Playing Time Policies
The NCFC Challenge program has a playing time policy for all members of the NCFC Challenge program.
Training Session Frequency
All U9-U14 NCFC Challenge teams are scheduled 2 training sessions each week.All U15-U19 NCFC Challenge teams are scheduled 1 training session each week. These teams as an option canrent and reserve an additional training reservation each week. The Head Coach should contact NCFC Youth Schedule at [email protected].If there are players that have been missing NCFC-scheduled training session, NCFC recommends that NCFC Challengecoaches contact and notify families that players playing time will be reduced.
Game Playing Time
All NCFC Challenge players that attend, and participate in all NCFC-scheduled training sessions for the week preceding the
weekend of games are guaranteed to play 50% of the game time for the weekend of games.
All NCFC Challenge players that attend, and participate in 1 of the 2 NCFC-scheduled training sessions for the week
preceding the weekend of games are guaranteed to play 25% of the game time for the weekend of games.
This should be considered a cumulative average of game time for the weekend, and not specifically 50% or 25% in each
game.
** If a NCFC Challenge player is an active participant on their school team and they miss their NCFC-scheduled training
session to attend their school training or game, they receive “credit” for their NCFC Challenge team training.
For example, a NCFC Challenge team trains on Monday and Wednesday. A NCFC Challenge player is on their school team
and attends their NCFC Challenge training on Monday, but their school training on Wednesday, they are guaranteed 50%
playing time over the weekend for their NCFC Challenge team.
Tournament Playing Time Policy
For all tournaments that NCFC Challenge teams participate, please follow the following policy.
All NCFC Challenge players that have been attending and participating in all NCFC-Scheduled training session must play in
50% of the total tournament game time. This does NOT need to be applied to each game, but must be considered an
aggregate average over the games for the event. If there are players that have been missing and only attending one
session per week, these players are guaranteed 25% of tournament game time.
Goalkeeper Policy
NCFC Youth believes it is very important for young players (U9-U10) to develop ball control, tactical knowledge of the game, and to enjoy playing on the field. The NCFC Youth Director of Goalkeeping advises that players play both on the field and in the goal at these young ages.
NCFC Youth Challenge Playing Time for U9-U10 Goalkeepers:
U9-U10 Goalies should play 1 half a game in the goal. Coaches may only play U9-U10 goalkeepers for half of a game in the goal.
For their overall development, players who wish to be goalkeepers as they get older need to play on the field as well as in the goal. The game demands goalkeepers be good with their feet and control the ball. Both parents and coaches should support future goalies in developing field player skills.
The purpose of this policy is to encourage overall technical development of our players at these young ages. If a player is being played both halves in the goalkeeper position, and it appears as though a coach is forcing this, please let the Challenge Director know. This policy is not intended to be policed by opposing coaches, parents, or referees.
NCFC Youth Challenge Playing Time for U11-U19 Goalkeepers:
Players who wish to play goalkeeper at U11-U19 may play the entire game in the goal if the coach elects to play the player in goal in both halves.
*From team to team, or from time to time, teams may not have a dedicated goalkeeper on the roster. If this occurs, coaches will implement a rotation of players to play in the goal.
-Typical rotations can be: a player plays the goal for entire half, and another plays the 2nd half. Or 4 players split playing in the goal (2 in first half, 2 in second half). *Coaches may not force the same player(s) to play in the goal every game. If it appears as though this policy is not being implemented appropriately, please the Challenge Director know.