Rolling subs to be trialled at grassroots level

[Bluemoonbaldboy]

Could see teams having specialist set piece units if this came in at higher levels. Would completely change for game if it became the rule at all levels.

http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/news/2012/03/05/grassroots-football-set-for-rolling-subs-trial/

Rolling substitutions could be a feature in all UK grassroots football matches from next season, following a ruling by football’s law makers this weekend.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), who set the official Laws of the Game, have approved a two-year experiment by the four UK home nations to modify the number of substitutions allowed in the amateur game.
The law change means that repeat substitutions could become a feature of all youth and adult football matches from next season.
The announcement heralds a success for the home nations, who hope that a more flexible approach to substitutions will increase participation in the grassroots game.
Nick Levett, National Development Manager for Youth and Mini Soccer at the English FA described the announcement as a ” real step forward for the grassroots game”.
“After two years of work we have finally been granted to look at substitutions in grassroots football,” he posted on his Twitter page.
“I was told two years ago ‘you’ve got more chance of scoring the winning goal in the Champions League Final than changing this rule’. Well, I just scored the winner.
“This is a real step forward for the grassroots game. A massive step to support increasing participation.”
The announcement was also welcomed by the Scottish FA, which hopes it will help in its bid to increase the number of football participants from 65,000 to 130,000.
“We are delighted with the modification allowing a more flexible approach to the number of substitutes in the amateur – or as we know it, recreational – game,” SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan said.
“This is a significant change for our Affiliated National Associations and will enable us to encourage as many people as possible to take up the game.
“Strong, quality growth is a fundamental pillar of our strategy document, Scotland United: A 2020 Vision, and today’s decision will assist our primary objective in that area of doubling the number of participants in the country.”
Currently 11-a-side rules in open age football and the older youth football age groups allow a maximum of five substitutes to be named, with three allowed to be used, meaning that in parks and playing fields across the country each week some amateur footballers do not even get on to the field of play.
Details of how each of the home nations will manage the trial period are yet to be announced. The four associations worked closely in proposing the rule to IFAB and will hope that a successful trial period will lead to a lasting change for the grassroots game following the conclusion of the trial in 2014.
IFAB is made up of representatives from each of the four home nation’s FAs and FIFA. Each UK association has one vote and FIFA has four. Six votes are required to pass any changes to the Laws of the Game.

 

[pee dubya]

I hate the substitution system in football, it's so cumbersome. The numbers of subs are fine, it's just such a long, drawn out process.

Just get the guy off the pitch and the other guy on. They don't have to enter and exact at the exact same spot, it doesn't matter if they're both on the pitch at the same time for second, because the game is stopped anyway!

It just epitomises the control freak, bureaucratic, stuffy image of FIFA, encourages time wasting and breaks up the flow of the game.

 

[jonmcity]

No problem with this, should be like lacrosse. Player going off has to go through the box before the other can go on.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

I hate the substitution system in football, it's so cumbersome. The numbers of subs are fine, it's just such a long, drawn out process.

Just get the guy off the pitch and the other guy on. They don't have to enter and exact at the exact same spot, it doesn't matter if they're both on the pitch at the same time for second, because the game is stopped anyway!

It just epitomises the control freak, bureaucratic, stuffy image of FIFA, encourages time wasting and breaks up the flow of the game.

The one thing I'd like to see change is this bollocks about bringing subs on simply to wind the clock down during Fergie time. I'd ban all substitutions after 85 mins - even if a player is injured.
(The only exception to the rule being if City are winning and trying to wind down the clock!)

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I hate the substitution system in football, it's so cumbersome. The numbers of subs are fine, it's just such a long, drawn out process.

Just get the guy off the pitch and the other guy on. They don't have to enter and exact at the exact same spot, it doesn't matter if they're both on the pitch at the same time for second, because the game is stopped anyway!

It just epitomises the control freak, bureaucratic, stuffy image of FIFA, encourages time wasting and breaks up the flow of the game.

The one thing I'd like to see change is this bollocks about bringing subs on simply to wind the clock down during Fergie time. I'd ban all substitutions after 85 mins - even if a player is injured.
(The only exception to the rule being if City are winning and trying to wind down the clock!)

I'm more concerned with the arbitrary way time is added on by referees. A recent example is the Liverpool/Arsenal game at Anfield earlier this month. Mark Halsey (who I rate - and not just because of Wembley '99!) added on eight minutes injury time - or rather a minimum of eight minutes. During that injury time Van Persie scored and IIRC there was at least one substitution and yet on the stroke of the eighth minute he blew for full time.

There was also a recent piece on Fivelive about refs not adding on enough time for goals scored during high scoring matches.

Given Brian Clough's truism that it only takes a second to score a goal and given the sums of money involved, I am more than a little surprised that more isn't made of this issue. I would personally consider changing the rules so that the game was shortened but the clock was only ticking when the ball was in play - this would obviously be policed by someone other than the ref, although I'm sure there are holes in that idea that I haven't thought of.

 

[AlexWilliamsGloves]

I like how the clock is managed in rugby

 

[Carver]

Why not make it an hour of actual playing time with an official timekeeper, as in ice hockey and basketball?

Three interesting articles here, particularly the last one, which focuses on last season's premier league:

<a class="postlink" href="http://socceranalysts.com/category/playing-time/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://socceranalysts.com/category/playing-time/</a>

I don't know whether 'Fergie time' is included in the statistic that states that the rags had the longest playing time. I would suspect it is, we know that Stoke take a lot of time on set pieces, but the ball is in play over 8 minutes longer for the rags, better utilisation of time or better manipulation of the referee?

 

[richardtheref]

When they said they are trialing it at grass root level this will be your Sunday morning pub teams etc. Cannot see any of them having set piece specialists to bring on for free kicks, corners etc.

As for added time the FA guide tells us to add on 30 seconds for each substitution, 30 seconds for each goal and after that you add on time for injuries, time-wasting and "othwr events" at your discretion. So if you have a second half where there has been 2 goals and 6 subs you would be looking at a minimum 4 minutes.

However, a UEFA referee told me at an RA meeting that they are instructed to no play more than 3 minutes added time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Hence last week when Kompany was injured and then subbed early doors the ref concerned blew up only 3 seconds beyond the 45 minutes!!

 

[Bluemoonbaldboy]

When they said they are trialing it at grass root level this will be your Sunday morning pub teams etc. Cannot see any of them having set piece specialists to bring on for free kicks, corners etc.

As for added time the FA guide tells us to add on 30 seconds for each substitution, 30 seconds for each goal and after that you add on time for injuries, time-wasting and "othwr events" at your discretion. So if you have a second half where there has been 2 goals and 6 subs you would be looking at a minimum 4 minutes.

However, a UEFA referee told me at an RA meeting that they are instructed to no play more than 3 minutes added time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Hence last week when Kompany was injured and then subbed early doors the ref concerned blew up only 3 seconds beyond the 45 minutes!!

I know it's sunday league etc... I said in the OP if it came in at higher levels....