How to find substitute players when you are short

Updated 2026-10-08

Every manager has been there: it is Thursday, you have seven players for a nine-player game and the league has a forfeit rule. The best fix is to avoid the scramble in the first place.

1. Know your numbers early

Ask for in, out or maybe as soon as the game is posted. If the count is low on Monday, you have days to solve it, not hours. A schedule with RSVPs shows this without you chasing anyone.

2. Keep a sub list before you need one

At the start of the season, ask players who they would recommend and keep a short list of people who said yes. Check league rules on who can sub and whether they need to be registered.

3. Ask specifically

"Can anyone fill in?" gets silence. "Can you play Tuesday at 7:30, we need one defender, it is a friendly crew" gets answers. Give the date, time, position and how long it takes.

4. Ask the maybes first

Players who said maybe are the easiest to convert. A quick message asking whether they can firm up often solves it.

5. Make it low-friction

Tell the sub where to go, what to wear and who to find. Add them to the team channel for the day so they can see the schedule and directions.

6. Say thank you

Subs who feel welcome come back. A short thanks after the game matters.

Rinkmate shows who is in before game day, and one invite code gets a sub onto the team in seconds. See team roster.