playing time

our league has 7min qtrs, except for the 2nd qtr...its 10 mins....thats where all your non starters play...we are a 5th/6th/7th grade league....no 7h graders can play in that qtr....we ve tried the honor system, and other ways, but the one quarter system seems to work well for us...we normally have around 25 kids per team...we have a 140lb weight limit for running backs in other qtrs, its 110 in the 2nd...assitant coach runs that team, and is allowed on the field, like in a scrimmage...any other way gets too confusing...we only have 2 coaches, and keeping track of whats going on and how many plays each kid gets, just got too confusing...doing a whole qtr, gave everyone some kind of playing time, and makes rotating kids alot easier....
you start the game with your best 12 (11+1msg)..the rest all play in the 2d...then ALL are eligible to play the 2nd half...theres always times you may need to use someone thats normally a 2nd qtr kid in the first qtr (injury, vacations, etc) and as long as you alert the other coach
its usually cool...some leagues use a 5th qtr...we use the 2nd...the kids feel more a part of the game, and you still have time to repair any damage that get done....hahaha...you can also help yourself alot in that qtr...either way, you get the parents, and the kids, off your back.....