If the puck is where you should play it but you are too winded to get back down, sub out. Especially important around your own goal.
The sub box is a designated area for players who aren’t currently playing to rest and wait their turn to rejoin the action. You should make a series of drops while you play, then come up into the box when you cannot keep up the pace.
No need for a string of ineffective or missed drops when your replacement is already waiting. Typically forwards sub more than backs; most tournaments give forwards the extra bodies for that reason.
Play hard in the water, then get out.
When another back subs out, stay conservative until you are six again. Work the puck to the wall or corner. Hang back a little. Give pool if you must; do not give up a free look at the goal.
In your defensive zone, driving the puck to the wall by the sub box makes it easier for tired players to sub out and fresh players to join the game.
Near their goal, hesitate. You are farthest from your box. Subbing there pulls you out for a (long) swim home and your sub’s swim in. Spend that air helping score, then rotate after.
Summary: sub right, sub fast, sub often.
Sub Right
Full roster (ten players): six in play, four in the sub box. Heads in the box must be visible to the chief ref.
Your snorkel must break the surface inside the box before your replacement leaves. Exception between points (after a goal), at half-time, and during team timeouts: replacements can leave without waiting for you in the box. Still signal the position as you pass.
Too many in the pool, or a replacement leaving early: illegal substitution. Expect a time penalty (often one minute). Deck refs catch this easily. Do not gift it.
Short roster? Tell the chief ref before the game so they do not assume you should still have four heads in the box.
Sub Fast
Sub when you are near the box. Do not swim the length of the pool just to tag in; your replacement has to swim it too.
Defenders: after a goal fight, surface straight into the box when you can.
Swimming back, signal the position you are leaving:
- Closed fist: near wall
- Open hand: far wall
- Two fingers: center / mid
With the box on your right: near is right, far is left.
In the box: watch the play, watch swimmers coming in, mirror their signal, wait for their snorkel to breach, then go.
Sub Often
You can (and should) sub during live play. Stoppage of any kind (foul, goal, and so on) are a prime time to sub.
Between points, your replacement can leave without you in the box; still call the position as you cross.
Winded, heavy legs, cannot get a breath, or overmatched? Sub. That is the job of the bench.