Substitution Rule

[stoli]

Hi,
I'm doing some research, and greatly appreciate help on the following questions.
"Substitution rules state that 3 players can be substituted per team, Does anyone know when this rule was implemented?"
"Was it ever before a two player per team substitution rule?"

[AFCA]

Yes, I don't know the exact time when it became three but it's not that long ago.

[Knave]

You might ask about this on the referee's board. Folks there would probably know the exact date - or at least where to go to find out that date.

[usscouse]

The original sub rule I believe was two subs allowed after half time, or a goalkeeper could be subbed for an injury at any time.
In the beginning, subs really were brought in for injured players. I’ve played in games were it got so rough we finished with 7 players on our team. (No cards then either)
Now of course subs are a tactical part of the game (And IMHO it sucks)

[Sachin]

The first time three subs were used was during USA '94. IIRC.

I don't recall it before that, but I could be wrong.

Sachin

[Dandal]

Original substitution rule was no subs allowed. I think this was changed as late as in the sixties.

Ok, went to fifa.com and checked my facts.

1995: 3 subs allowed
1994: 2 subs + 1 designated gk sub, before that 2 subs

Still needs to find out when subs was introduced. I'll be back :)

[SJJ]

Originally posted by stoli
"Substitution rules state that 3 players can be substituted per team, Does anyone know when this rule was implemented?"
"Was it ever before a two player per team substitution rule?"

The Laws of the Game state the number of subs in official matches (played under Fifa [World Cup], Confederations [Champions League, Concacaf Gold Cup, etc], and Federations [L.H.U.S. Open Cup, etc]) to be 3, but other matches can have more.

For example, the USL I think has 5 subs. To be technical, the USL is a League under the USSF, not the USSF itself, so it is not limited to 3 subs. The WUSA (at least in the first year) had 4 subs.



LAW 3 - The Number of Players

Players

A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players.

Official Competitions

Up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the national associations.

The rules of the competition must state how many substitutes may be nominated, from three up to a maximum of seven.

Other Matches

In other matches, substitutes may be used, provided that:
- the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number
- the referee is informed before the match

If the referee is not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the start of the match, no more than three substitutes are allowed.

[Maczebus]

Originally posted by Dandal


Still needs to find out when subs was introduced. I'll be back :)

I know that the substitution rule was introduced into English football in 1965, for injuries only.
Then in 1966, that stipulation was dropped.

Its somewhere amongst this page (although I've just said pretty much all it has to say on the subject) but it won't let me cut and paste:
http://www.football-league.co.uk/club/view/third_feature/0,,10794,00.html

[Nobby]

FIFA introduced substitution rules at the 1970 World Cup.

http://www.worldcuparchive.com/CUPS/1970/wc70index.html

[ruudboy]

My friends from Europe and S.A.,

In your youth leagues and pub team leagues, do you guys have unlimited substitutions?

[Dandal]

Originally posted by ruudboy
My friends from Europe and S.A.,

In your youth leagues and pub team leagues, do you guys have unlimited substitutions?
In Sweden, the national youth competitions (= under 16) usually has 5 subs. In what you might call our pub team leagues (over-aged and under-fit guys playing for the fun of it), we have a national organization called Korpen, they play 7-a-side with unlimited substitutions.

[ruudboy]

In America, we have unlimited substitutions, in our youth, adult, college, pretty much every level except pro.

[Craig the Aussie]

In Australia there are unlimited subs up to age 16, for men over 35, and all womens games below premier and state league level.

We have been having big fights trying to get unlimted subs for open age mens amateur football (currently most leagues are 5 subs, once you're off you stay off). The state associations say that this would be breaching FIFA rules and can't be done.

[Chairboy]

Originally posted by ruudboy
My friends from Europe and S.A.,

In your youth leagues and pub team leagues, do you guys have unlimited substitutions?

All teams over in England must adhere to FA rules - meaning 3 substitutions if playing in a league / cup match. That includes Pub / Saturday/Sunday league teams.

[soccernole]

Does an injury substitution count toward a teams 3 subs?

[jkdd77]

Yes

[lanman]

When it was first introduced in England it was 1 sub and only if the player was injured. Amazingly a Leeds player would usually pick up an injury after about 70 minutes of each game - if they were winning it was always a striker who had to go off and if they were losing it was always a defender.

[Midorit]

When it was first introduced in England it was 1 sub and only if the player was injured. Amazingly a Leeds player would usually pick up an injury after about 70 minutes of each game - if they were winning it was always a striker who had to go off and if they were losing it was always a defender.

Many many years later,they were condemned by the God of football to the eternal hell of lower devision:)