Change on the Fly

Change on the Fly is a phrase used to describe the changing of players on the ice during a live game. Unlike many other sports where players must sub in and out of the game when play is stopped, hockey players can head off for a replace at almost any time of the game.

For the newest of hockey fans to see how players “change on the fly” personally at their first few games can be incredibly confusing, but it isn’t as difficult as it looks. In general, players on the bench will talk to each other and find out who is going out for each guy.

Players usually decide when they get out of the ice, generally when they get exhausted or feel it will not harm their team’s defense. Changing on the Fly makes the game much faster as new players always enter the game every 30-45 seconds.

Substitutes must be careful while waiting for teammates leaving the ice so that they are at least 10 feet away from the bench and not participate in the game until the player returns to the bench. Often times, Too Many Men on the Ice penalties occur because of this impatience on the bench.