[Jerzy]

I've been asked to take over our U12s and create a traveling team. I've coached a couple of the kids before and have a passing familiarity with several of the kids, but I'm a little hesitant to take a have-tryouts-make-cuts approach. U12s around here play 9v9 and I've been told that there's probably a pool of 20 or so players with the interest and/or skill to play travel ball. I don't want to make any cuts because these kids are still developing (we've only had a serious league for 4 years) and because the two best players are notorious for not practicing: they're athletic kids and play soccer, football, basketball, hockey and tennis. One's a fine, fine goal scorer and the other is a natural goalkeeper. Maybe they'll start to take soccer more seriously, maybe not. I'd just hate to cut someone for these two and then have them not really participate.

My thought is this: have a squad of everyone (I think I have a decent assistant coach, which is a first for me) and for each game I'd activate 16 kids, and the other four or five would get a game off. I'd let parents now a week in advance so they have some free time. I'm not too worried about keeping the kids happy -- I can do that -- the bigger problem is keeping parents happy. I haven't heard of anyone doing anything like this. Do you think it would be a problem?