SubCav is a web-based application designed to simplify sideline management for youth soccer teams. Its main goal is to empower coaches by providing two powerful modes: an automated system to guarantee fair and balanced playing time for developmental teams, and a manual mode that offers complete tactical control for competitive teams. SubCav helps you focus on coaching, not complex rotations, while keeping your entire community informed.

Yes! Substitution Cavalry is completely free to use.

No, SubCav is entirely web-based. You can access it through a web browser.

You can access SubCav on any device with a web browser, including phones, tablets, and computers.

Getting started involves registering for an account, creating your team(s) with player details, and then setting up your first game by selecting modes, players, defining layouts, and game parameters.

SubCav’s automated mode generates an optimized substitution schedule aiming for balanced playing time. It adheres to core principles like trying to prevent players from sitting on the bench for more than one consecutive block of time and balancing playing time (excluding goalies). The system also aims to avoid moving a player from one field position to another without them first being substituted.

SubCav offers a Manual Mode where you can manually set player positions for each block of the game, giving you precise control over who plays where and when.

SubCav automatically tracks the amount of time each player spends on the field as the game progresses on the coach’s Game Dashboard. Spectators can also see individual player field time totals updated in real-time on their dashboard. After the game, coaches can review total playing time for each player.

The Game Dashboard is your command center to: start, pause, and resume the game timer; see current player positions on a visual field layout; view upcoming substitutions; record team scores and assign goals to players; record penalties; and manage halftime.

Coaches can generate a unique shareable web link to the Spectator Dashboard for each game. This dashboard allows parents and fans to see the live game clock, current scores, player positions, individual player field time totals, and upcoming substitutions in real-time, with no login required.

Yes, you can save your entire pre-game setup—including selected players, field positions, goalie assignments, substitution interval, game duration, and the generated/manual lineup—as a “Game Plan”. These plans can be easily loaded for future games.

SubCav allows flexible goalie assignments on the “Substitution Setup” page. You can assign a goalie for the 1st half and a different one for the 2nd half, or for more granular control, assign specific players to be the goalie for a defined range of blocks (e.g., Player A: Blocks 1-3, Player B: Blocks 4-6).

Yes, in Automated Mode, on the “Position Restrictions” screen, you can limit which field positions specific players can be assigned to by the scheduler. However, too many restrictive rules can make it impossible for the system to generate a valid schedule. Position restrictions do not apply in Manual mode.

When creating a team, you’ll enter a team name, the number of players on the field, and player names. It’s recommended to use first names for players, possibly with a last initial for duplicates. You can edit team details, add/remove players, or change names later on the Roster page. Parent contact information and notes per player can also be stored.

Setting up a game involves several steps: selecting a substitution mode (automated or manual); choosing your team and opponent; selecting available players for the game; defining your field layout and positions; setting game parameters like duration and substitution interval; and assigning goalies.

Before each game, on the “Available Players” page, you select which players from your roster are available to play. Only these selected players are included in the substitution schedule. This allows you to adjust for players who are late or absent.

This usually occurs if your Position Restrictions are too limiting for the number of players, positions, and substitution interval, making it mathematically impossible for the system to generate a schedule that adheres to its core fairness principles. Reducing restrictions, allowing players more positions, or trying a shorter substitution interval can help.

Common reasons include: the coach has not yet officially started the game on their dashboard; a brief initial sync delay if the link was opened right as the game started (a refresh can help); or, rarely, browser caching (a hard refresh can help). Ensure the coach is advancing game blocks for position updates.

Yes, after the game, you can review and/or edit game results, player playing times, and the Player of the Match (POTM).

If you’ve forgotten your password, use the “Forgot Password” link on the login page to receive reset instructions. If you see “Username already exists” or “Email already registered,” choose a different username or use an email not already in the system. Also, double-check your email for typos during registration, as the app may suggest corrections for common domain mistakes.