Bubble Teams Don’t Build Stronger Girls Soccer Programs!

A floating “bubble group or team” between JV and varsity usually fails for one reason:

The players do not know who they are, where they belong, or what they are earning. In girls high school soccer, that uncertainty can hit harder than the actual soccer challenge.

Coaches try the bubble team concept and fail every time. In my entire soccer career, I have never seen this model succeed. In my opinion, it is the most damaging way to structure a girls soccer team.

This post is to give a little insight on how to properly structure a bubble team if you choose this method of coaching. I highly do not recommend it, but if you feel you want to give it a shot, keep these ideas and thoughts below in mind.

---

What usually happens emotionally is not that players are “too emotional.” It is that teenage athletes are highly aware of social status, fairness, and belonging.

When roles feel vague, they start filling in the blanks themselves:

• “Coach doesn’t really believe in me.”

• “I’m not varsity enough, but I’ve outgrown JV.”

• “Why is she moving up and I’m not?”

• “Do my teammates even want me here?”

This creates stress fast. Once players feel socially unstable, performance often drops. Confidence gets tight, body language changes, and small things become bigger than they should. You may see overthinking, tears, frustration, withdrawal, cliques, or quiet resentment. Not because they are weak, but because role ambiguity is exhausting.

So, the real question is not whether a bubble team is a good idea. The question is whether you can remove confusion.

When it works, it does a few things well:

• gives borderline varsity players meaningful development.

• creates competition without cutting off opportunities.

• allows you to reward form, fitness, and attitude.

• prepares younger players for varsity standards.

When it fails, it creates:

• identity confusion

• perceived favoritism

• JV players feeling used.

• varsity players feeling threatened.

• parents questioning everything.

• constant emotional turbulence

My coaching view:

Do not create a “bubble team” as a vague middle ground. Create a clearly defined development pool.

That means every player should know:

• what group she is rostered on right now

• why she is there

• what earns movement

• whether movement is temporary or weekly

• who she trains with

• where she dresses, travels, and belongs on game day.

Girl’s teams usually manage hard truths better than unclear truths.

---

For example, players can accept:

“You are JV rostered, but one of three call-up players for varsity when you’re training and game form earn it.”

They struggle much more with:

“You’re kind of both.”

That “kind of both” space is where emotion gets messy.

Best structure if you want to do it:

Keep primary identity fixed, and opportunity flexible.

Example:

• Every player has one home team: JV or varsity.

• A small call-up pool is named.

• Call-ups are based on specific criteria: training intensity, tactical understanding, consistency, positional need, mentality.

• Players are told when and why they are moving up.

• Re-evaluate on a set schedule, like every two weeks.

That protects belonging while still creating upward mobility.

---

A few emotional realities to keep in mind with girl’s high school players:

They are usually extremely sensitive to fairness.

Even if they do not say it, they are tracking everything. Minutes, tone, praise, corrections, travel roster decisions, who gets second chances. If your bubble system feels inconsistent, trust erodes quickly.

They often connect role with relationship.

A player may hear a soccer decision as a personal decision. “Coach moved me down” can feel like “Coach is disappointed in me.” You must separate the person from the role in your communication.

They talk.

That is not a criticism. It is just team reality. The emotional climate spreads fast. If two confused players are upset, it can become a locker room narrative by the end of the day.

Belonging matters a lot.

Adolescent female athletes often perform best when they feel secure, seen, and clearly valued. Unclear placement can make them feel socially exposed.

Confidence is tied to clarity.

A player who knows her role can attack it. A player who is guessing her status plays cautiously.

What I would recommend:

Use a JV/varsity call-up model, not a permanent bubble team label.

Say something like this to the group:

“Everyone has a home team, some players may earn temporary varsity opportunities based on performance, effort, and team needs. That is not a promise, not a demotion, and not a mystery. We will communicate it clearly.”

Then say this privately to bubble players:

“You are close.” Here is exactly what closes the gap.”

That keeps hope alive without creating emotional fog.

My bottom line:

Yes, the idea can work developmentally.

No, it is not a good idea if it creates ongoing ambiguity.

With girls’ high school teams, confusion usually costs more than the tactical flexibility is worth.

Clear roles with fluid opportunity are the sweet spot.

A simple rule: stable identity, flexible movement.

My next post will provide a map for creating a JV/Varsity call-up model.