Munro, Gomez Discuss Substitution Policies

At the varsity soccer meeting yesterday, the team decided that coach Bruce Munro and captain Solomon Gomez would confer with each other to determine the squad's future policies on choosing a starting line-up and making substitutions during a game.

In accord with that tentative decision, Munro and Gomez will meet today to discuss the Crimson's strategy in Wednesday's game against Tufts.

Munro and Gomez have differed this Fall over the handling of team personnel during games. Rather than split into two factions, the squad chose to have the coach and the captain meet privately to agree upon a compromise. Whether the partnership can find common ground will be determined today.

The inclusion of Gomez in substitution decisions solves one aspect of the controversy. In several instances this Fall Gomez has been upset because he has not been consulted when changes were made during the game.

Gomez has felt that since he is involved in the game, he has a feeling for the momentum of the play that the coach cannot sense. Munro, on the other hand, has a sideline view of the overall trends of the game. The team now hopes to combine the insights of the coach and the captain.

Munro has also been accused of playing individuals on the basis of "sentimentality." "People think I play individuals because I've known them longer, or because they come to practice more often, or because they are unhappy on the bench," Munro said. "That's true, but I am also trying to keep the best team on the field."

The main task in today's session between Gomez and Munro will be to decide how substitutions can be made with a strategy designed to strengthen the lineup.

In the Future

Recently, subs have entered the game in the closing minutes, and Gomez feels that this policy can only weaken the team. "In the future substitutions will be made for technical reasons," Munro said. "Perhaps we will try to confuse the other team or maybe give the starting squad a chance to observe the opposition before going back in."

"Many players have not known why or when they will come out," Munro said. "They've been afraid to make a mistake. Now that situation should be settled."

Some players have suggested starting the second team, but both Gomez and Munro have indicated that such a strategy would be extremely dangerous in any game that could be decided by an early one or two goal lead.