eingewechselt

Eingewechselt is a German term used in team sports to describe a player who enters the game as a substitute. It is the past participle of the verb einwechseln, formed from ein- (in) and wechseln (to change). The phrase is common in match reports and commentary: for example, "X wurde eingewechselt" or "X kam als eingewechselter Spieler ins Spiel." The opposite form is ausgewechselt, referring to a player who leaves the field after being substituted out.

In practice, teams substitute players during a game to adjust tactics, manage fatigue, or replace an injured teammate. The entering player replaces someone currently on the field, and the substituted player exits the field. The term is used across various sports, including football (soccer), handball, basketball, and rugby, though the specific substitution rules vary by sport and competition.

On the bench, players who are available to enter the game are called Ersatzspieler or Auswechselspieler. Substitutions are officially recorded by match officials, and the game clock continues running when a substitution occurs. Substitutions are a strategic tool for coaches, who consider factors such as player form, stamina, and the evolving match situation.