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Equal playing time calculator

6-a-side sub calculator

8 players for 6-a-side? Type who's playing and how long the game is, and get every change: who comes off, who goes on and when, so everyone plays the same minutes. Set up for 6-a-side and 50 minutes; change either. Free, no sign-up.

The keeper

Everyone except the keeper plays exactly 35:43.

The changes

  1. 0:00 – 7:09

    Sam, Ollie, Kofi, Priya, Dan, Aisha

  2. 7:09 – 14:17

    Off: Ollie, Kofi · On: Tom, Leo

    Sam, Priya, Dan, Aisha, Tom, Leo

  3. 14:17 – 21:26

    Off: Priya, Dan · On: Ollie, Kofi

    Sam, Aisha, Tom, Leo, Ollie, Kofi

  4. 21:26 – 28:34

    Off: Aisha, Tom · On: Priya, Dan

    Sam, Leo, Ollie, Kofi, Priya, Dan

  5. 28:34 – 35:43

    Off: Leo, Ollie · On: Aisha, Tom

    Sam, Kofi, Priya, Dan, Aisha, Tom

  6. 35:43 – 42:51

    Off: Kofi, Priya · On: Leo, Ollie

    Sam, Dan, Aisha, Tom, Leo, Ollie

  7. 42:51 – 50:00

    Off: Dan, Aisha · On: Kofi, Priya

    Sam, Tom, Leo, Ollie, Kofi, Priya

Minutes each

  • Sam (GK)50:00
  • Ollie35:43
  • Kofi35:43
  • Priya35:43
  • Dan35:43
  • Aisha35:43
  • Tom35:43
  • Leo35:43

The numbers for 6-a-side, 50 minutes

With 6 on the pitch, every extra player is one more who sits out at a time. These are worked out the same way as the calculator above, with the number of spells that makes everyone's minutes exactly equal:

  • 7 players, one keeper all game: 6 spells of 8:20, 1 player changing each time, every outfield player plays 41:40.
  • 8 players, keeper rotating: 4 spells of 12:30, 2 players changing each time, everyone plays 37:30.
  • 9 players, one keeper all game: 8 spells of 6:15, 3 players changing each time, every outfield player plays 31:15.

Running 6-a-side subs on the night

With 1 sub, and one keeper staying in goal, a change every 8:20 keeps it even. More players means more changes or longer on the side: decide before kick-off and send the changes to the group chat, so nobody argues about whose turn it is.

Rolling subs are normal in small-sided football, so changes don't have to wait for the ball to go out unless your venue's rules say so. Give one person on the side a watch. If someone turns up late, type the new list and it works out the rest.

The teams, too

Splitting the group into two sides first? The 6-a-side team generator makes two fair teams from a rough level for each player, and the 6-a-side formation maker draws the starting shape. If it's the same group every week, Squadcard handles who's in and picks fair teams from the ratings the players give each other.

Start a squad

Questions

Is the 6-a-side sub calculator free?

Yes. No sign-up, and the names stay in your browser.

How long should each player sit out in 6-a-side?

It depends on how many you have. With 7 players, 50 minutes and one keeper all game, each outfield player sits out 8:20 and plays 41:40. With 8 and the keeper rotating, everyone sits out 12:30. The calculator works it out for any number.

How do you give everyone equal playing time with rolling subs?

Cut the game into equal spells and change the same number of players each time, longest-on first. With the right number of spells (the calculator marks it), every player gets exactly the same minutes.

What if the keeper doesn't want to come off?

Choose one keeper all game and put them first in the list: they stay in goal and everyone else shares the outfield minutes.