Module 6 - Rotation Rules

In this module, we will cover:

1. Rotation Rule Explanation

2. Example: How to rotate 6 Players in a Group

3. Example: How to rotate a Team of 8 Players

• Next Module: Module 7 - General Gameplay Notes

• Previous Module: Module 5 - Next Level Basic

• See All Student Coaching Training Modules

If you have any questions, please email training@nextlevelsports.com.

0:00 Hey Next Level officials, Coach Bradley here! Today, we’re going to cover one of the most important aspects of our program—our player rotation and substitution policies.

0:13 This is key to ensuring equal and equitable playing time for every player, and it’s a core part of what makes Next Level different from other sports leagues. Please pay close attention to this module. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at training@nextlevelsports.com.

0:34 There’s a lot of information on this slide, but I’ll keep it simple and straightforward. So, let’s dive in.

0:41 First, we need to address team sizes. At different Next Level sites, teams can range from 6 to 12 players. Some teams might have 12 players, others 10, 9, 8, or even fewer. We can’t guarantee every team will have a full roster, but the rotation system will work regardless of team size.

1:09 Let’s start with the full team scenario—when you have a team of 12 players. Here’s what happens:

1. Before the game: The student coach and parent coach will divide the 12 players into 2 groups of 6—Group A and Group B.

2. First half: Group A plays offense, and Group B plays defense.

3. Second half: Groups switch—Group A plays defense, and Group B plays offense. This ensures equal time on both offense and defense for every player.

This is the foundation of our rotation policy—equal playing time for every player on both sides of the ball.

1:59 Now, for the 5-on-5 rotation with 12 players:

• First drive: 5 players from Group A play offense. After the drive (whether it’s a score, turnover, or interception), one player from Group A sits out, and a substitute comes in for the next drive.

• The process repeats: after every drive, one new player subs in while someone from the previous drive sits out.

2:49 For a team of 11 players:

• Group A will have 6 players, while Group B has 5.

• Group B won’t need a substitution but will rotate players from Group A each drive, following the same pattern as with a team of 12.

3:06 The dream scenario is when you have a team of 10 players:

• 5 on offense, 5 on defense, rotating every half. But as we know, that's not always the case.

3:18 Main takeaway:

• Subs rotate every drive—not every play. This keeps the game moving smoothly and ensures everyone gets equal time.

3:29 For smaller teams (9 players, 8 players, etc.), here's how it works:

• For a team of 9: Group A has 5 players, and Group B has 4.

  • Group B borrows 1 player from Group A for every drive. After halftime, the borrowed player rotates out, and someone else from Group A comes in. This ensures that all players stay involved.

3:42 For a team of 8: We split it into two groups of 4. Each group rotates with borrowed players every drive, just like the team of 9.

4:07 If you have 7 players or fewer, we ask that coaches keep it simple and rotate as evenly as possible, sticking to the same principles.

• If you only have 6 players, they’ll rotate through just like a full team, but there are fewer players on the roster.

• With 5 players, everyone plays the entire game—no substitutions.

• With 4 players, you’ll play down a player, but still compete, and the game will count as usual.

• If a team shows up with only 3 players, the game will be a scrimmage, and we’ll borrow players from other teams to keep it fun.

5:10 Let’s go through a real-life example using a team of 12 players.

• For the Bears team:

  • Group A (Offense first half): Smith, Harris, Jones, Watkins, Matthews, and Jenkins (the sub).

  • First drive: Smith, Harris, Jones, Watkins, Matthews play offense.

  • After the drive: Jenkins subs in, and Matthews sits out.

  • Next drive: Matthews comes back in, Watkins sits out, and so on.

  • The rotation is the same for both offense and defense, with someone new subbing in every drive.

6:19 Let’s look at a team with 8 players:

• Group A (offense first half): Smith, Harris, Jones, Watkins.

• Group B (defense first half): Fields, Jackson, West, Purdy.

• On offense, every drive, Group A borrows a player from Group B, rotating players as needed.

7:01 The same applies when they switch to defense—borrow players from the offensive group every drive.

7:11 That’s it for our rotation policies! Remember, this is essential to ensure equal playing time for all players, and it's up to you to help oversee this process, with the parent volunteers assisting in the management.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at training@nextlevelsports.com.