How can I substitute my players equally during games in U6/U7/U8?

In U6 you have 12 spots (4 quarters * 3 players) in each game. It is impossible to play 5 players equally in 12 spots.

In U7/U8 you have 20 spots (4 quarters * 5 players) in each game. It is impossible to play 7 players equally in 20 spots.

AYSO does not require that all players play an equal number of quarters in each game. It is required that nobody starts a 4th quarter until everyone has played at least 3 quarters.

What can you do?

The best you can do is make it fair over the season and do it in a way that makes the parents happy. I have used the following solution to plan my substitutions and to make sure the parents understood I was being fair:

For U6
1. Write numbers 1-5 on small slips of paper
2. Have each child draw a number (preferably near the parents)
3. Record the children's name in number order.

Use the following rotation to detirmine who plays:

U6 Rotation:
Q1: 1, 2, 3
Q2: 4, 5, 1
Q3: 2, 3, 4
Q4: 5, 1, 2

For the next week, you should rotate the children's numbers so that #3 becomes #1, #4 -> #2, #5 -> #3, #1 -> #4, #2 -> #5.

Each week you rotate the numbers and everyone will get a fair chance to play. If a child doesn't show up, everyone plays 3 quarters and you start the rotation again the next week. If your missing two children, everyone plays the entire game.

For U7/U8

U8 differs from U6 because you begin to play positions and you need to make sure everyone rotates through positions. Also, there is only one child who does not play 3 quarters.

The simplest way to decide who is going to play only 2 quarters is to use a similar method to the U6 play.

1. Write numbers 1-7 on small slips of paper
2. Have each child draw a number (preferably near the parents)
3. Record the children's name in number order.

This will be the order of the players to only play 2 quarters. Yes, there are 10 weeks and you only have 7 kids, but you don't honestly think you are going to get all 7 kids every week do you?

Make sure the parents realize that if they just decide not to come to a game where there child will only play 2 quarters, (s)he will be out the following week since (s)he has not yet had their turn being out 2 quarters.

I hope you find this helpful. If you have your own suggestions, or want to ask for clarification on these ideas, please post some comments below.