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Three players and two coaching staff stand on the sidelines of a football pitch
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What is equal playing time in football?

We explore equal playing time, why it matters and how to use it with your team.

Communications and relationships
England Football Learning logo on a red background.

England Football Learning

1 min - Jul 5, 2023

Equal playing time is a simple concept: come matchday, everyone in your team gets the same time on the pitch. Adopting this approach serves two important purposes. 

First, it helps to engage your team. If players spend less time on the grass than others – or don’t get on at all – they may become disinterested.  

Second, equal playing time helps to develop your team. This is especially true for younger age groups (where it’s harder to spot potential talent). By giving everyone the same opportunity to test their skills, you can help prevent players from being left behind.  

Obviously, adopting equal playing time can have an impact on your team’s performance. For example, it may mean that your ‘best’ players see less of the action.  

Remember: winning isn’t everything. As a coach, your role is to help the whole team improve their skills and fall in love with football. That’s why it’s essential to get everyone involved.  

Example

What do players and coaches think of equal playing time? Find out in this video.

Here are three top tips for managing equal playing time in your sessions. 

1. Communicate your objective

If you’re aiming for equal playing time, be transparent. Explain the concept at the start of your season – and stick to it. This helps get buy-in from players and parents. 

 

2. Consider your context

Equal playing time is a great tool for developing young players. But what happens when your team get a bit older, and their motivations shift? Bex Garlick, FA coach developer, reflects.

 

3. Recognise your players’ needs 

Imagine you’re playing a top-notch team and one of your players is struggling. Should you keep them on and risk damaging their confidence? Or should you take them off and reduce their time on the pitch? In the video below, Lee Brown, FA coach developer, discusses his views. 

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