Work your rotation out before the game starts. Divide the game time by the number of players you have, agree the interval, and swap at the natural breaks for your sport. Everyone in the team signed up to play, so the aim is even game time rather than the strongest five staying on.

Subs happen between quarters or at half time only, so plan around four blocks. With one sub, one person rotates off each quarter. With two subs, two people rotate each quarter. Three or more subs is rare, and it means some players sit out half a game, so agree who and when before you start.

Divide the total game time by the number of players and rotate on the clock. With one sub, that is roughly every three minutes per half. With two subs, roughly every six minutes. Set a timer on someone's phone and call the swaps from the bench, otherwise the loudest player gets the most court time.

Subs are allowed at any time, so rotate at stoppages after a score. Divide the game duration by your squad size to get an even interval and work off that.

Substitutions have to fit the rotation, so subs come in as the serving team loses points rather than on a timer. Decide who is rotating with whom before the first serve.

With seven or more players, some people will play only the batting innings or only the bowling innings while others do both. Sort that out at the start of the night.

Games average about 40 minutes and the format changes week to week, so agree the rotation before you start.

If you cannot play, update your RSVP first (RSVPs: how do I tell you I cannot play?). Yes, a mate can fill in: they book the spot themselves through the One Game tab in the app. That way they're registered and appear in your lineup before they arrive. Fill-in spots only open once your team is down to six or fewer players, so everyone still gets court time.

Still need a hand? How do you build teams? explains why squads are the size they are. If you like the idea of filling in without committing to a whole season, that is exactly what One Game is for.