I believe teams should keep the same standards for all players. Of course, there will always be star players. Even if someone is very talented, adapting too much to one individual can harm team discipline and create imbalance. For me, consistency and fairness are more important than individual exceptions. We’ve seen this before like this example—when Mbappé was at PSG, the game was built around him. Later, the coach moved away from that and the team became more balanced. (Similar examples can also be found in handball.) This approach might bring short-term success, but in the long term, it can create problems.

In our youth handball league, man-to-man defense is mandatory, and during the first two periods (out of three), it is required that seven different players take the court. While these rules are designed to promote fair participation and development, as coaches, we sometimes find ourselves facing the dilemma of prioritizing winning over equal opportunity. From my perspective, however, our philosophy “learn in order to win.” Success at this level should not be defined solely by the final score, but by how effectively we contribute to each child’s growth, confidence, and long-term development in the sport. Winning a game by relying on only seven players—especially in younger age groups—may bring a short-term result, but it ultimately represents a loss in terms of player development and team culture. Our responsibility is not only to win matches, but to develop players and foster a positive, inclusive environment for all. I remind myself of this every week and continue to learn from it.

@Damir Djukic It definitely depends on the coach. Actually, it’s a rule, but it’s often flexible in practice.