Definition and classification of variables in this study.

A comprehensive definition and classification of all variables used in this study are presented in S1. The data underlying the findings of this study have been anonymized and are available in the supplementary files. These include the team substitution information of 2023 season CSL teams, including Match location, Teams’ level, Score change, Substitution time, substituted and replaced players’ performance. Due to the copyright restrictions imposed by the official data provider, Opta, all personally identifiable information, including player names and club affiliations, has been anonymized. This anonymization ensures that the data are free from any intellectual property concerns while still preserving the integrity of the statistical analyses and outcomes.
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