Playing Time:

It's one of our Six Philosophies. Our program's goal is for kids to play soccer so we mandate that every player on every team must play at least 50 percent of every game. It's no fun to spend the game on the bench...and that's no way to learn soccer!

The "Three Quarter Rule" is strongly encouraged which means no player on a team should play four quarters in a given game, until all players on the team have played three quarters

Exceptions include: players arriving during the second or third quarters must play a minimum of one quarter.

Substitutions:

 Substitutions during regulation play in AYSO matches occur only at quarters or following an injury. 

Substitution during quarters is managed by the referee stopping play approximately midway into the first and second halves to allow substitutions to occur. In order to avoid interrupting play at inappropriate times, substitutions should occur at a normal stoppage such as a throw-in, goal kick, corner kick, etc. These stoppages seldom occur at exactly the midpoint of the half, so the referee will begin looking for a suitable stoppage during the period one minute before to one minute after the midpoint of the half. If no such stoppage occurs during this two-minute period, then the referee may stop play for substitutions and then restart play with a dropped ball at the location of the ball when play was stopped. Substitution stoppages are intended only to be a time for the quick substitution of a few players and are not intended as mini-halftime periods or opportunities for coaching or any other purpose that would unduly extend the time taken for the game. On exceptionally hot days, the referee may allow some additional time for players to hydrate. The only players entitled to leave the field are those being substituted for, and the only individuals entitled to enter the field are the new players. This entire process should take only about a minute or less.

The referee or assistant referee must keep and submit a record of playing time on the lineup card, and if it appears that a player (or players) will not be substituted into the match after sitting out the entire first half or they have only one quarter of playing time at the end of the third quarter, the referee should inform the coach of the situation before starting play. If the coach still elects not to substitute the player or players into the match, the referee is not empowered to require the player(s) in question to play, as this is solely the coach's decision. The referee should start play and must include the information in the game report for review and consideration by the governing authority (the region, area, section or tournament committee).

Players sent off after the opening kick-off (including during half-time) may not be replaced by a substitute, and the players team must play with one less player. The players at the end of the half remain players until their substitutes have reported to the referee.