk both teams for our 7th and 8th i think went like 9-1 each

[QBYattackmen15]

Our 7th and 8th graders split up the team like this

you evaluate each player from strongest to weakest ability. you give the odd numbers to one team and even to another.

as for lines, for every kid of weaker ability, try to have one with stronger ability to compensate. like 2 weaker middies, and one really strong one, etc.

and if theres 2 goalies, they are divided first..maybe give the weaker goalies team the odds so he gets the top player etc.

idk both teams for our 7th and 8th i think went like 9-1 each

this is a great way to go. and also i completly agree with spenny on to tell the parents to go away.(not literally) but you know what i mean. getting the kids the best lacrosse experience possible is more important then satsifying parents.

[picknroll]

This year our club team will have 32 players at the 8th grade level. We want to avoid putting together a 'A' and a 'B' team. What other choices do I have to make up this team where equal playing time is there for everyone? Is there some kind of rotation that can be used?

Also how do you handle the parents who want to see the 'A' team and nothing else?

Take the top 1/3 players (roughly 10 or 12) and place them on an 'A' team.

Take the other 2/3 players (roughly 20)and place them on a 'B' team.

On a per game basis pull 8 to 10 guys from the 'B' team and place them on the 'A' team in addition to their 'B' team playing time. Rotate the guys that play up on the 'A' team each week.

Practice all 33 together. This will give you a full-field scrimmage.

This provides 'A' level playing time for everyone while letting you put your top 10-12 guys on the field each week. Usually in a group of 33 there will be 10-12 standouts. The 'B' level team will also provide extra playing time and development for players beyond your core 10-12.

[CHSlax]

Okay this happened to my team when i was in 7th grade also so heres what you do make 3 equal team such as RED BLACK WHITE make them have 11 players on each except for one having 10 and have them all practice together but for games only have 2 team show up such as RED and Black. we used this and we ended up winning are championships so I thinks its a pretty good idea.


I grew up playing for the same program and MCconor, so I agree for the most part. What I have always been taught was the magic number is 22. If you want everyone to have meaningful playing time, you can't have any more than 22 on a team. But if you have more than 22, but not enough for 2 teams do the what MCconor said 3 squads of 11ish and have 2 show up. This can get a little tricky around playoff time especially in the championship.