Soccer Algebra

By Chris

Now that Teresa and I are coaching Kristian and Ben in the soccer "Training League", sis-in-law and Baby's Daddy are coaching cousin Kai's Tiny Tot team. Sis-in-law's been a great asst. coach for several seasons . . . but Soccer Algebra scares her (and Teresa, for that matter) more than anything else about the volunteer job. You have to use this Soccer Algebra to create your lineups for the games. I had to create a cheat-sheet for sis-in-law with all possible scenarios the other night to ease her fears. Why do you need it? The rules say: Every player must play at least two full quarters of each game, including one quarter in each of the two halves. In Tiny Tots, 7 players will play at one time. No player can play 3 quarters before everyone plays 2 quarters (but a person can start her third quarter in the same quarter that someone starts her 2nd quarter). There are no mid-quarter subtitutions, unless there is an injury. Nobody can play four quarters until it is absolutely necessary (i.e. no combination of 3-quarter players and 2-quarter players is possible). Each team can have a maximum of 14 players (in which case, everyone plays two quarters, simple). Except, few teams have an even 14, and everybody showing up is rare. So, with these rules, how do you split up playing time with 11 players? 9 players? 12 players? Ahhh. Not as easy as it sounds, huh. I tried to explain that with four quarters and seven positions, there are 28 slots in a game . . . and that's how you figure it out. Multiples of 28, or something like that. Sis-in-law looks at me like I'm speaking Chinese. Thus the cheat sheet.

So, with all that, here's a coach's test for you.

1. With these rules, how many players play 3 quarters and how many players play two quarters when 11 players show up at the game (and this doesn't account for the politics of explaining to parents why some play three and some play two! The answer to this question: Well of course Ben plays three quarters. It's the only pay this volunteer position has!).

2. At what number of players does it become necessary to play at least one player for all four quarters?

And you thought this was childs' play!