7-A-SIDE · MINIROOS UNDER 8 & UNDER 9

How many substitutes are allowed in 7-a-side football?

By: Mahesh Shrestha (Founder & Sydney volunteer)•Verified: 18 October 2026•2 primary sources

Short answer

Under Football Australia’s official MiniRoos rules, a 7-a-side team is allowed up to 4 substitutes on the bench, for a maximum matchday squad of 11 players. Substitutions are rolling and can take place at any time, with coaches required to give every player equal playing time across the season.

Matches consist of 2 × 20-minute halves (40 minutes total). With 7 players on the field, that creates 280 total player-minutes to divide fairly among your squad.

Official bench limits and squad sizes

Football Australia MiniRoos 7-a-side playing rules
Rule	Official Standard	Coach Note
Onfield players	7 players (including 1 goalkeeper)	Minimum 5 players to start
Maximum substitutes	Up to 4 substitutes on the bench	11 registered matchday players max
Substitution type	Rolling substitutions	Unlimited entries and re-entries
Match duration	2 × 20 minutes	Minimum 5 minute half-time break
Ball & goal size	Size 3 ball, 3m × 2m goals	Penalty box is 5m deep × 12m wide

Unlike senior 11-a-side football where substitutions are limited and permanent, 7-a-side junior soccer operates on an open rotation policy. Players who come off can re-enter multiple times throughout the game.

How rolling substitutions work during play

Football Australia allows rolling substitutions to happen while the ball is in play or at any stoppage, provided the following safety rules are respected:

Exit first: The player leaving the pitch must cross the touchline before the replacement steps onto the field.
Interchange zone: Swaps should occur near the halfway line on your team's bench side.
Goalkeeper changes: Goalkeeper swaps should only take place during a stoppage in play with the referee or game leader notified.

The equal playing time formula for 7-a-side

Junior grassroots regulations in every Australian state mandate equal playing time. Here is how the minutes divide based on your bench attendance on matchday:

7-a-side minutes per player across 40 minutes (280 total player-minutes)
Squad present	Subs on bench	Target minutes per player	Suggested sub rotation
7 players	0 subs	40.0 minutes each	Full game for all players
8 players	1 sub	35.0 minutes each	Rotate 1 player every 5 minutes
9 players	2 subs	31.1 minutes each	Rotate 2 players every 8–10 minutes
10 players	3 subs	28.0 minutes each	Rotate 3 players every 7 minutes
11 players (full bench)	4 subs	25.5 minutes each	Rotate 2 players at 10m, 20m, 30m

Use the 7-a-side substitution planner to automatically generate your rotation intervals before kick-off.

7-a-side substitution planner

Enter your player names and bench size to calculate exact minute-by-minute substitution rotations for your next 7-a-side match.

Open the free tool

Also: equal playing time calculator, 9-a-side substitution planner

Questions

Can a player who was subbed off come back on in 7-a-side?

Yes. In MiniRoos 7-a-side soccer, substitutions are rolling and unlimited. A player can be rotated off and return to the pitch as many times as the coach decides.

What is the minimum number of players needed for 7-a-side?

Under Football Australia guidelines, a team can begin or continue a match with a minimum of 5 players on the pitch.

Do 7-a-side goalkeepers have to rotate?

While not mandatory by the laws of the game, Football Australia encourages coaches in Under 8 and Under 9 to give multiple players experience in goal across the season.

Sources

MiniRoos National Playing FormatsFootball Australia, via PlayFootball. Formats, substitutes, match length, pitch, ball and goal sizes by age, in force since 1 January 2015
Game Time Policy TemplateFootball Australia. A template policy clubs adapt: equal game time for MiniRoos, at least half a game for youth

Associations and clubs can set their own rules within these, so check your association's handbook for anything that decides a match or a fee.