Football

Questions and answers

What's the difference between the Team Balancer and the Subs Rotation Planner?

The Team Balancer splits a group of players into evenly matched sides, for a kickabout or training game, using a skill rating for each player. The Subs Rotation Planner is for one team in a match: it works out who's on the pitch in each part of the game so everyone gets a fair share of minutes, and lists the changes to make.

Which pitch size and format should my youth team use?

The FA's youth pathway plays 5v5 at under-7 and under-8, 7v7 at under-9 and under-10, 9v9 at under-11 and under-12, and 11-a-side from under-13, with pitches and goals growing at each step. The Pitch Size Calculator gives the recommended measurements for each, and the Formation Builder has formations for every format. Your league may allow a range, so check its handbook.

How accurate is the expected goals estimate?

It uses where each shot was taken (distance and angle to goal), whether it was a header and whether it was a clear chance, which are the biggest factors in professional models, and gives similar figures for typical shots. It doesn't know about defenders' positions or the type of pass, so treat it as a good guide for grassroots matches rather than the same number Opta would publish.

Can these tools be used without signal at the ground?

Once a page has loaded, everything runs on your phone without needing a connection, and your teams, votes, timings and lists are saved on the device. That makes the possession tracker, VAR timer and player of the match vote safe to use on a touchline with poor signal.

Why does the ground tracker list different clubs from last season?

The 92 changes every summer as clubs are promoted into the Football League from the National League and relegated out of it. The list is the 2026/27 Premier League and EFL. Grounds you ticked for clubs that have since dropped out are kept separately, because most groundhoppers count a ground once it's done.