Middie lines with new and experienced kids

[montylax6]

This year our team (6th grade) has a few of new kids. Most of them are playing midfield. I don't know how to split the lines up. Should I mix the new kids in with the experienced kids, or should I make the experienced kids go on the first and second midfield lines and the new kids on the third line.

[mvlax7]

If I were you I would have an experienced/good first line and mix the rest up with people who have played and people who haven't.

[LocoMotive16]

I'd definitely have to agree with mvlax...this will allow for you to have one truly strong line on the field when you need it and it will allow the newer kids to play with more experienced kids thus accelerating their own learning process.

[HVlaxa7]

yea make at least 1 really strong line

[Mid21]

last year, the jv team had this in the beginning of the season:

line 1-good player, mediocre, new
line 2-good player, mediocre, new
line 3-had an idea, new, new.

Worked out well for the new kids on line 1 and 2. Line 3 never really played unless they had a over 5 goal lead.

[middyman911]

Usually you want to have your three best guys on your first line, but then you want to spread the rest of your good guys throughout.

[Mid21]

I think the coach changed it mid-season to:

Line 1-Most experienced, most experienced, good player
Line 2-Good, good, good
Line 3-Never played(all new guys who, for a lack of a better word, were terrible)

[Matt Saracen]

I would mix it up a bit. You can "hide" one M per line pretty well and it helps everyone's development.

I recently split up my best three mids. They started the season all playing on the first line, but I moved one of them to the second line and moved a guy up from the third line to play on the first line. Scoring went up by 5-6 goals a game after I made the switch and the third line kid--now on the first line--had two goals (by just being in the right place at the right time) during the first game we played with the new lineup. His confidence has soared and he's working his butt off and visibly improving game to game.