Smart vs. Gamesmenship vs. Bush league? Opinions please....

A bunch of us have, I believe, been in this position.  Your DD's team is up by a goal....you're checking your watch (ok, make that the iPhone stopwatch).....15 minutes left in the 2nd half.  "C'mon team....hold 'em".  10 minutes go by, you look again....14 minutes left in the 2nd half.  UGH!!!!  The other team sends the ball out of bounds and it rolls quite a distance away from the pitch.  Your daughter, the outside defensive back and targeted with the throw-in, retrieves the ball and makes her way back to the field. Certainly not "wasting time", but also certainly not in a hurry.  Would there be a sense of urgency if your DD's team were down a goal....of course.  But not when you're up 1, right?

However, you start to hear bickering from the other team's contingent of parents about "wasting time" and how that's not "playing with class".  My question to the community.  Subbing in players more frequently at the end of a game.....taking your time and not being in a hurry with free kicks and throw-ins.  Would you put these types of things in the category of:

1) Smart.  The referee will govern if things are taking too long.  If you don't want it done to your team, don't be down late in the game.

2) Gamesmenship.  Part of the game, even though it leaves a bad taste in some folks mouths.    

3) Bush league. Beyond Gamesmenship. Just "classless" and I wouldn't want my DD playing on that team.

Thoughts?.......

Lol- does depend whether your team is up but in the end, a little "clock management", within reason, is part of the game, IMO. If it is excessive the ref will, hopefully, handle it.

I don't have a problem with a slow jog...The other team can choose to sprint after it...Subbing to run clock...that is a part of soccer. If the ref thinks it is less than sporting, he can add a little time-no big deal either way.

Here is one that I don't like...our player running out of bounds near the opponent bench to get a ball for a throw. As he is reaching for it, their coach calls him off the ball, catches the ball and throws it behind him 30 yards...classless.

Let the ball go, I grumble under my breath...I don't do that, but I get it...purposefully impede play...classless.

It's smart gamesmanship/coaching to run clock when you have the lead. However, I've seen it backfire plenty of times since some teams stop playing as aggressive as before and the let up allows the opposition to equalize.

Its really about the Ref's discretion.
I am seeing it more and more that the ref's desire to extend time is non-existence.

I have seen it hundreds of times....they kick the ball out and the other team gives chase.....Irk's me, but I really don't have an issue with that...part of the game.

I would like to see this rule:
"No Subbing within the last 2 minutes of the games" (unless injury + which then the ref should add extra time)

It happens all the time, the team being down needs to go retrieve the ball to hurry things up.

Thanks for all the great feedback.  Sounds like the consistent message is "Has always been part of the game....the team trailing needs to do everything they can to have as much 'active' play on the field as possible".  

CBT....especially like the feedback on losing the aggressiveness.  Definitely have to avoid that.  Reminds me of the saying from football "The only thing a Prevent Defense does is prevent you from winning".  Teams who are up need to keep their foot on the accelerator while ensuring they don't take unnecessary risks.

HereForTheConvo wrote:Thanks for all the great feedback.  Sounds like the consistent message is "Has always been part of the game....the team trailing needs to do everything they can to have as much 'active' play on the field as possible".  

CBT....especially like the feedback on losing the aggressiveness.  Definitely have to avoid that.  Reminds me of the saying from football "The only thing a Prevent Defense does is prevent you from winning".  Teams who are up need to keep their foot on the accelerator while ensuring they don't take unnecessary risks.

Prevent defense is a great example. It's a universal phenomena that happens is every sport. It's human nature.

I saw it happen this week. Two teams are tied and the team without the wind wants the game to be over with and slows down getting balls in from out of bounds. The team with the wind scores the go ahead goal with :30 seconds left in the match. :45 seconds into stoppage time the team against the wind scores the equalizer. Both teams scored when the other team relaxed.

Don't overlook the fact that it doesnt just happen at the end of the game.  Our NTX wind usually gives one team an advantage each half.  The team that doesn't have the wind will take its sweet time whenever possible to get through the half.  

It's just soccer folks.

It all depends.  On my DD's team from 2 years ago we were ahead 3-2 in the closing minutes and her one teammate kept kicking the ball out of bounds...way way out of bounds.  The other teams parents were not thrilled.  That was probably a little over the top.  Coaches need not be involved in those either.  It turns out the ref added time anyway.

I have actually seen a coach let several balls roll by his feet while his team was ahead. 30 minutes later his team is down 2-1 and he was getting every ball that came his way. It was actually quite amusing watching him run up and down hills retrieving balls. If the kids are slower to get the balls and all that, it's one thing. But, for a coach to be THAT obvious about it, shame on them. Teach your players good sportsmanship and how to have some class. If they choose to not follow your lead, that's on them.