Hätävaihdoissa

Hätävaihdoissa refers to emergency substitutions in sports, particularly common in ice hockey and other team sports. It allows a team to replace a player on the ice with another player from the bench under specific circumstances, often to gain a tactical advantage or to compensate for an injured player. These substitutions are distinct from regular line changes, which are typically pre-planned and executed during stoppages in play or with minimal disruption.

The rules surrounding hätävaihdoissa vary by league and sport. Generally, a player leaving the ice must be within a certain distance of the bench before the substitute can enter. Illegally executed emergency substitutions can result in penalties, such as a minor penalty for too many men on the ice. Coaches may employ hätävaihdoissa strategically to introduce fresh legs during critical moments, to press for a goal, or to defend a lead. It requires quick communication between players and the coaching staff to be effective. The term itself is Finnish, translating directly to "emergency change" or "emergency substitution."