1. Confirm format
Check whether the match is 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11 before assigning positions.
Build a youth soccer lineup, assign positions, save common formations, and carry the same team into substitutions and playing-time tracking.
A good soccer lineup app should let a coach choose the game format, place players in real positions, save common lineups, and connect the starting shape to substitutions. Pitch Planner supports youth formats from 4v4 through 11v11 and keeps lineup planning tied to live player-minute tracking.
Check whether the match is 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11 before assigning positions.
Use a formation players can understand without a long sideline lecture.
Start with goalkeeper, center backs, and central midfield so the team has a spine.
Carry the same roster and lineup into Match Day so substitutions update minutes live.
Start with the format, then choose a simple shape. For 7v7, many coaches start with 2-3-1 or 3-2-1. For 9v9, common shapes include 3-2-3 and 3-3-2. Assign players where they can understand the role, then plan who rotates into each line.
Yes. Pitch Planner is useful because the lineup is not a static picture. The same roster moves into Match Day, where substitutions update player minutes and the post-game recap.
Save a normal starting lineup, a stronger defensive version, and a version that helps newer players get clear minutes. That gives you options without rebuilding from zero every Saturday.
Build 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 lineups.
Reuse your normal shape, then edit for absences.
See who is not starting before the match begins.
Move from lineup to live substitutions and recaps.
Starting every strong player at once can leave the second rotation unbalanced. A better lineup plan protects the whole match, not just the first whistle.
Substitutions also need a position plan. If the bench is only a list of names, the first change can break the shape and make the next change harder.
Late arrivals matter too. Mark availability before saving the lineup so the first substitution plan is realistic. The best youth lineup connects who starts, who sits, who rotates next, and whether the playing-time promise is still on track.
A useful lineup connects the starting shape to formations, substitutions, fair minutes, and the live match workflow.
Run the live substitution tracker after the lineup is set.
See common 7v7 shapes and rotation notes for youth teams.
Compare 9v9 formations for teams moving toward full-sided soccer.
Use the product help guide for field sizes, formations, and assignments.
Free lineup, rotation, and playing-time tracking for youth soccer coaches. Set your team before kickoff, manage subs from your phone, and keep a clean match record after the whistle.