Soccer Substitutions

[Anonymous]

Why are they so limited at the elite levels? Wouldn’t premier league games be more entertaining if you could sub on the fly like hockey or lacrosse so players could go all out more and then rest. Has this ever been tried? I realize the current version of the game is very popular, but wonder if the action would be better if substitution patterns were changed to all players period of rest, especially midfielders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they so limited at the elite levels? Wouldn’t premier league games be more entertaining if you could sub on the fly like hockey or lacrosse so players could go all out more and then rest. Has this ever been tried? I realize the current version of the game is very popular, but wonder if the action would be better if substitution patterns were changed to all players period of rest, especially midfielders.

I think this would be a vast improvement. It solves some critical issues with the current format which are ruining the viewing experience. Something like this could help the sport really grow in popularity and maybe one day it could hope to be even surpass hockey or lacrosse.

[Anonymous]

Because fitness and endurance are critical elements of the sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they so limited at the elite levels? Wouldn’t premier league games be more entertaining if you could sub on the fly like hockey or lacrosse so players could go all out more and then rest. Has this ever been tried? I realize the current version of the game is very popular, but wonder if the action would be better if substitution patterns were changed to all players period of rest, especially midfielders.

I think this would be a vast improvement. It solves some critical issues with the current format which are ruining the viewing experience. Something like this could help the sport really grow in popularity and maybe one day it could hope to be even surpass hockey or lacrosse.

I see what you did there 🤣🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they so limited at the elite levels? Wouldn’t premier league games be more entertaining if you could sub on the fly like hockey or lacrosse so players could go all out more and then rest. Has this ever been tried? I realize the current version of the game is very popular, but wonder if the action would be better if substitution patterns were changed to all players period of rest, especially midfielders.

I think this would be a vast improvement. It solves some critical issues with the current format which are ruining the viewing experience. Something like this could help the sport really grow in popularity and maybe one day it could hope to be even surpass hockey or lacrosse.

I see what you did there 🤣🤣

Hehe i missed it the first time. Had to reread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they so limited at the elite levels? Wouldn’t premier league games be more entertaining if you could sub on the fly like hockey or lacrosse so players could go all out more and then rest. Has this ever been tried? I realize the current version of the game is very popular, but wonder if the action would be better if substitution patterns were changed to all players period of rest, especially midfielders.

The purists would resist this, but I think this sort of change is necessary for soccer to gain viewers in a country like the US. If you look at hockey and football, the rules have constantly changed to bring more offense into the game. It's simply a more exciting game with more scoring. In my opinion, the game will have to improve it's "watchability" in order to succeed here. I would rather have more action in exchange for the stamina factor.

I would not advocate for sub on the fly, but move towards (gasp!) NCAA style rules with more subs and reentry each half.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they so limited at the elite levels? Wouldn’t premier league games be more entertaining if you could sub on the fly like hockey or lacrosse so players could go all out more and then rest. Has this ever been tried? I realize the current version of the game is very popular, but wonder if the action would be better if substitution patterns were changed to all players period of rest, especially midfielders.

The purists would resist this, but I think this sort of change is necessary for soccer to gain viewers in a country like the US. If you look at hockey and football, the rules have constantly changed to bring more offense into the game. It's simply a more exciting game with more scoring. In my opinion, the game will have to improve it's "watchability" in order to succeed here. I would rather have more action in exchange for the stamina factor.

I would not advocate for sub on the fly, but move towards (gasp!) NCAA style rules with more subs and reentry each half.

How do you know it creates more goals? The defenders will be more rested too.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure of the "more scoring" needed idea. Many soccer games are like 4-2 let's say. That's equivalent to 28-14 football score, which is very normal. Hockey is around there too. so I think soccer has just about the same amount of scoring as football and hockey.

[Anonymous]

Robots would be best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they so limited at the elite levels? Wouldn’t premier league games be more entertaining if you could sub on the fly like hockey or lacrosse so players could go all out more and then rest. Has this ever been tried? I realize the current version of the game is very popular, but wonder if the action would be better if substitution patterns were changed to all players period of rest, especially midfielders.

The purists would resist this, but I think this sort of change is necessary for soccer to gain viewers in a country like the US. If you look at hockey and football, the rules have constantly changed to bring more offense into the game. It's simply a more exciting game with more scoring. In my opinion, the game will have to improve it's "watchability" in order to succeed here. I would rather have more action in exchange for the stamina factor.

I would not advocate for sub on the fly, but move towards (gasp!) NCAA style rules with more subs and reentry each half.

+1. I agree with this.

I’ve heard others that want to rid of the off-sides rule to increase scoring as well similar to basketball fast breaks. I don’t know how much this will change soccer for the better or worse.

[Anonymous]

"Professional soccer, the most popular sport in the world, sure could learn a lot from the NCAA"

This thread has jumped the shark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure of the "more scoring" needed idea. Many soccer games are like 4-2 let's say. That's equivalent to 28-14 football score, which is very normal. Hockey is around there too. so I think soccer has just about the same amount of scoring as football and hockey.

Go do your research...

MLS Goals per game average 3.22
NHL Goals per game average ~6
NFL points per game average ~50, or 7-10 scoring events per game

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure of the "more scoring" needed idea. Many soccer games are like 4-2 let's say. That's equivalent to 28-14 football score, which is very normal. Hockey is around there too. so I think soccer has just about the same amount of scoring as football and hockey.

Go do your research...

MLS Goals per game average 3.22
NHL Goals per game average ~6
NFL points per game average ~50, or 7-10 scoring events per game

Since when is the MLS relevant? Back when the EPL’s predecessors were semi pro leagues filled with half drunk farmers playing drunker factory workers, scoring was though the roof- is that the golden age you want to return soccer too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Professional soccer, the most popular sport in the world, sure could learn a lot from the NCAA"

This thread has jumped the shark.

Purists always love to trot out that soccer is popular. The main reason for that is the simplicity and almost free access. That has almost nothing to do with how entertaining the sport is in America.

The premise of the PP was that for it to become more popular in America, more scoring is required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure of the "more scoring" needed idea. Many soccer games are like 4-2 let's say. That's equivalent to 28-14 football score, which is very normal. Hockey is around there too. so I think soccer has just about the same amount of scoring as football and hockey.

Go do your research...

MLS Goals per game average 3.22
NHL Goals per game average ~6
NFL points per game average ~50, or 7-10 scoring events per game

Since when is the MLS relevant? Back when the EPL’s predecessors were semi pro leagues filled with half drunk farmers playing drunker factory workers, scoring was though the roof- is that the golden age you want to return soccer too

ok. The point is even more relevant if you consider EPL which has even less scoring per game. That's a super popular league in the US. You point to semi pro leagues where scoring is higher. I would also say that at the grassroots level, scoring is also higher. Maybe that is some of the attraction. All of this supports the assertion that substitution rules should be relaxed.