On a matchday, all players – whether on the field or sat on the sidelines, waiting to come on – deserve to have a great experience.

Whether we are able to use rolling substitutes, or they are on the pitch one time only, we want our subs (or ’game-changers’, as many call them) to feel as valued and as part of the game as those who start.

Those on the bench must get as much opportunity for learning and development as the players actively participating.

It’s our job as coaches to make that possible. It is also really helpful to us. Having a subs bench which is cared for, focused and engaged will make our lives a lot easier.

It means we won’t have to do as much off-pitch management, fielding questions such as "When am I coming on?" or "Who am I going on for?".

Here are some ideas to give your substitutes the best possible experience.

Ask them to analyse the match

Get them to watch the match and ask them to consider how it’s going.

You can help to frame their thinking with some prompt questions, such as:

• What are we doing well?
• What could we be doing better?
• Are we achieving the goals we set out before the game?
• Where on the pitch is most of the play happening?
• When we attack, what does our shape look like?
• When we defend, what does our shape look like? 
• What shape is the other team set up in?
• Who is the other team’s most dangerous player?
• Which areas can we look to exploit the other team in?

Don’t use all of those at once – pick a few and tweak them as needed for your players.

If you have got a whiteboard, the players can use it to move markers around and make notes. 

Use the players’ feedback to inform the messages you give to the rest of the team at half time or during breaks in play.

Ask them to analyse the player they are going to replace

If you know which player the substitute is going to replace, tell them in advance to allow them to prepare.

Ask them to consider how this player is performing – what they are doing well and what they could be doing better.

Get them thinking about the opponent this player is up against in 1v1 duels, as well. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this opponent?

The player can use the answers to these questions to inform how they want to approach the game when they get on the field.