Auswechslung

Auswechslung is a German noun referring to the act of replacing one person or component with another. It is used in general language and in sports to denote substitution. In everyday usage, it can describe replacing a worker, an asset, or an element in a system. In sports, the term is most commonly used for the substitution of players during a game.

In football, teams may bring on substitutes from the bench to replace players who leave the field. The outgoing player leaves the field, and the incoming player enters the field at a designated moment after the referee signals the substitution. The substituted player is usually required to leave the field at the nearest touchline. The number of allowed substitutions is determined by competition rules and can vary; commonly three are permitted in many leagues, while some competitions allow five substitutions per match, often with a limit on the number of opportunities to make substitutions. Substitutions can be for tactical reasons, to rest players, or due to injury or poor form. A substituted player may not re-enter the match.

Beyond football, Auswechslung is used in other sports with different rules, and in non-sport contexts to describe replacing personnel, equipment, or components in a system or organization.