The outcome
A versioned lineup draft, a role-cover chart and a short list of questions for the coach. This is a practical planning guide with optional AI assistance—not an automated selection tool. Your existing team system remains the official roster and availability source.
What you need
- The match reference and coach-confirmed playing format and starting roles.
- A current availability snapshot using anonymous player references.
- Coach-selected starters and any approved alternatives for each role.
- The coach’s supplied rotation intentions and applicable event requirements, if needed.
1. Separate availability from selection
Record the availability snapshot and its date. Mark unknown responses as unknown, not available. Presence on a squad list does not establish match eligibility, and availability does not mean the player has been selected. Resolve those questions through the appropriate team and event processes.
2. Fill the coach’s starting slots
List one slot for each role in the confirmed format and add only the coach’s chosen player reference. Check that no player occupies two simultaneous starting slots and that the number of slots matches the format. Leave an unresolved slot open rather than asking AI to select someone.
3. Build role cover separately
Record coach-approved alternatives beside each role. A player may be listed as cover for more than one role; that does not mean they can cover both at once. Flag shared-cover dependencies so the coach can consider what happens if two changes are needed together. Do not turn this chart into a public player ranking.
4. Check the proposed transitions
If the coach supplies planned changes, compare the before-and-after lineups for duplicate assignments, open roles and unavailable players. Record only supplied timings or triggers. Do not infer substitution limits, guarantee minutes or invent a rotation policy. Unknown event requirements remain questions for the coach.
5. Approve the version and audience
The coach resolves open items and approves the intended version. Recheck after availability changes. Keep internal cover notes separate from any player-facing board or message. Updating a roster, submitting an official lineup or sending selections is a separate authorized action; this guide does none of them.
Fictional example
A coach supplies seven starting slots for an illustrative 7v7 plan, including a goalkeeper. DEMO-04 appears in two starting slots, while DEMO-07 has unknown availability. Flag the repeated assignment and the unknown response; do not choose replacements. DEMO-08 is approved cover for two roles, which is a dependency to discuss—not itself a duplicate starter.
Privacy checkpoint
Reusable resource
Download the lineup review worksheet and optional prompt. It separates starting slots, role cover, transitions and the coach’s final decision.