MYTH
Equal game time doesn’t prepare children for “real” football.
FACT
Equal minutes give every child a chance to learn, improve, and stay in the game long-term.
In classrooms, we know that practice time is essential. Every pupil needs opportunities to apply what they’ve learned, make mistakes, and get feedback. If you only let the top few answer questions, everyone else falls behind.
Football is no different. When coaches hand the majority of minutes to their “strongest” players, they mistake short-term stability for long-term development. The game itself is the most powerful teacher. But children can only learn if they’re on the pitch.
Equal playing time is not charity. It’s not a soft option. It’s structured practice for every learner. Minutes create reps. Reps create growth.
And the irony is this: teams that invest in equal playing time often produce more skilled, confident players over the years, because every child has been given the chance to develop.
So the real question isn’t “Does equal time prepare them for the real game?”
It’s: “What future are we preparing them for exclusion, or opportunity?”
📌 Takeaway for coaches:
Plan your rotations like you’d plan your lesson. Equal time is deliberate. Equal time is developmental. Equal time is the standard.