2026–27 Rule Updates for Referees
Applies to ECNL, ECNL RL, Pre-ECNL and RCL matches. Posted for the 2026–27 season.
Two sets of changes take effect this season. Referees working these competitions should read both sections before their first assignment.
On this page
RCL U12 small-sided rule change
RCL member clubs voted 14 to 3 to adopt the new U12 rule set, effective for the Fall 2026 season. The change brings RCL U12 in line with the U12 Pre-ECNL rules.
RCL U11 and U12 match rules, Fall 2026
Rule | U11 (no change) | U12 (new for Fall 2026) |
Deliberate heading | Not permitted | Permitted |
Goalkeeper punting | Not permitted | Permitted |
Build-out line | In use | Not in use |
Offside line | Halfway line | Halfway line |
ECNL, ECNL RL and Pre-ECNL competition updates
Laws of the Game the ECNL will not adopt
The ECNL adopts the new FIFA Laws of the Game changes with two exceptions. Both were optional changes, and neither should be enforced in ECNL competition this season:
Covering the mouth to disguise discriminatory communication. This offence is not adopted and should not be sanctioned as such. Discriminatory behavior or communication that a referee observes directly is still to be dealt with through the appropriate sanctions and match reporting.
The “only the captain” protocol. Not adopted for 2026–27. The ECNL will adopt it when it becomes mandatory in 2027–28.
Substitution moments at U13 and U14
Beginning with the 2026–27 regular season, U13 and U14 boys and girls conference matches move from a fixed substitution count to a substitution moment system. Substitutions are unlimited within each moment.
Three substitution moments per half, plus halftime. Halftime does not consume a moment.
A substitution moment is any stoppage at which the referee allows a coach to substitute.
If the second team substitutes during the first team’s moment, the moment counts against both teams, not only the team that initiated it.
Any eligible registered player may be substituted in any moment.
A head injury substitution under Rule 3.9.4 does not consume a moment, provided no player other than the one being evaluated is substituted at that stoppage.
Rule 3.9.2 as written
U13 – U14 ECNL Regular Season Competition in Conference Play. Clubs have unlimited player substitutions within three “Substitution Moments” in each half and at halftime. A “Substitution Moment” is a stoppage in play when the coach of an ECNL Team is allowed by the referee to substitute players. If both teams substitute players in the same Substitution Moment, the Substitution Moment counts as one of the three allowed Substitution Moments for both ECNL Teams. Any eligible ECNL Registered Player may be substituted in each Substitution Moment. A substitution of a player under Rule 3.9.4 “Head Injury” will not count as a Substitution Moment, provided only the player with the potential head injury is substituted.
Head injury protocol and the concussion substitute
What a referee needs to apply
Any player suspected of a head injury must be evaluated by a health care professional before returning to play.
The player may be temporarily substituted during the evaluation. This does not count against the team’s substitution total and does not prevent the evaluated player from re-entering if cleared.
The temporary substitution is allowed even if the team has used all seven substitutions for the half, or all of its substitution moments. In that situation the team may send on a player who has already been substituted.
If the team has not used all its eligible substitutes, the temporary substitute must be a player who is still eligible to enter.
If the player is cleared: that player re-enters at the first substitution opportunity after the clearance decision and must replace the temporary substitute.
If the player is not cleared: the temporary substitute becomes a permanent concussion substitute and stays on the field.
When a concussion substitute becomes permanent, the opposing team may make one substitution at that moment only, if it chooses. If all its available substitutes have been used, it may re-enter a player who was substituted earlier in the same half.
If the concussion substitute was already on the field that half because the team had used all its substitutes, the opposition’s substitute at that moment may be either a remaining eligible substitute or a player previously substituted in the same half.
At U13 and U14, the concussion substitution opportunity does not count as a substitution moment.
Rule 3.9.3 as written
Head Injury Exceptions. Any player suspected of suffering a head injury must be evaluated by a health care professional prior to returning to play. If a player is being evaluated on-site by a health care professional for possible return to play, the player may be temporarily substituted while the evaluation occurs, without the substitution counting against the team’s total number of substitutions and without prohibiting re-entry by the player being evaluated if he/she is ultimately cleared. This temporary substitution for evaluation of a potential head injury may take place regardless of whether the team has used all substitutions for the half or all Substitution Moments. For purposes of clarification, if the team has used all eligible substitutions (7) for the half or all Substitution Moments, the team may still substitute a player into the game who has already been substituted for purposes of this head injury evaluation. For further clarification, if the team has not yet used all eligible substitute players in the half, the temporary substitute must be a player who is still eligible to enter. If the player being evaluated is cleared to continue participation, that player should re-enter the game at the first substitution possible after the clearance decision is made by the health care professional and must replace the temporary substitute. If the player being evaluated is not cleared to continue participation by the health care professional on-site, the player that was temporarily substituted becomes a permanent “concussion substitute” and may remain on the field. In this limited case, the opposing team is permitted to make a substitution if they so choose (at that moment only), including re-entry of a player who was previously substituted for in the same half if all other available substitutes have already been used. For clarification, if the concussion substitute was already on the field during that particular half because the team had already used all available substitutes, the opposition’s substitute in that moment can be either an available, remaining substitute or a player that was previously substituted for in the same half. At the U13 and U14 age groups, this concussion substitution opportunity will not be counted as a “substitution moment”.
Full competition rules
The complete rule book is available from the ECNL:
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