What the split looks like in practice
A few worked examples so you can see the shape of it before you put your own numbers in.
| Example | Squad | On at once | Game | Time on | Bench |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basketball | 10 | 5 | 40 min | 20 min | 20 min |
| Soccer 7v7 | 11 | 7 | 50 min | 31m 49s | 18m 11s |
| Netball | 9 | 7 | 48 min | 37m 20s | 10m 40s |
| Hockey 11v11 | 14 | 11 | 60 min | 47m 09s | 12m 51s |
| AFL | 20 | 15 | 60 min | 45 min | 15 min |
| Rugby | 18 | 15 | 50 min | 41m 40s | 8m 20s |
Pick your sport
Each sport page has the formats, squad sizes and substitution rules that actually apply to it.
- Soccer playing time calculator: 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11, unlimited rolling subs
- Basketball playing time calculator: 5 on court, four quarters, the biggest bench problem in junior sport
- Netball playing time calculator: 7 on court, subs usually only at quarter breaks
- AFL playing time calculator: big squads, modified formats, minimum game time rules
- Field hockey playing time calculator: rolling subs, shift based rotations
- Rugby playing time calculator: rolling subs in juniors, front row restrictions to plan around
Questions coaches ask
How do I calculate equal playing time?
Multiply the game length by the number of players on at once, then divide by your squad size. That gives you each player's time on. With a 60 minute game, 7 on the field and 10 players, that's 60 x 7 / 10, so 42 minutes on and 18 on the bench. The calculator does this and then turns it into an actual rotation.
Which sports does this work for?
Any sport with a running or quarter based clock and substitutions. There are dedicated pages for soccer, basketball, netball, AFL, field hockey and rugby, and the general calculator handles anything else you set up manually.
What if my squad size doesn't divide evenly?
Most of the time it won't, and that's the whole problem. The calculator gives you the closest fair split and shows the exact minutes, so you can see who is a minute or two up or down and even it out the following week.
Can I print the rotation sheet?
Yes. Enter your player names, hit calculate and print the page. You get a named rotation for the whole game. Nothing to install and no account required.
How many times should I substitute?
It depends on the sport and how much time you want to spend managing the bench. Two to four rotations per half is a common range. Set the number in the calculator and compare how the minutes fall out before you commit.