What’s Your Substitution Policy?

Missing a few teammates? You may still have options to keep the game on.

During the regular season, Drop-Ins, eligible substitutes, or playing short may help fill your lineup and avoid a forfeit.

Start With Drop-Ins

If you know your team may be short, opening Drop-In spots early gives other players more time to join.

Only the team captain can open Drop-In spots directly through their Volo account.

See How Do I Open a Drop-In Spot? for step-by-step instructions, including what to do if you’re helping coordinate the team but aren’t the captain.

Can I Invite a Friend?

Absolutely. Once a Drop-In spot is available, captains can share it directly with a friend so they can register and claim the spot.

Friends cannot simply show up or take someone’s roster spot. They must be properly registered for the league or claim an available Drop-In spot for that game, including completing the required waiver.

See How Do I Open a Drop-In Spot? for details on sharing a spot with a friend.

What Happens Once Someone Claims a Spot?

A confirmed Drop-In spot belongs to that player for the game.

If a rostered player later becomes available, they cannot remove or replace the confirmed Drop-In.

Refusing to allow a confirmed Drop-In to play may result in action under Volo’s Code of Conduct.

Only open the number of spots you realistically expect to need.

Can I Use a Substitute?

If an opened Drop-In spot does not fill, you may be able to use an eligible substitute.

An eligible substitute is a player already registered in the same league who meets any applicable lineup or eligibility requirements.

Some leagues may have additional substitution limits, so check your league page for any program-specific rules.

Using an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player may result in a forfeit.

Can We Play Short?

Often, yes.

If your team still meets the minimum player and gender requirements for your sport, you can play short and the game counts normally. Check your league page for the requirements that apply to your program.

If a team does not meet those requirements, the opposing team has two choices before the game begins:

1. Accept the forfeit, or
2. Agree to play and accept the result on the field

If the teams choose to play, both captains must agree before the game begins and in front of the referee or Volo staff member.

Once play begins, the result counts. If the team playing outside the normal minimum player or gender requirements wins, that result stands. The known lineup issue cannot later be used to change the result to a forfeit.

All players must still be properly registered.

What About Playoffs?

Drop-Ins and substitutes are not allowed during playoffs.

Only eligible players on the team’s official roster may participate.

Roster changes related to an injury must be submitted in writing to your local Volo team before the end of the regular season and are subject to approval.

Still Unable to Play?

If these options won’t get your team on the field, see What’s the Forfeit Policy? for what happens next.

If you need to notify your local Volo team, How Do I Report a Forfeit? walks you through it.

Related Articles

• How Do I Open a Drop-In Spot?
• What’s the Forfeit Policy?
• How Do I Report a Forfeit?

For the complete terms, see the Volo Substitution Policy.

***Please note: Volo is proud to bring people together through play in cities across the country. Each city has its own dedicated team focused on creating and executing amazing experiences to help build lasting connections throughout our communities. Every adult league also supports free youth programs through Volo Kids Foundation, creating more access and opportunity for the next generation.

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To help us respond faster, please avoid submitting multiple tickets for the same inquiry as this can delay our ability to assist you. Thank you for your patience and for being part of the Volo community.