Ever since my oldest was playing U8 rec (she's now 20 if that gives you an idea), I've run a stopwatch or timer during games. A lot of parents have asked me how much time is left. A family who was on our team two years ago, got demoted last year, and is back on our team this year told me "We missed you so much. No one kept time (on the parent's side) on the other team." This is for my son's U16 team. If your watch doesn't have a stopwatch function, it's not hard to do on a phone. Am I strange for wanting to know how much time is left?
I stopped caring. The majority of the refs are so bad that it doesn't matter. I've seen 10 minute differences between halves with zero injury stoppages. This is U11 mind you, so hopefully they get better.
I do not do this but there is always 1-2 parents who are timing games that I can ask. So you're not alone
I sometimes forget to do it while coaching, much less parenting. When I'm parenting, I just try to look at my watch when a half starts, but I often even forget to do that.
If you use the Team Snap app there is actually a cool function where you can set the clock when the game starts and do live chat. We use it on one of my girls' team for play by play (goals scored, goals shot, goals blocked) I had to miss one game (first time in 6 years) and it was nice to keep track of what is going on from work. When my daughter is playing keeper and down to the last minutes of a shut out she is screaming to the sideline asking for time
We had someone on our team who used to update with every goal. I can't tell you how aggravating it was to watch a futsal game that we were losing something like 16-2 and feeling the cell phone buzz 18 times. (I finally dug into it and muted such notifications.)
LOL totally agree, both my girls do futsal and indoor where we see scores in double digits and yes that would be annoying, lucky for season games neither side usually scores more than 3 so not bad
Three kids, 15 years, always had at least one parent who religiously kept track of time. You could hear the alarms go off up and down the sideline. I always forgot to start mine on time. I’d say out of 18 families there were usually 2-3 who kept time. I salute you, “Time Keeping Heroes”
I did get a kick out of a couple of players so far this season. We were at a showcase and shortly before a first half ended, a CB called over to me "Mr. Gordon, how much time left"? He did the same at the next game. After the second game, our RB, who used to play mid, told me he liked being on the parent side, and that knowing how much time left actually helped him.
Sometimes, when I'm coaching, I use an app called Coach's Clock. It tracks every player's playing time, which is quite useful for rec league when everyone's supposed to play at least half the game. That also tells me how much time has elapsed. And STILL I often forget to start it in the second half.
A parent has less to worry about than a coach. I suggest having your assistant be responsible for tracking the time.
Yeah, always a couple of parents keeping track of time and its nice to know in general how much time is left… Yet, on the flip side, I hate the running clock in HS…I can’t stop looking at…like a million times a game…I annoy myself so much, but I can’t help myself…
I would think easier than the club level…no experience or knowledge really needed nor expected…if you can place cones in a straight line and chase balls, you’re in! I was an assistant rec coach and I didn’t know shit about soccer…some might claim I still don’t…. In my area at least, its far more common to see an “assistant coach” at the rec level then at the club level…
Exactly. I was an assistant rec coach too (and I kept time). Beau Dure has mentioned in the past he's had an assistant.
You all have been more fortunate than what I've seen. Every rec organization/coach I work with talk like it's impossible to find any coaches for their teams.
Our rec coaches are all volunteer (parent) coaches. When my kids were in rec, we had coaches who had 0 soccer knowledge, but were willing to look at some websites/read a book. I think it also helps saying "if we don't get volunteers to coach, we can't have teams". The assistant can be decided after the teams are formed. They just need to pass a background check here.
I know how it works. It's the same all over with most of the recruitment of coaches. Doesn't mean that it's easy to find a head AND an assistant (or two).