In team sports, substitution (or interchange) is replacing one player with another during a match. Substitute players that are not in the starting lineup (also known as bench players, backups, interchange, or reserves) reside on the bench and are available to substitute for a starter. Later in the match, that substitute may be substituted for by another substitute or by a starter who is currently on the bench.
Free substitution or rolling substitution is a rule in some sports that allows players to enter and leave the game for other players many times during the course of a game, generally during a time-out or other break in live play; and for coaches to bring in and take out players an unlimited number of times. In other sports, limited substitution restricts the manner in which players can be replaced.
Sports that allow free substitution
Sports that allow unlimited substitution during live play Beach soccer, futsal and indoor soccer: Unlike standard association football, these variants of the sport allow for an unlimited number of substitutions during a match. Players may be substituted at any time, except for the goalkeeper, who may only be substituted during a stoppage in play. In beach soccer, if a player is dismissed due to a red card, they may be replaced after at least two minutes has elapsed. In futsal and indoor soccer, if a player is dismissed due to a red card, they may not be replaced and their team will be short-handed for the rest of the match. Canoe polo: Per ICF rules, players may be substituted at any time, however players who have capsized may not be substituted until the next break in play, unless the capsized player is still able to make it back to the substitution area unaided. Players who receive a yellow card are excluded for two minutes and cannot be substituted, and players who receive a red card are ejected and cannot be replaced for the rest of the match. Handball: Any number of players may be substituted at any point in the game, except for players serving a suspension. If a player receives a red card and is disqualified from the match, they cannot be replaced until two minutes has elapsed. Junior handball competitions organized by some countries' governing bodies may only allow substitutions while in possession of the ball or during timeouts. In beach handball, when players are suspended or disqualified from the game, they may be replaced by their team immediately after the next change in possession. Hockey: In general, most forms of hockey allow for free substitution at any time except during specific situations. Practically every form of hockey uses a penalty box or equivalent and in all forms, players who are serving a penalty or suspension may not be substituted until after their penalty or suspension is complete. Furthermore, all of the forms of hockey listed below permit teams to pull their goaltender and replace them with another player who is not a goaltender in order to gain an extra attacker. Bandy: Players may be substituted at any time except during corner strokes. If a player is sent off due to a red card, they may not be replaced and their team will be short-handed for the rest of the match. Broomball: Players may be substituted at any time. Field hockey: Players may be substituted at any time except during a penalty corner; goalkeepers may only be substituted during a stoppage in play, except during a penalty corner. If a player is sent off due to a red card, they may not be replaced and their team will be short-handed for the rest of the match. These rules also apply to indoor field hockey. Floor hockey and roller hockey: Most variants of floor hockey and roller hockey, including the official rules of ball hockey, floorball, inline hockey, and quad hockey, allow players to be substituted at any time. Ice hockey: Players may be substituted at any time, with a few exceptions. If a player ices the puck, if their goaltender holds a puck that was shot from beyond the center red line for a stoppage or if they dislodge their own team's goalposts, then that player's team in each instance may not make any changes until after the ensuing face-off. In addition, if the goaltender leaves the ice in favor of a sixth skater at any time during overtime, the goal must remain empty until the next stoppage of play. The standard line-up for professional ice hockey teams includes four lines of forwards and three pairings of defensemen in rotation during any given game. However, line-ups with 13 forwards and five defensemen or 11 forwards and seven defensemen are sometimes employed either as a strategic decision by the head coach or out of necessity created by injuries. Ringette: Players may be substituted at any time except during a goaltender ring (similar to a goal kick in association football). Underwater hockey: Players may be substituted at any time and players who are dismissed from the game may not be replaced, leaving their team short-handed for the rest of the match. Underwater hockey is unique among hockey codes in that there is no goaltender position, so the above rules about pulling the goaltender are not applicable. Lacrosse: Both field and box lacrosse allow for players to be substituted at any time during the game and substitutions happen frequently in both codes. At collegiate and professional levels of field lacrosse, it is a common strategy for the team with possession of the ball to substitute defensive players with offensive players while they move the ball up the field from their defending zone into their attacking zone, and for the defending team to substitute their offensive players with defensive ones as they are pushed back into their defending zone. In box lacrosse, it is more common for teams to have lines similar to ice hockey, with professional box lacrosse teams typically having three lines of forwards and three pairings of defensemen. Like hockey and handball, lacrosse players who are serving a penalty may not be substituted. Quadball: Teams have unlimited substitutions, however substitutions may only be made during live play: substitution during stoppages is not allowed except to replace an injured or ejected player. Players in the penalty box may not be substituted, and players who receive a red card and are ejected from the game may be replaced after two minutes. Touch rugby: Called interchanges in touch, teams may freely interchange players at any time, with the one exception being that when there is a change in possession due to an intercept, neither team may interchange players until the next stoppage of play. Players in the sin bin may not be interchanged, and players who are dismissed from the game may not be replaced and their team must play short-handed.
