How to find subs for your rec hockey league

It's 5 pm, the game is at 8, and you're two players short. You message the group, three people react with a thumbs up, and nobody confirms. The problem isn't that people don't want to play. The problem is that your request arrives late, and to everyone at once.

Start before you need someone

Keep an up-to-date sub list: name, email or phone, position (player or goalie) and level. Ask each regular to suggest one or two names. A list of ten subs saves more nights than a perfect last-minute message.

Contact subs in order, not all at once

If you message ten people, five will say yes for two spots, and you'll have to turn three down. That's awkward, and those three will hesitate next time. Invite subs in small waves instead: two or three at a time, then the next wave if nobody confirms by the deadline.

Set a reply deadline

Say it plainly: "Reply by noon to play tonight." Without a deadline you wait without knowing whether to look elsewhere. With one, you know when to move to the next wave.

Use a simple priority rule

Subs who answer fast and show up should go first next time. Keep track of who helped out. People notice when the rule is fair, and they answer faster when they know it is.

Confirm and close the request

Once the spots are filled, tell the other subs it's full, with a thanks. A polite reply costs one line and keeps your sub list in good shape.

Common mistakes

• Posting in the whole league's group chat, where the message gets lost.
• Asking "anyone free?" without the time, place and position.
• Not tracking who replied and who showed up.
• Waiting until the day before to start looking.

Let software do it

All of this works by hand with a spreadsheet and messages, as long as your league is small. If you're tired of running the waves yourself, Notre Ligue does it for you: when a player can't make it, subs are invited automatically, five at a time every hour by default, or all at once within 48 hours of the game, and players answer from their link, with no account and no app. It's free under 15 regular players (one league per organizer), with a 2-month trial for larger leagues, no card needed to start.