How much will my child play?

Under 6 to Under 9: every child plays all the time, with no substitutes. The only time a child should be off the pitch is if they are injured or choose to sit out. No child should play more than 30 minutes in a day; the recommended format is three 10-minute games.

Under 10 and Under 11: as many children as possible should play all the time, so coaches should split into smaller-sided games rather than leave players on the bench (for example, two 8-a-side games instead of one 9-a-side game with 7 substitutes). No child should play more than 40 minutes in a day; the recommended format is two 20-minute games.

Day-long summer festivals: players may exceed the usual age-group time only with much longer rest between games, and no child should play more than one hour in total across the day. Children must have access to drinking water at all times.

Under 12 and above: matches run from 40 minutes (Under 12) to 70 minutes (Under 17 and Under 18), with unlimited substitutions. In girls' Under 12s, every player must play at least half the game.