Playing Time
At TFA we guarantee every player at least 40% playing time per game; however, we ask our players to compete for everything, including playing time in games. This is determined by attitude, attendance, accountability and timeliness.
If a player commits to The TFA program, we expect them to make the necessary practices, games and tournaments. Failure to do this without a legitimate reason will result in the player not starting the game, and subsequently playing less time than the other players.
Our attendance requirement is 2 practices per week; however, we offer the option of up to 4 training sessions. We strongly encourage our players to attend optional sessions. However, this does not equate to MORE playing time. This improves the individual player and allows him more touches on a day-to-day basis, improving the practice to game ratio. If a player misses a league/tournament game without a legitimate reason, the player will not start in the next game, and he will have less playing time than other players.
Arriving late and forgetting uniform articles will reduce the player’s playing time. If a player fails to make the 30 minute warm up time (we state that a player needs to be at a game 45 minutes before the kick off time), they will not play a significant period of the first half or any of the game (depending on when they arrived). Please understand as your player progresses through the ranks and ages the mental approach to the game becomes higher. At TFA we hold timeliness in very high regard. If we are playing locally and other teams see TFA families arriving a few minutes before game time, this does not portray a positive image to them.
If a player fails to bring a uniform piece that is needed at the game, he will receive a reduced amount of time, if any. This will depend on the uniform piece and how many times this has occurred!
Again, at TFA we place great emphasis on making your own decisions (ON and OFF the field). Players need to get in the habit of checking their own bags and becoming accountable for their actions (obviously, the younger players need more assistance than the older ones!)
If you are struggling to meet the timeline, please notify the manager who can contact the coach about what is happening. Our staff understands families have a lot going on in their lives other than soccer! Have the coaches and managers cell number programmed into your phone; a phone call often alleviates the tension caused by a late player!
The Academy coaching staff fully understands the importance of players getting the opportunity to play in games, and we will structure our annual game schedule to allow many opportunities for players to play in games.
However, it is important for parents and players to understand that a player's development takes place over the course of many months of practices, training and games - not in any one particular game. The coaching staff is instructed to manage the playing time of each player over the course of the entire program year (10/11 months); this results in our game to practice philosophy of four practices to every one competitive game.
Ideally, we would like this ratio to happen more regularly in this country; however, games sometimes seem to override the importance of practice.
All of the above decisions are at the discretion of the TFA Staff Coach and D.O.C.
Please remember we do not recruit, we do not advertise... players join our Academy because of YOUR positive comments and actions about our club.
Here at TFA we place the importance back into training and commit to players who are committed to TFA!