Advice and perspective please

[chowebella]

A bit of a long one and I apologise but I could really do with other people's perspective/opinions.
My son plays grassroots footie. Is he the best player? No, but he shows up and has been dedicated to training in his position.

Coach has taken on too many players, friends of his ect. So now he has benched players who stepped up and played last season in place of these new players. He's basically said that certain players are not good enough and if they are going to win this is the way it has to be.

I was under the impression and after reading the clubs policy in length that all players should be given equal opportunities and game time in order to progress and learn? No favourites and regardless of one's ability they get fair chance.

I've tried to speak with coach and he's just ignored me! I'm not asking for special treatment and my son is even happy to play every other game to give everyone a chance at playing. I pay the same subs and registration fee as every other parent so I don't see why preferential treatment should be given to players the coach favourites.

Am I being unreasonable here? I don't really know what else I can do or say. I've been very fair and reasonable with my view points to coach

You are not being unreasonable. From what I have heard from work colleagues who coach grass roots football there are FA rules about game time for junior teams. Look it up and then decide whether you want to put in a formal complaint.

Honestly you're not wrong but this is typical in my experience of soccer. The weaker players absolutely get less and less game time or left of the bench entirely. It happens because coaches often want to win at all costs and they all start their best 9 or 11 .
I wouldn't bother raising a formal complaint . You'll find that it's not a nice place to be for your son if they play him begrudgingly and it won't be long before the stronger players resent the weaker ones 'loosing the game for them ' if there are stronger boys on the bench.
i would suggest finding a club or division more at your sons level and joining that club, far better to be the 'star' of a weaker team then a reluctant add on in a stronger one .
that's what we did and it worked out well

Thank you both. There's not many teams around our area so it's difficult to move him to another which I would of done in a heartbeat!

I think it's really sad that a game that teachers kids to feel like part of something and is supposed to give them confidence and a sense of camaraderie is ruined by the over inflated egos of some coaches.