How much will my child play?

Under 7 (3v3): everyone plays. There are no substitutes, so children rotate between several short games of 6-10 minutes. England Football recommends about 30-40 minutes of play per child per session.

Under 8 (5v5): a matchday squad is 10 players or fewer. Substitutions are rolling: players can come off and go back on at any time during a stoppage, with the referee's permission. The FA's best-practice recommendation is equal playing time, with at least 50% of each game for every player.

Daily limit (both ages): a child must not play more than 60 minutes in one day. The club and/or the parent or carer is responsible for making sure this isn't exceeded, for example at festivals or when a child plays for two teams.