Our Football Substitution Planner helps coaches plan player substitutions, manage playing time, and organize team rotations. Create a balanced substitution strategy quickly and easily with this free tool.
Football Substitution Planner
Share playing time fairly without doing the maths on the touchline. Enter your squad and match length, and this free substitution planner builds a rotation grid, tells you exactly who comes on and off at each change, and swaps your goalkeeper at half-time. Print it or send it to your team chat.
- Match
- Squad
- Sub Plan
Tell Us About The Match
The substitution planner fits any format and match length.
Please check the match length.
Add Your Squad
One name per line. Put your starting players first.
Time in goal counts as playing time.
Please check your squad.
Substitution rules vary between leagues and age groups. Always check your competition’s rules on rolling subs and the number of substitutes allowed.
What A Fair Substitution Plan Looks Like
Made with this substitution planner in one click.
How To Use The Substitution Planner
Four quick steps to a fair match day.
Set The Match
Choose the format, halves or quarters and how often to change.
Add Your Squad
Type or paste names, starters first, and pick your keepers.
Get The Plan
The substitution planner builds the grid and sub schedule.
Print Or Share
Take the touchline PDF or send the plan to parents.
What Is A Substitution Planner?
A substitution planner helps coaches share playing time fairly. In grassroots and youth football, most coaches want every child to get a similar number of minutes, but working it out with a pen during a match is hard, especially when the goalkeeper changes at half-time and some players have already played more than others.
This substitution planner does the sums for you. It splits the match into short spells and, at each change, brings on the players who are furthest behind their fair share. Time in goal counts too. You get a colour-coded grid, a clear list of who comes on and off at each change, and the total minutes for every player, so you can show parents the plan was fair.
How Many Minutes Should Each Player Get?
Total player-minutes divided by the number of players.
| Format | Squad | Match (Min) | Sum | Each Player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 v 5 | 8 | 2 × 20 | 4 × 40 ÷ 7 | About 23 min |
| 7 v 7 | 10 | 2 × 25 | 6 × 50 + 50 GK ÷ 10 | 35 min |
| 9 v 9 | 13 | 2 × 30 | 8 × 60 + 60 GK ÷ 13 | About 42 min |
| 11 v 11 | 16 | 2 × 45 | 10 × 90 ÷ 15 outfield | 60 min (GK plays 90) |
When the same keeper plays the whole match, they’re left out of the outfield sum, like the 11 v 11 example. Match lengths here are examples only. Use your league’s own rules in the substitution planner.
Rolling Subs Or Limited Subs?
The substitution planner supports both.
Rolling Subs
Players can come back onUnder Law 3, return substitutions are only permitted in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, where the competition allows them.
- Planner: choose “Yes, Rolling Subs”
No Return
Each sub comes on onceIn most other matches a substituted player can’t return, and there’s a maximum number of substitutes.
- Planner: choose “No Return” and set your limit
Goalkeepers
Swap at the breakSharing goalkeeping gives more players a turn in goal, and it’s easiest to swap at half-time or between quarters.
- Planner: pick a different second-half keeper
Stoppages
Fewer, bigger changesSome referees prefer changes only at natural stoppages. Limit how many players change at once to keep it tidy.
- Planner: set “Most Players Changed At Once”
Substitution Tips For Coaches
- Tell players the plan before kick-off so nobody is surprised.
- Give the touchline PDF to an assistant coach or parent helper.
- Keep subs close to the halfway line, ready to go on.
- Make changes at natural stoppages like throw-ins and goal kicks.
- Rotate who starts each week so the same players don’t always start on the bench.
- Let players try different positions when they come on.
- Check your league’s rules on rolling subs before the match.
- Save the copied plan in your team chat as a record of fair minutes.
Substitution Planner FAQ
What Is A Substitution Planner?
A substitution planner works out when each player comes on and off so playing time is shared fairly. Enter your squad and match length, and this substitution planner builds a rotation grid, a sub schedule and minutes for every player.
Is The Substitution Planner Free?
Yes. The substitution planner is completely free, needs no sign-up and works on phones, tablets and computers.
How Does It Make Playing Time Fair?
At each change, the substitution planner brings on the players who are furthest behind their fair share of minutes, counting time in goal too. With 5-minute changes, most squads get exactly equal minutes.
What Are Rolling Substitutes?
Rolling (or return) substitutes means a player who comes off can go back on later. Under Law 3 of the Laws of the Game, return substitutions are only permitted in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, and only where the competition allows it.
What If My League Doesn’t Allow Players To Come Back On?
Choose No Return. Each substitute comes on once, at the break nearest the middle of the match, so the players who swap share the minutes as evenly as possible.
Can I Rotate The Goalkeeper?
Yes. Choose a keeper for the first half and a different one for the second half, or quarters 1–2 and 3–4. The substitution planner counts goalkeeping as playing time.
Can I Choose My Starters?
Yes. List your starting players first. When everyone has the same minutes, the substitution planner starts with the names at the top of your list.
Can I Change The Plan?
Yes. Tap any green or grey square to swap a player on or off, or press New Rotation for a different plan. The planner warns you if a period has the wrong number of players.
How Often Should I Make Changes?
Every 5 or 10 minutes works well for young players because nobody sits out for long. Older age groups often prefer fewer changes, so use 15 minutes or Breaks Only with a limit on changes.
Can I Print The Plan?
Yes. Download a landscape PDF touchline sheet with the full grid and every substitution, or copy the plan to paste into your team chat.
Related GlobeHour Football Tools
More free tools to use with the substitution planner.
Ready For Match Day?
Add your squad and the substitution planner shares the minutes fairly.
Open The Substitution Planner
