Squadora™

Squadora Parent Guide

How do you track your child's playing time in a soccer game?

Write down when your child goes on and comes off, add up the minutes, and divide by the length of the game.

Published by Squadora™. Facts about rules and surveys come from the organizations' own documents, linked in the sources. Squadora also makes PlayTime, mentioned once near the end.

November 8, 2026 · Published by Squadora™ · 5 min read

The short answer

Note the game length, then note the minute your child goes on the field and the minute they come off, each time. Add the minutes on the field and divide by the total game minutes to get a percentage. A paper grid or a notes app is enough. Count several games before you draw a conclusion.

What to write down

  • The date, the opponent and the length of the game (for example, two halves of 25 minutes).
  • The minute your child goes on, and the minute they come off, for each stint.
  • Anything that changes the picture: a late arrival, an injury, a short bench, a tournament with several games in a day.

How to work out the percentage

Add up the minutes on the field and divide by the total minutes of the game. Here is an example with made-up numbers: a game of two 25-minute halves is 50 minutes. If a player is on for 18 minutes in the first half and 12 in the second, that is 30 minutes, and 30 divided by 50 is 60 percent.

Then look at the rule your team plays under. Some are measured per game and some over several games, so keep each game's numbers. Our playing time by age guide lists what AYSO, US Youth Soccer and one club publish.

Ways to keep the count

  • A paper grid: one row per game, with columns for each half and the minutes on the field.
  • A notes app on your phone, one line per stint.
  • A second adult: one parent watches the clock and the other writes, which is easier than doing both.

Whatever you use, write the times as they happen. Counting from memory after the game is where most mistakes come from. If you miss a substitution, note that the figure is an estimate for that game.

Reading the numbers fairly

A number is a reason to ask a question, not a verdict. Look at several games, subtract games your child missed or left early, and keep in mind that a coach may change plans in a close game or when players are hurt. The US Youth Soccer Club Development Manual (2010) says that on competitive teams equal time is not promised. For what to say once you have the numbers, see what to do when your child gets little playing time.

A practical way to keep the count

If you would rather not keep the grid yourself:

PlayTime is an iPhone app made by Squadora™ for parents who want that count. Choose Parent when you start, add your child (a first name or initials), the team and the sport. During the game you tap On and Off, and the minutes on the field and on the bench keep running. At full time it shows your child's minutes and the share of the game, and you can send the result as text. There is no account, and the games stay on your phone. It counts what you tap.

Questions parents ask

How do I calculate my child's playing time percentage?
Add the minutes on the field and divide by the total minutes of the game. For example, 30 minutes in a 50 minute game is 60 percent.

What should I write down to track playing time?
The game length, the minute your child goes on and comes off for each stint, and anything that changes the picture such as a late arrival or an injury.

How many games should I count before talking to the coach?
Our suggestion is four or five, so you see a pattern and not one unusual game.

Keep reading

Sources

  1. US Youth Soccer Club Development Manual, second edition (June 2010). https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/160/2023/09/Club-Development-Manual.pdf. Read November 8, 2026.

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Updated November 6, 2026