Free substitution
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The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (December 2010) |
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Free 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 the game; and for coaches to bring in and take out players an unlimited number of times.
Sports that allow free substitution
- Basketball. Basketball allows unlimited substitution of players at dead balls, such as full times-out, out-of-bounds turnovers and fouls. Players are allowed to go out and come in again many times, unless they are disqualified or ejected. Players are often substituted for, since it is almost physically impossible to play all 48 minutes of a basketball game. Substitutions are also made if a player is getting too many personal fouls and is in danger of disqualifying himself
- American football. Players can be substituted for between every football play. 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.
- Ice hockey. Players can be substituted for at any point in the game, even when the puck is in play. The only exception is that in the NHL, if a team ices the puck they may not make any changes until after the ensuing faceoff.
↑Jump back a sectionSports that do not allow free substitution
- Association football: In association football, only six substitutions are allowed. Players may only be substituted during a stoppage in play. Players who are substituted for may not return to the game
- Baseball: As with association football, a player who is substited for may not return to the game. Baseball does not have a cap on the number of substitutions that can be made, although in practice they may not make more substitutions than the number of substitutes they have. A player inherits the place in the batting order of the player for whom he is substituted, unless multiple people are substituted for at the same time (a double switch)
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