TY - JOUR
T1 - Additional substitutions in soccer benefit young players in strong teams and load management in decided matches
AU - Meyer, Johannes
AU - Klatt, Stefanie
PY - 2023/5/1
Y1 - 2023/5/1
N2 - In 2020, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) introduced two additional substitutions in professional football leading to a reduction in player load and a promotion of young players (Meyer & Klatt, 2021, 2023). This study aimed to answer whether teams (by final ranking) benefit differently from this rule change, how these factors effect performance-relevant measures (goals differential, expected goal differential, points), and whether the additional substitutions are beneficial for load management in matches with large score differentials (tie, 1 goal, 2 goals, > 3 goals differential). 1224 Bundesliga matches (2018/19 vs 2020/21 season) with 4303 substitutions were analyzed. The results showed that a team’s ranking significantly effects the proportionate use of young players in the total load reduction, F(17,1185) = 1.697, p = .038, η2 = .024. The better a team is ranked, the more playing time is given to young players, p = .005, r = -.114. This is particularly interesting considering that in games with large score differences, additional substitutions lead to more minutes played by the U21-players, F(3,1221) = 5.441, p = .001, η2 = .013. In addition, with a larger goal difference in the final result the number of substitutions used also increased with additional substitution options, F(3,1221) = 12.382, p < .001, η2 = .030. With regard to performance factors, no significant correlation with the analyzed effects were found (all ps >.05). Additional substitutions are specifically beneficial for load management in matches with large score differential, as the current regulation prevents more substitutions in games that have already been decided. Following this finding, especially young players in the better teams profit from the rule change. The effects investigated do not seem to interact with any performance indicators, and the suspected negative effects such as interruptions of play and squat rotation seem therefore negligible.
AB - In 2020, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) introduced two additional substitutions in professional football leading to a reduction in player load and a promotion of young players (Meyer & Klatt, 2021, 2023). This study aimed to answer whether teams (by final ranking) benefit differently from this rule change, how these factors effect performance-relevant measures (goals differential, expected goal differential, points), and whether the additional substitutions are beneficial for load management in matches with large score differentials (tie, 1 goal, 2 goals, > 3 goals differential). 1224 Bundesliga matches (2018/19 vs 2020/21 season) with 4303 substitutions were analyzed. The results showed that a team’s ranking significantly effects the proportionate use of young players in the total load reduction, F(17,1185) = 1.697, p = .038, η2 = .024. The better a team is ranked, the more playing time is given to young players, p = .005, r = -.114. This is particularly interesting considering that in games with large score differences, additional substitutions lead to more minutes played by the U21-players, F(3,1221) = 5.441, p = .001, η2 = .013. In addition, with a larger goal difference in the final result the number of substitutions used also increased with additional substitution options, F(3,1221) = 12.382, p < .001, η2 = .030. With regard to performance factors, no significant correlation with the analyzed effects were found (all ps >.05). Additional substitutions are specifically beneficial for load management in matches with large score differential, as the current regulation prevents more substitutions in games that have already been decided. Following this finding, especially young players in the better teams profit from the rule change. The effects investigated do not seem to interact with any performance indicators, and the suspected negative effects such as interruptions of play and squat rotation seem therefore negligible.
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2023-0077
DO - https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2023-0077
M3 - Journal articles
SN - 0895-2779
VL - 45
SP - S96
JO - Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
JF - Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
IS - S1
T2 - NASPSPA Conference 2023
Y2 - 1 June 2023 through 3 June 2023
ER -