Splitting A & B Teams (7th&8th grade boys)

[lonestarlax]

OK, it's almost time for us to split the boys into an A team, and a couple of B teams. Of course, 90% of the coach's sons are highly skilled and will make the A team. Even when there is no doubt that they are the most skilled, it still causes some problems --- but that's not my issue here.

I am the one who will call out the names and send the boys is different directions to their newly assigned team. The looks on the faces of the boys who really thought they were going to make the A team, but are now slapped with the reality that they will be on a B team, breaks my heart. I'm not talking about the brand-new, or unathletic boys who enjoy playing but had no delusions of playing at the A level. I'm talking about the high-B "bubble players" who now must spend the season with a combination of similar skilled players, and a group who really struggle.

I always position it that these boys get the opportunity to be leaders, to be the go-to guys on their team instead of 3rd or 4th line on the A team. I always talk about boys developing at different times and the fact that some may not bloom until their sophmore or junior year in high school. I talk about how many of our youth B players have gone on to make an impact in 9th grade on their HS JV team because of the work they put in at the youth level. I want them to maintain their passion for the sport and stick with it.

How have you as a coach dealt with it? What has worked well for you (and what have you made a mistake doing in this situation)? I hate to lose even one boy from season to season. We try to make it fun but challenging for everybody. Thanks for your input.

[CTLaxer]

Make sure every kid has the feeling that he was given an equal look and opportunity in your decision making process. I know when I was a player trying out for travel teams, I was the fastest kid on the team and had decent stick skills but was passed over because the coaches just took kids who they knew previously and kind of screwed those of us they didn't know over. Not bitter or anything, just sucked at the time. Especially when kids that you are better than get to play with the "A" team while you're stuck on the "B" team. One of our coaches used to tell us how some of the guys on the high school who were really good had to play with the B team a few years because they just wern't up to snuff but look at them now kind of story. See if you can find an example like that, it always lightens the load if they can see that with hard work and dedication they can improve and be quality players, even though they were chosen for the "B" team. Hope that helps! Luckily I don't coach teams that make cuts....we don't have enough kids for that....damn Arizona lacrosse...

[CoachK]

I wouldn't set the teams in stone if you have the option, let people move up and people move down. In HS sports, we had swing players... People that could move up or down week to week, it really meant those kids worked hard to get to Varsity. I'll never forget how hard I worked my freshmen year in college to be line 3, with 4 players competing for it... That pushed the rest of my college career.

[BuckWyld]

imo calling out names while everyone is standing there may not be the best way to do it. I personally think that maybe doing it one by one privately at the end of practice then letting them come and divide in to teams the next practice may be a better way, for a few reasons. First is that some of the kids may feel uncomfortable being called out like that, second it would give you a chance to talk to thoes "bubble-players" for a minute and explain why they are on the B team, how they can help the other players and what they need to work on. The second reason is that gives them a chance to go home and think about it, rather than reacting based on emotion. Third with players this age you may get inapropriat reaction from the other players as the names are called, which could hurt peoples feelings. I think that doing it the way I think you had in mind might be ok for highschool or college where the players are hopefully more mature, but I think with this age it is not the best way to do it.

[azlax1115]

Make sure every kid has the feeling that he was given an equal look and opportunity in your decision making process. I know when I was a player trying out for travel teams, I was the fastest kid on the team and had decent stick skills but was passed over because the coaches just took kids who they knew previously and kind of screwed those of us they didn't know over. Not bitter or anything, just sucked at the time. Especially when kids that you are better than get to play with the "A" team while you're stuck on the "B" team. One of our coaches used to tell us how some of the guys on the high school who were really good had to play with the B team a few years because they just wern't up to snuff but look at them now kind of story. See if you can find an example like that, it always lightens the load if they can see that with hard work and dedication they can improve and be quality players, even though they were chosen for the "B" team. Hope that helps! Luckily I don't coach teams that make cuts....we don't have enough kids for that....damn Arizona lacrosse...

we had a lot of kids sign up this year at Brophy (about 70-75 i think) so we do actually have a B team..... they never really practice or work though

[The Hitman]

I agree with not calling the names out. I'd speak with the kids that may be confused or upset by being on the B team & let them know they'd get more playing time on B than if they stayed with the A team.

I had the same issue when I was in High School (a while ago) when I was told in 11th grade that I would get more playing time with the JV team. I was upset at first but had my best year ever and ended up playing Varsity when someone was unable to!

Good luck!

[Attack027]

I wouldn't set the teams in stone if you have the option, let people move up and people move down. In HS sports, we had swing players... People that could move up or down week to week, it really meant those kids worked hard to get to Varsity. I'll never forget how hard I worked my freshmen year in college to be line 3, with 4 players competing for it... That pushed the rest of my college career.

I Agree, because some of those kids will work so much harder if they know they have a chance on the A-Team, and there will be some who work harder just to prove you wrong

[Coach MacLax]

Here in Mid-Maine we have about 60 7-8th graders so we have an A and a B team. CoachK got it right. We don't set the teams in stone. We always leave the possibility for moving up (or down). I even tell the kids to prove me wrong. Go out and play a couple of great games and force me to reconsider. Some of the bubble players we give a choice. 3rd or 4th line on the A team or 1st or 2nd on the B team. Sometimes they choose A just because that's where thier buds are. We also don't announce it in public.

[Coach MacLax]

The other thing we do is have intramural teams. 17-20 players on a team, 3 teams (hopefully equal in talent) and on (some)Wednesdays and Saturdays we play sort of festival round robins. On Saturdays a lot of families come to watch and it's competitive but all among friends and we just play lacrosse all morning. And all the kids get all the lacrosse they can stand. This year other teams from other towns called us just to schedule friendly festival round robins.

[attackgod]

Have you ever thought about naming them ie(yellow and black teams) rather than A and B. That might lighten the load. A and B sounds bad anyway.

[Waynelax]

Have you ever thought about naming them ie(yellow and black teams) rather than A and B. That might lighten the load. A and B sounds bad anyway.

This a very good idea, at least it lessens the blow of being on the "B" team even though the kids will figure it out pretty quickly! :agree:

[The Hitman]

I agree with AttackGod.... had the same issue last year with 5th & 6th graders. We split them into "Blue" and "White" teams and mixed the talent accordingly even though it was mostly filled with the same grade level. ALSO, if most of the coaches' kids are on the same team, maybe you should split THOSE kids up so you have good coaches for each team. If the skill level they're playing against is about the same, split them up evenly.

Good luck!

[aof09lax]

I think you have the right idea. You should not be worried. Even though these kids are upset now, when they are the captains of their teams and the all stars, they will feel much better. I know that the kids are upset, and if you are really concerned about them, talk to each kid and tell them what you think. Hopefully theyll understand, if not, they will learn, it's part of growing up.

[coach b lax]

we make it simple grade 8 is A, grade 7 is B.

In the event there are too many in one grade, we evaluate talent by position and fill spots up or down. the head coaches meet after evaluations and make the final cut.

we let players know individually why they move down. most kids would rather be a first line player on B than a 3rd or 4th line on A. They dont believe it on the day they find out, but by the 2nd or 3rd game they understand.

we inform our boys by having the coaches call them and tell them when and where to report for their first practice. ( our A and B practice at different times and days)