Stories from the unselected: an ethnodrama depicting the emotional experiences of substitutes

Whilst substitutes are integral to team sports, their emotional experiences are often overshadowed by a focus on starting athletes. This study explores the emotions of substitutes through the sociological lens of emotion work. Results are presented as an innovative ethnodrama, modelled on the film Inside Out, dramatising the first author’s experiences from an international tournament. The narrative portrays the internal conflict between personified emotions—Joy, Anger, Fear, and Sadness—as “Alice” navigates non-selection, bench time, and a brief competitive appearance. An Epilogue incorporates data from coach interviews examining practices used to support substitutes. Findings reveal that substitutes do not merely switch between emotions but engage in continuous, effortful emotion work to manage the dissonance between felt disappointment and the “emotional rules” demanding unwavering team support. We argue these challenges are a structural feature of team sports, offering practical implications for coaches: “backstage” spaces, meaningful bench roles, and humanised communication.