A and B Teams in Youth Sports - Does it Really Matter?

Many youth sports programs assign players to A Teams for more skilled children and B Teams for less experienced ones. While this division aims to match skill levels, it has a significant impact on the development, enjoyment, and success of young athletes. As competition intensifies in youth sports, multiple factors shape the outcomes.

Let's examine how the A and B teams affect athletes.

The benefits of A and B Teams include more engaging games with evenly matched players, increased playing time for B Team members, and valuable opportunities to develop leadership and motivation.

However, this division can impact the confidence and self-esteem of B Team players, potentially leading to dropout. Parental and social pressures also play a role—some parents perceive that B Teams receive less attention and coaching quality, while A Team players may experience burnout from overplaying. It’s essential to acknowledge that having A and B Teams can also lead to premature labelling.

Does A and B Team placement ultimately matter?

For youth athletes aged 12 and under, assignments to A and B teams have minimal long-term impact. At this stage, the focus is on consistent participation, skill development, and enjoyment. As children grow older and expectations increase, and as players aim to progress and improve, and seek exposure, the significance of team division becomes clearer. Nonetheless, it must be appropriately managed, with coaches, parents, and management adopting a long-term development perspective.

When it comes to youth sports, it's essential to understand that athletes will develop at different rates - emotionally, skill-wise, and socially. Being on the A or B Team in youth sports ultimately does not have a significant impact on their success in the sport in the long term.

What's important is that youth athletes are engaged and enjoying their sport. If managed properly and all players receive equal opportunities in coaching and playing time, it doesn't really matter; however, if it leads to unwanted stress and results in dropouts, it can become problematic. Supporting players on whichever team they are on and focusing on their growth and development can lead to the best outcomes.