How Many Players on a Soccer Team? Laws of the Game

How many players are on a soccer team? The simple answer is that soccer is played on a full-sized soccer field with eleven players per team. These eleven soccer players take on a specific formation chosen by the coach, and each player has their own position with unique traits and attributes.

The answer to this question can get a bit more complicated when discussing different leagues, levels, and competitions, which is why in this blog, I will explain everything you need to know about a basic but important soccer rule: the number of players allowed per team.

Understanding How Many Players Are on a Soccer Team

A soccer game, or a football match, is played on a rectangular field called a pitch with 11 players per team on the field. There are a total of 10 outfield players and 1 goalkeeper who can deliberately handle the soccer ball with their hands, but only inside their own penalty area.

A full match-day squad can consist of anywhere from 18 to 25 players, and for players not in the starting XI, coaches are allowed only five substitutions per game. The rule used to be 3 substitutions per game, but during COVID, it was changed to 5 subs per game and has stayed that way ever since.

A substitution can happen when the team’s staff, player, or coach notifies the fourth official that they want a substitution, who then signals the main referee that a team is asking for a substitution. Also, if the game does not end in regulation time and goes into extra time (also known as overtime), both teams are given one extra substitution.

Understanding the Different Soccer Positions

In soccer, there are four main positions on the pitch: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, but there are also more positions within those four main positions. The number of players per main position will vary depending on the team’s formation and tactics.

Goalkeeper:

Every soccer team needs one goalkeeper who is responsible for protecting the team’s goal and preventing the opposing team from scoring goals. The goalkeeper is the only player on the field who can use their hands, but only if they are inside their goalie box, and if their teammates did not intentionally pass the ball back to them.

Defenders:

The defenders prevent opposition players from scoring by blocking shots, making tackles, intercepting passes, and clearing the danger from their penalty area. They are also responsible for building the play from the back line.

The defensive players are composed of central defenders, called center backs, and wide defenders, called full backs or wing backs. The fullbacks are made up of the left and right fullbacks. Also, sometimes a center back can also play more as a sweeper.

Midfielders:

The midfield comprises central and wide midfielders, and there are many different types.

• Center midfielders: Known as the CM and as a box-to-box midfielder
• Center Defensive midfielders: Known as the CDM and as a holding midfielder
• Center attacking midfielders: Known as the CAM and attacking midfielders
• Wide midfielder: left and right midfielders

Midfielders link defense and attack, control the tempo of the game, and, typically, the team that wins the midfield wins the entire game. The midfield helps maintain possession of the ball, create scoring opportunities through accurate passes, and intercept opponent passes.

Forwards:

The forwards make up the attacking line and can include a center forward, also known as a false 9, strikers, and/or left and right wingers. Their main jobs include being dangerous in the attacking third by creating scoring opportunities and scoring goals.

A team may play with two strikers, with one usually being the support striker, or second striker, who drops deeper to help the midfield, while the main striker focuses on scoring goals.

Size Variation Between Professional And Youth Teams

Most soccer games are played with eleven players on the field per team; however, there are variations across different levels, from youth to the professional level.

Youth U6-U8

Youth soccer games for U6 to U8 will usually feature 4 to 6 players per team, often in 4v4 or 5v5 games.

Youth U9-U10

Youth soccer games for U9 to U10 are usually 7v7 games

Youth U11-U12

Youth soccer games for U11 to U12 are usually 9v9 games

Youth U13 to older

Once players reach U13, they will play a full-field 11v11 game, which is what all age groups thereafter follow, all the way up to the professional level.

Summary

To summarize, knowing how many players are allowed on a soccer team is very important for all beginning players and fans. In modern football, both the attacking and defending teams play with eleven players on the field, and each team is allowed up to five substitutions.

A team’s full roster consists of 18 to 23 players, but only 11 make the starting lineup, and 5 more players can sub in. Once all eleven players of both teams are on the field and the referee blows their whistle, the winner of the coin toss can begin the game with a kickoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do injured players and a yellow or red card affect a team?

Injuries and yellow or red cards can affect a team in many ways. If a player commits a serious foul and gets a red card, they will be ejected from the game, leaving their team with one less outfield player. If the team gets another red card, those players will also be ejected from the game.

If teams are out of substitutions and one of their on-field players gets injured, the team will have to play a man down unless that player recovers.

What are the different football associations in charge of international competitions and regions?

FIFA is in charge of six regional confederations:

• AFC – Asian Football Confederation in Asia and Australia
• CAF – Confédération africaine de football in Africa
• CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football in North America and Central America
• CONMEBOL – South American Football Confederation
• OFC – Oceania Football Confederation in Oceania
• UEFA – Union of European Football Associations in Europe

How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?

To begin improving your soccer skills right now, check out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress and want private training, check out Coach Daniel’s website and fill out the player interest form.

How can I learn more about the game?

To learn more about soccer, the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high-level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews, watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, TV shows, and anime.