Sports that allow unlimited substitutions during stoppages of play only Basketball: Basketball allows for unlimited substitution of players at most dead ball scenarios, with two main exceptions: First, players may not be substituted before a free throw. Second, substitutions are generally not permitted after a successful field goal, although some leagues and organizations may allow substitutions after field goals during the last few minutes of the game only. Players are allowed to go out and come in again any number of times, unless they are disqualified or ejected, and substitutions happen frequently. These rules also apply to 3x3 basketball. Dodgeball: Per World Dodgeball Federation rules, players may be freely substituted between each set. If a player is injured during a set, they may only be replaced if their team calls a timeout. Players who receive a red card and are ejected may not be replaced and their team will play short-handed for the rest of the match. Amateur and recreational rules may vary. Fistball: Players may be freely substituted between rallies, or mid-rally if a referee makes a stoppage of play. Players serving a suspension may not be substituted and players who are disqualified by a referee may not be replaced and their team will be short-handed for the rest of the match. Gridiron football: Players can be changed during any dead ball situation. Most college and pro football teams use 11 completely different players on offense and defense. Often, substitution is made depending on the play being run; for example, a team might bring in a fullback or tailback for a rushing play, or several wide receivers for a passing play. There are also major substitutions made for special teams plays such as punting or kicking a field goal. Players cannot be substituted during live ball play; if a player leaves the field during play without being forced, the player cannot return or be replaced until the next play. (Historically, gridiron-based codes had a one-platoon system in place that required all players to play all phases of the game. The one-platoon system was largely abolished in the 1940s but aspects of it remained in force in college football until the 1960s, at which time total free substitution was implemented.) Polo: Teams may freely substitute both players and ponies (horses) between each chukka, as long as no handicap rules are violated. Polo rosters contain between four and eight players, and teams are required to have at least two ponies per player, although at the higher levels of the sport, it is common for teams to have many more. Players who have been ejected from the game due to a red card may be replaced after two minutes. Roller derby: Teams may freely substitute players between jams, except for players serving a penalty in the penalty box. If a player is expelled from the game during a jam, they may not substituted with another player until after the end of the jam. Tchoukball: Teams may freely substitute players after every point. Players expelled from the game by a referee may be replaced. Ultimate: Per WFDF rules, teams are allowed unlimited substitutions after every goal. However, both the American Ultimate Disc League and Premier Ultimate League further allow teams to make unlimited substitutions during time-outs as well. Water polo: Water polo permits an unlimited number of substitutions, however, per FINA rules, rolling substitution during live play is only allowed in Olympic competitions. For all other matches, players may only be substituted during the interval between periods, after a goal, during a timeout, or to replace an injured player. Players serving an exclusion foul may not be substituted until the end of their foul and players who have been ejected from the game may not be replaced until at least four minutes have elapsed.
Sports with limited substitution Sports that allow a limited number of substitutions
Association football Per IFAB rules, teams are allowed up to five substitutions per game, and players may only be substituted during a stoppage in play. Players who leave the game may not return, and if a team runs out of substitutions and loses a player due to injury or expulsion, they must play the rest of the game short handed. A fourth substitution during extra time was trialed by FIFA during the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. At many amateur levels, unlimited substitution is allowed whenever the ball goes out of play.. Bat-and-ball games: In general, in most bat-and-ball games, including those listed here, new player(s) inherit the place in the batting order of the player(s) that they are replacing.