By plano 
Last week, my son and I watched a soccer game together. He pointed at the TV and asked, “Dad, why are there only 11 people playing? Why are the others sitting on the sidelines?” I couldn’t answer right away. I’ve been watching soccer for so many years, but I’ve never really thought about how many people are on a team. So I decided to look it up myself.
I turned on my computer and typed in “how many players are needed for a soccer game.” I found that according to FIFA regulations, each team has 11 players on the field, including one goalkeeper and ten field players. These 11 players must be determined before the game starts.
However, I also discovered that the number of players varies depending on the type of game. For example, in a 7-a-side game for children, each team only needs seven players. Only official games use 11 players.
There is another rule: if a team has fewer than 7 players on the field, the match is immediately ended. For example, if too many players are sent off, or if someone is injured and there are no substitutes available.
So 7 is the minimum. Fewer than 7 is considered a forfeit. This shows that a certain number of players are needed for a soccer match to proceed normally.
In addition to the 11 players on the field, each team can also bring substitutes. Professional games usually allow 7 to 12 substitutes, but only 5 substitutes can be used.
These substitutes are not just for show. They are needed when someone is injured, tired, or for tactical adjustments. Sometimes a substitution can change the outcome of a game.
To understand formations, I used salt and pepper shakers as players on my kitchen table to arrange formations. I tried several common configurations:
- 4-4-2: 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, 2 forwards
- 4-3-3: Strengthened offense with an extra forward
- 5-3-2: Defense-oriented with an extra center back
After nearly an hour, I realized how difficult it is for coaches to arrange positions.
During a game, players are constantly moving, and the formation changes. For example, when attacking, the defenders move forward; when defending, the forwards also drop back.
The “4-3-3” you see on TV is just the starting position; in actual play, it’s fluid. Players have to adjust their positions based on the ball’s location.
If a player is sent off, the team must continue with one less player. For example, 11 players become 10, then 9. The team with fewer players finds it difficult to control the game and is more likely to concede a goal.
My son asked, “Then why do they commit fouls?” I said, “Sometimes it’s accidental, sometimes it’s unavoidable, and you have to foul to stop the opponent from scoring.”
In the past, only three substitutions were allowed per game, but now five are allowed to protect players and reduce the risk of injury.
However, substitutions cannot be made arbitrarily. They must be approved by the referee, and players who are substituted cannot re-enter the game. Therefore, coaches must carefully decide when to substitute which players.
Each team must have one goalkeeper, and only the goalkeeper can touch the ball with their hands inside the penalty area. If the goalkeeper is injured or sent off, someone else must replace them.
Sometimes the substitute goalkeeper doesn’t play at all, but they must be ready to come on at any time.
In a professional game, each team has about 20 to 23 players on the field. This includes 11 starters, 5 to 7 substitutes, and 1 to 2 goalkeepers.
Although only 11 players can be on the field at the same time, everyone is part of the team.
If your child asks questions like these, don’t rush to answer. You can look up the information together or use toy figures to set up formations. This will not only answer their questions, but also help them understand soccer better.
Soccer is not just about running and kicking, but also about rules and strategy.
In an official match, each team has 11 players on the field, with a minimum of 7 players able to continue playing.
There are substitute players, but the number of substitutions is limited.
The formation may change, and the number of players may decrease due to red cards.
The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use their hands.
Understanding these rules will help you better understand what is happening during the game.
Next time you watch a game, try counting the number of players on the field with your child and discuss what they are doing.
florida