TEAM REQUEST
A team official requests a change through the competition’s authorised procedure.
Integration concept
Interactive product demonstrator
The reliable pitchside endpoint for every change.
Receive or enter the authorised substitution. Let the fourth official verify it. Display it unmistakably. Keep working if every connection fails.
Interactive product demonstrator · physical engineering and match validation required
Discuss engineering or competition testing →THE PHYSICAL LAST STEP
Digital substitution information still needs a reliable pitchside display.
Team and match systems are becoming more digital. The final public action remains physical: the fourth official verifies the change and raises a board that players must see instantly from across the pitch.
Smart Substitution explores how structured match information, deliberate official confirmation and a rugged public display could operate as one fail-safe system.
DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT
Digital requests need a dependable display endpoint.
FIFA’s substitution tablet demonstrates the move from paper requests towards structured digital substitution information. Smart Substitution explores a complementary physical role: how an authorised change could be checked by the fourth official and displayed clearly and reliably at pitchside.
Smart Substitution is not affiliated with, approved by or integrated with FIFA.
Read about FIFA’s substitution tablet →COMPLETE WORKFLOW
One change. Five controlled stages.
MATCH SYSTEM
The named squad and substitution request are checked against authorised match information.
Integration concept
FOURTH OFFICIAL
The outgoing and incoming players are deliberately verified.
PITCHSIDE DISPLAY
Only enormous red and green shirt numbers remain visible when the device is raised.
EVENT CONFIRMATION
Compatible authorised systems may receive confirmation that the change was displayed.
Integration concept
THE TWO-SIDED DEVICE
When raised, it is a display—not a tablet.
The official-facing rear holds the squad grid and confirmation controls. The pitch-facing front shows only enormous numbers on black.
OFFICIAL WORKFLOW
Verify the change. Then reveal only what the pitch needs.
Fictional match demonstration · Northbridge FC
Official-facing rearLocal mode · Batt 86%
Step 1 · Select player leaving
OUT
—
IN
—
Interactive product demonstrator—not match equipment. A substitution must never depend entirely on Wi-Fi, a remote server or a touchscreen.
WORKFLOW COMPARISON
Test the interaction, not the assumption.
EXISTING KEYPAD WORKFLOW
Manual number entry · familiar physical controls
Interaction target · not yet validated
0.0 sec
00
ENTER SHIRT NUMBER
- Some boards support pre-programmed changes.
- Established visibility and ruggedness.
The target will be tested against manual entry and pre-programmed professional boards. Speed alone is not success; correction rate and operator confidence matter equally.
SMART SUBSTITUTION WORKFLOW
- Direct selection from the authorised squad
- Player number and identity shown to the official
- Deliberate confirmation
- Connected, standalone and failure modes
- Full-size public numbers when raised
The development question is whether direct squad verification can reduce time or errors without sacrificing the proven reliability of existing boards.
THREE OPERATING MODES
Future integration mode
CONNECTED MODE
- Receives an authorised match squad
- Receives or loads a requested substitution
- Fourth official verifies both players
- Display shows the confirmed numbers
- Compatible systems may receive an event confirmation
Development workflow
STANDALONE MODE
- Squad loaded locally
- Official selects outgoing and incoming players
- No stadium or broadcast connection required
- Board remains fully operational
Engineering requirement
FAILURE MODE
- Manual shirt-number entry
- Recessed physical confirm and cancel controls
- Display remains available
- Replaceable backup power
- No connection required
A substitution must never depend entirely on Wi-Fi, a remote server or a touchscreen.
MULTIPLE SUBSTITUTIONS
Prepare the sequence before the board goes up.
IFAB’s time-limited substitution procedure increases the importance of avoiding unnecessary delay between multiple changes. Formal compliance must be tested with officials and competition organisers.
Changes prepared · 3
17 → 24Current
Alex Moreno → Jamie Cole
09 → 19Next prepared
Owen Hart → Theo King
06 → 14Next prepared
Noah Price → Milo Grant
1724
ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS
Reliability is the product.
VISIBILITY
- — Full-pitch reading distance
- — Direct sunlight
- — Floodlights
- — Wide viewing angle
- — Red/green distinction
- — Colour-vision accessibility assessment
Requirement · not yet tested
WEATHER
- — Heavy rain
- — Cold
- — Heat
- — Wet-glove operation
- — Accidental-water rejection
Requirement · not yet tested
PHYSICAL
- — Drop resistance
- — Impact resistance
- — Safe overhead handling
- — Weight
- — Centre of gravity
- — Protected edges
- — Secure grip
Requirement · not yet tested
POWER
- — Full match plus stoppage and extra-time reserve
- — Replaceable battery
- — Hot-swap behaviour
- — Battery-health indicator
- — Emergency reserve
- — Safe battery transport and charging
Requirement · not yet tested
CONTROL
- — Deliberate confirmation
- — Physical cancel
- — Physical brightness
- — Manual number entry
- — Software recovery
- — Offline operation
Requirement · not yet tested
CONNECTIVITY
- — Secure squad loading
- — Authorised device pairing
- — No open public control
- — Local operation after disconnection
- — Auditable event history
Requirement · not yet tested
FUTURE INTEGRATION CONCEPT · NOT CURRENTLY CONNECTED
One authorised event. Multiple compatible outputs.
In a future connected deployment, one verified substitution event could update the pitchside board, stadium display and broadcast system—subject to competition procedure and integration with each technology provider.
PITCH BOARD
COMPATIBLE INTEGRATION REQUIRED
STADIUM DISPLAY
COMPATIBLE INTEGRATION REQUIRED
BROADCAST SYSTEM
COMPATIBLE INTEGRATION REQUIRED
DEVELOPMENT STATUS
Interactive product demonstrator—not match equipment.
INTERACTIVE
- — Official-facing squad-selection demonstration
- — Pitch-facing display simulation
- — Keypad comparison
- — Multiple-substitution workflow
- — Manual fallback demonstration
TO BE ENGINEERED
- — High-brightness physical display
- — Rear control surface
- — Enclosure
- — Physical controls
- — Power system
- — Connectivity
TO BE VALIDATED
- — Matchday workflow
- — Visibility
- — Weather and impact resistance
- — Battery endurance
- — Competition acceptance
- — Stadium and broadcast integrations
Competition acceptance, equipment compliance and integration requirements must be established for each intended deployment.
Professional development may require assessment of electrical safety, battery safety, electromagnetic compatibility, radio equipment, environmental protection, impact resistance and relevant UKCA/CE obligations.
Smart Substitution does not currently claim certification, competition approval or match authorisation.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Modernise the endpoint without weakening what already works.
Existing boards provide proven visibility and simplicity. Digital match systems provide structured information. Smart Substitution explores a dependable connection between them, designed around official verification, enormous public numbers and physical fallback.
PROBLEM
Substitution information may be entered or communicated through separate systems under match pressure.
PRODUCT
A two-sided physical endpoint built around verification and visibility.
DEFENCE
Engineering reliability, competition acceptance, system integration and manufacturing relationships—not the touchscreen alone.
NEXT MILESTONE
Build and test one functional two-sided prototype with match officials.