The Effect of Substitutions on Team Tactical Behavior in Professional Soccer

Lorenzo-Martínez, Miguel; Rein, Robert; Garnica-Caparrós, Marc; Memmert, Daniel; Rey, Ezequiel

doi:10.1080/02701367.2020.1828563

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Substitutions can have a significant impact on a game of football, and the tactical influence of coaches on the match has been demonstrated in several studies [9,15,16]. For example, Trainor [13] concluded that both the substitutes and the substituted players scored more goals than players who were used for the entire duration of the game.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of One Additional Substitution on Player Load and Coaching Tactics in Elite Football

Meyer

Klatt

2021

Applied Sciences

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Professional football players, coaches, and researchers have discussed additional substitutions in football to reduce player load for a while. However, the effects of additional substitutions on the game have not yet been investigated in detail. The aim of this paper is to determine whether an additional substitution in (1) extra time and (2) regular time would be beneficial and would lead to (a) greater tactical influence of coaches on the match, (b) load reduction during one match, and (c) load reduction during one season. The methodological approach adopted includes two studies, both of which involve data analysis of substitution times (Study 1: n = 3060; Study 2: n = 1153) as well as a survey of football coaches (Study 1: n = 37; Study 2: n = 25). For assessing the effect of an additional substitution in regular time and in extra time, the substitutions made in the Bundesliga, U19-Bundesliga West, DFB-Cup, and 2018 World Cup were evaluated. The findings of this research clearly indicate the potential of an additional substitution by enabling almost 50% of additional load reduction in regular time and 27% in extra time. However, in practice, the findings showed the limits of an additional substitution in extra time on long-term load reduction.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of One Additional Substitution on Player Load and Coaching Tactics in Elite Football

Meyer

Klatt

2021

Applied Sciences

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“…As substitutions are a tool to make tactical changes in a match, using more substitutions may be considered beneficial for the strategic influence of coaches on the game. 8,10,17 In practice, coaches could, for example, take key players off the field once the match has been 'decided' (e.g., large score differential), which will decrease the players' load, and therefore, increase their recovery time and potentially their future performances. Furthermore, coaches have more tactical flexibility to react according to the game scenarios, for example, the score, send-offs or injuries.…”

Section: Discussion and Implicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…15 Therefore, substitutions may have a significant impact on a football match and thus, indicate and to some extent quantify the tactical influence of coaches on the game, as several studies have shown. 11,16,17 Existing empirical research on the effects of an additional substitution on the game is also largely based on observations of the coaches' substitution behaviour; in particular in two studies on the German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A, when three substitutions instead of two, were executed in the national leagues for the 1995/1996 season. 16,18 The findings indicated that with an additional substitution opportunity, significantly more substitutions were made and used significantly earlier in the match.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Additional substitutions in elite European football

Meyer

Klatt

2023

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching

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In 2020, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) introduced a temporary rule amendment of two additional substitutions in regular time. In this study, we assess the impact of this rule change with regard to player relief, tactical influence by the coaches and the development of young players. Data were collected from 3652 matches from the top 5 leagues in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) rankings and 659 UEFA club competition matches (Champions League and Europa League) in 2 different seasons (pre-rule amendment: 2018/2019 vs. post-rule amendment: 2020/2021), comparing leagues that introduced two additional substitutions with those that did not. The results show that with two additional substitutions, the reduction in player load was increased by 46%. Despite being used infrequently, the rule change resulted in 45% more substitutions and, therefore, greater tactical influence by the coaches. Furthermore, two additional substitutions benefit young players’ development with an 81% increase in playing time. While the aim of the temporary amendment to the laws of the game was achieved with the additional substitutions by compensating for the increased load on the players, coaches’ substitution behaviour shows potential for improvement.

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“…Following the previous literature [ 32 ], the performance variables analysed were: total distance covered; distance covered at high-intensity running (14 km/h–21 km/h); distance covered at very high-intensity running (21.1 km/h–24 km/h); distance covered at sprint (>24 km/h); amount of effort in the speed ranges of 21 km/h–24 km/h and >24 km/h; and maximum speed (km/h). Moreover, all variables were analysed for the 1st half, 2nd half and whole match [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. These speed thresholds were restricted by the system used in the Spanish league (LaLiga TM ) .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Increasing the Number of Substitutions on Physical Performance during Periods of Congested Fixtures in Football

García-Aliaga

Martín-Castellanos

Marquina

et al. 2023

Sports

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(I) This study aimed to evaluate the impact on physical demands induced by FIFA’s new rule implemented based on the number of substitutions caused by COVID-19. (II) Sixty-six matches were analysed in peak periods (microcycles of three matches in a week) in the competition period before and after the pandemic. The variables collected were organised by team (22 from LaLigaTM SmartBank 2019–2020) for a total of 132 team records and 1077 player performance reports using a multi-camera tracking system and Mediacoach® software. Physical performance variables were analysed in the first half, second half and whole match, thus determining the individual and collective performances of the team. (III) This study shows how, despite the increase in substitutions allowed with the new rule, physical performance increased in some variables in the congested periods (e.g., total distance run and distance run in the first and second halves). Additionally, the players’ physical performance involved in a substitution was greater than it was for players who completed the game. (IV) The new substitution rule helps to maintain and even improve physical performance. This measure could improve intensity levels in both individual and team performance. It could even safeguard the physical integrity of the players by reducing the risk of injury, as fewer players have to play the full match.

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The Effect of Substitutions on Team Tactical Behavior in Professional Soccer

Cited by 17 publications

References 42 publications

Impact of One Additional Substitution on Player Load and Coaching Tactics in Elite Football

Impact of One Additional Substitution on Player Load and Coaching Tactics in Elite Football

Additional substitutions in elite European football

Effect of Increasing the Number of Substitutions on Physical Performance during Periods of Congested Fixtures in Football

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