It makes no sense to punish teams who have worked themselves into winning positions by not allowing them to make defensive switches. Especially for a reason as petty as wasted time, which a competent referee will add back anyway.
Let’s say the rule is 5 subs what I’m talking about is you intentionally keep subbing 1 kid at a time. Too many subs is horrible just watch Highschool soccer uhhh
If you’re asking anyone to base their opinions on the sport on what happens in high school, you’re setting yourself up to be constantly disappointed.
So, a thread about introducing the designated hitter rule to soccer. Part of the fun of managing the game is managing players. A player substitution changes the dynamic of the game. The sub rules were added for reasons like allowing a team to remain competitive despite the loss of a player to injury. It had the added bonus allowing teams to change strategies. Limiting substitutions minimizes the changes a team can make. Three seems to be a good number for a game. Add a fourth in extra time is fine. This thread has moved a little to kicks from the mark (penalties). Other choices... play until someone dies, sudden death, NASL shootout. Lets face it, forcing a winner in a match that ends tied is never going to be pretty. My only thought is that they are probably the least bad idea. As for the head injury thingy... My concern is that the solution not be able to be gamed by a devious manager. Something like this comes to mind... https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/goalkeeper-substitution-rule-has-got-to-go-r.58724/
This is true for all sports leagues but MLS should have a non-team doctor at every game that can actually make a non-bias decision on head injuries. The fact is teams and players can’t do what’s best for their long term health so let a different medical professional do it. In this case the team can make a substitute without using one of their allotted 3. It’s a matter of time till leagues start figuring this out.
We are talking about first division, top level, professional leagues. The player is evaluated on the field by a professional athletic trainer, probably an MD, on the field. They can make a decision, on the field or sideline, on whether a player should be substituted quickly enough, because they have someone on the field that can recognize the signs and symptoms of concussion. At the professional level, the rules are fine. Treat head injury like any other injury. Why should this be treated any different than a torn hamstring or ACL? Now, if we are talking about lower level leagues, most allow return substitutes, and are already pretty liberal in their substitution rules, particularly for injury. At this level, the game play rules allow specifically what needs done. What is missing is the assurance that a over zealous coach or parent won't put a kid back in that shouldn't be.
Team Doctors (not ours since he is amazing) have proven unable to actually do this job. There are plenty of really obvious examples of players who shouldn’t be going back into a game. It can take more than a minute to fully understand a concussion. They aren’t like other injuries. This is true across all sports. Teams have not been able thus far to properly handle these situations. If you talk with brain specialist they will tell you the same thing. Tearing an ACL sucks and can derail a career. A concussion has long lasting effects on your health. We owe it to players to not have them make those types of decision in the heat of the moment.
I don't see this as a problem with the "Laws of the Game" as much as it is a moral failing of the medical and soccer staff of the team. It isn't unusual to see it take a minute or more to evaluate a player on/off the field for injuries in general, including head injuries. The Laws and referees are fairly liberal in allowing players to be evaluated. Changing the rules won't fix this.
I disagree. Allowing a 4th sub for head injuries keeps long term player safety in mind. An independent doctor can make unbiased opinion about their situation. Team doctors and players need to have this taken out of their hands. I have a friend who works for a large hospital researching the effects of concussions in sports and the long term health consequences. It’s something that professional sports need to incorporate into their rules because otherwise it’s not going to happen.