Soccer substitutions and game length by age
A full soccer game is two halves of 45 minutes, and in top competitions a team may use up to five substitutes who cannot come back on. Youth soccer plays shorter games and usually lets players go off and come back as often as the coach likes.
Soccer is called football in most of the world. This guide is part of Futbol Island’s free football lessons for kids aged 7 to 12.
Substitutions and game length: diagram
What the referee looks for
- Play has stopped, and the referee has been told about the change.
- The player going off leaves at the nearest point on the boundary line, unless the referee says otherwise.
- The substitute comes on at the halfway line, after the other player has left and after the referee’s signal.
- A change of goalkeeper also needs a stop in play, and the referee must be told.
- Time lost to substitutions, injuries and goal celebrations, which is added at the end of each half.
Rule: Laws 3 and 7. Read it in the Laws of the Game (The IFAB).
Common mix-ups
“A game is 90 minutes for everyone.”
In US Youth Soccer rules, only from under-17. Younger age groups play shorter halves, and the youngest play four short quarters.
“A player who comes off cannot go back on.”
True in the adult game. The Laws let youth and grassroots soccer use return substitutions, and most US youth leagues do.
“You can sub at any time.”
In most youth leagues only when play has stopped and the referee agrees. Futsal is the exception: changes are made while the game goes on.
“The clock stops when the ball goes out.”
In soccer the clock keeps running and the referee adds time at the end of the half.
In 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 and futsal
| Game | How the rule works |
|---|---|
| 4v4 (U6 to U8) | U.S. Soccer standards: four quarters of 10 minutes, unlimited substitutions at any time. US Youth Soccer lists four 12-minute quarters at under-8 and four 6-minute quarters at under-6. |
| 7v7 (U9, U10) | Two halves of 25 minutes. Unlimited substitutions at any stop in play (U.S. Soccer standards; US Youth Soccer Rule 303). |
| 9v9 (U11, U12) | Two halves of 30 minutes. Unlimited substitutions at any stop in play. |
| 11v11 (U13 to U19) | US Youth Soccer: two halves of 35 minutes at U13 and U14, 40 minutes at U15 and U16, 45 minutes at U17 to U19. |
| Futsal | Two periods of 20 minutes of playing time. Unlimited substitutions, made at any time through the team’s substitution zone, even while the ball is in play. |
These are the Laws of the Game and typical US youth standards. Your league may differ, so check its rules. Sources: IFAB Laws of the Game (current edition), U.S. Soccer small-sided standards, US Youth Soccer playing rules (December 2025) and the FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26. Checked on November 10, 2026.
Questions about substitutions and game length
How long is a youth soccer game?
In typical US youth standards: four 10-minute quarters at U6 to U8, two 25-minute halves at U9 and U10, two 30-minute halves at U11 and U12, then 35, 40 and 45-minute halves as players get older. Your league may differ.
How many substitutions are allowed in soccer?
In official competitions, up to five per team, and a player who comes off cannot return. Youth leagues usually allow unlimited substitutions with players coming back on.
How long is half-time in soccer?
No more than 15 minutes in the Laws of the Game. Youth games usually take a shorter break.
What is stoppage time?
Time the referee adds at the end of a half for substitutions, injuries, time-wasting and other delays. The number shown on the board is the least that will be played.
How many players does a team need to play?
In the 11-a-side Laws a game cannot start or go on if a team has fewer than seven players. Small-sided leagues set their own minimum.
Lessons that go with this rule
- Meet Your Team (7v7 lesson)Recognize the goalkeeper and three lines of teammates, then adjust your midfield role as the ball changes sides.
- 3-2-3: Know Your Unit (9v9 lesson)Understand nine players, three outfield units, and cover behind an advancing defender.
- Our Eleven: Shape & Shared Jobs (11v11 lesson)Understand the goalkeeper and each line, then adapt midfield support as a fullback advances.
- 3-1: Meet the Court Roles (Futsal lesson)Meet five players and the 3-1 roles; choose forward depth or support behind as pressure changes.
Keep reading
- Soccer age groupsU6 to U19 and which game each one plays
- Soccer field size by ageField, goal and penalty area sizes for each age group
- Soccer ball size by ageSize 3, 4 or 5 for each age group
- Futsal lessons for kidsEvery futsal lesson, grouped by topic
- Soccer heading rules for kids in the USU.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer rules, with a diagram
- Futsal rules that are different from soccerFIFA Futsal Laws of the Game, with a diagram
- All soccer rules for kids16 rules explained for kids, each with a diagram: offside, handball, throw-ins and more
- Soccer terms for kids: an A-Z glossary92 soccer words in plain English, from advantage to yellow card, 18 with a diagram
Futbol Island is a free football (soccer) learning game for kids aged 7 to 12. Every idea on this page is taught on a pitch with moving players, then checked with a quick quiz.