Super Subs

How can a sub make an impact? - by Daniel Ferguson

How many times have you been watching a game of sport and you've discussed who you believe should come on as a sub, who you think can change the game? A lot of the time, when we watch sports, these will be the times we believe the coach should look to the bench to make an impact on the game at hand. However, during the action of the game, as spectators, we don't often think inside the mind of a substitute.

New Zealand u20s bench - Ultimate Rugby

Some players can find themselves on the bench during every game. In 2022, news bwin reported some facts about footballers on the bench. Former Inter Milan captain Andrea Ranocchia spent a total time of six days, three hours and 35 minutes on the sidelines following the beginning of the 2019-20 season. Anyone can say that's a lot of time on the bench. Now Ranocchia spent this time on the bench towards the tail end of his career. But what goes on inside the mind of a player who has broken through the academy and wants his first minutes? What about a player who used to play every minute of every game, but the new coach doesn't give him a sniff on the field? It's a lot of thinking time, but how can this time be used?

Let's focus our attention to the semi-finals of Euro 2024. Imagine you are Ollie Watkins, it's your first major international tournament with England. Ever since you were a boy you have dreamed of a moment like this. It's the 80th minute of the semi-final and you are called up off the bench. How would you be feeling? What would you be thinking?

Watkins ended up scoring the winner in the 90th minute to lead England to their second euros final. Cole Palmer also came on the pitch to set up this winner. These two had great seasons in the 2023-24 season, Watkins had 32 goal contributions in the Premier League, while Palmer had 33. Did they have a point to prove?

Watkins celebrating his winner - The Independent

"I said to Cole I would set him up at half time, we manifested it" - Watkins stated in his post-match press conference. This is a great attitude for a player on the bench, especially in a semi-final, where one moment can change the entire outcome of the game. This suggests before both Watkins and Palmer were introduced, during their time on the bench they were 'manifesting' that moment. This use of imagery would have focused both the footballer's attention towards coming on that pitch and making a difference. Using the power of their minds they created that moment before it even happened. Gareth Southgate brings them onto the pitch to replace Harry Kane and Phil Foden, and the pair are both focused on winning the game. But not just winning the game: winning the game with the storyline they had created at half-time, where Palmer sets up Watkins for the winner. When Palmer picked up that ball on the right, Watkins expressed, "as soon as he turned I knew to make the move" and the rest is history. Watkins took one touch, shot, and sent England to the final.

What can we take from this?

As a sub, when sat on that bench, an athlete should deliberately focus their attention to what they will do if the moment comes where they are called up to come off the bench. Imagery techniques are of great value when doing so, as a basketballer, are you picturing yourself shooting a 3-pointer? As a cricketer do you see yourself smashing a four with your first hit? Are you a rugby player imagining yourself scoring a try?

See it's about what you picture yourself doing in these moments of preparation, imagining yourself doing an action before you do it - this is what we call visualisation. Visualisation helps athletes as research shows a person's reactions are faster and more accurate when performing skills they have repeatedly visualised in their minds (Sobierajewicz...). You can apply this to your own life: when you next prepare for a moment that you may be anxious for, whether that's in sport, or any aspect of your journey. You could do this on the way to work: picture yourself walking in with a smile on your face, imagine your day being a good one. 

Focus your attention on what you see as success; what you feel will create your best self. Vision these moments, to create them. As an athlete, take this on board if you find yourself on the bench. Even outside of sport, when you next prepare for any moment in your life and your individual journey. Focus your attention on what you see as success, what is success to you, how do you define it? 

As a sub

Drawing our attention back to sport, on the bench it's important what an athlete does with this time. As Ranocchia did, a lot of time can be spent watching the game and not being involved. As anyone knows, time is valuable, if an athlete finds themselves on the bench, how can you turn this into useful time, not wasted time. What do they imagine themselves doing when their time comes to get involved, what do they say to themselves, how is their attention focused on making an impact?