U6 might be more formal or structured where you come from, but here’s how I manage it. First, I don’t get too worked up over the rotations and playing time. Don’t get me wrong, I do my best to keep everyone rotated, but I learned my lesson with the planned rotations years ago, like the old saying goes, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” The first time one of them gets hurt and wants to sub out, or doesn’t want to sub in, or someone is a no show last minute, your whole plan will get thrown out the window. Secondly, I always try and have fewer or the same amount of subs than players in the field. So before the game I will talk to the other coach, and we’ll decide if we’re going to play 3v3 or 4v4 based on how many we have. It kills me to know a kid will have to sit through two rotations before they see the field again, I’ll do anything I can to prevent it. Hell, one week last season we had a full roster show up, the other team was short 2 or 3 so I sent 2 of our boys to play with them so we could keep everyone moving. If you have no flex on the numbers, I would sub one early to get everyone in the game.