When you are coaching a team for 5v5 flag football and you have more players than you need, ensuring each player has equal play time on the field is essential. If you have a team of ten, putting your players into two teams of five is a no brainer.

However, if you have a team of 6-9 players, substituting your players becomes more complex. Getting this right is important as it maintains good morale and gives every player a chance to grow.

Here are some top tips for making substitutions fair.

Communicate With Your Players About How Substitutions Will Work

Informing your team about the way you plan to achieve equal playing time should be done at the beginning of the season. In particular, you should make it clear that, regardless of performance and effort, every player will have time on the field.

This will set players expectations early on and will help your team to understand the reasons behind your choices. This will ensure players feel that things are fair, since equal playtime is the goal.

Create a Substitution System

There are a number of different systems you can employ to make substitutions fair. These include:

• Create an A & B team: These should be equally skilled teams, but you’ll have 2 people who can play each position (and potentially you can have one or two players play on both sides). A can play offense for the first half, then switch for the second half, now A is on Defense. This gives both teams an opportunity to play a full half in that position.
• Rotating: Swap players every 10-15 minutes in a game.
• One for One: Take one player out and put another in.
• Group Rotation: Take out three players and substitute them, leaving two on the field.

I like to keep players in their position for at least a full series, otherwise it gets confusing.

All these systems ensure everyone gets to play and no one is left on the bench for extended periods of time.

You may also want to consider rotating positions in the game. This not only keeps the game fresh, but it also gives your players the chance to try out new roles. This will benefit your players' development by showing them how to play from various perspectives.

Value Performance, Effort and Attitude

While it is easy to praise good performance, remember that effort, attitude and commitment is also worthy of praise. Recognizing this will help motivate players and encourage them to improve.

Be Wise When Choosing Substitutions

If your goal is to provide equal playing time, being smart with your substitutions is vital. Don’t just make them based solely on tactical needs or game pressure.

Make sure you substitute regularly with the aim of allowing each player to play half a match. This is where your pre-made substitution plan comes in handy, ensuring everything is done fairly.

For younger age groups, you want to give players the opportunity to play any position. As they get over 4th grade you can start putting them in their position of strengths and start developing specific skills over time.

Provide Feedback and Transparent Communication

Communicating clearly is key. It is important to be upfront and honest about the criteria for playing time and how choices are made. If a player does brilliantly, acknowledge this and give them more time to shine.

For players who are not performing so well, give them constructive feedback to help them improve. Talking to your team will help players feel confident and supported.

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