Laws Of The Game

 

 

 

Laws Of The Game

 

The IFAB has announced changes to the Laws of the Game that have gone into effect starting on July 1, 2026.

 

Detailed information on these changes can be reviewed or downloaded using these links:
Review the IFAB Laws of the Game Changes
Review the IFAB Laws of the Game
Download the IFAB Mobile App
Download a PDF of the Changes to the 2026-2027 Laws of the Game
Download a PDF of the Complete 2026-2027 Laws of the Game
Learn More from U.S. Soccer on the Laws of the Game Changes

 

 

Summary of the 2026/27 Changes:

 

Law2026/27 IFAB changeEDP position for the youth game
Law 3Ten-second time limit for a substituted player to leave the field of play

Adopted for full-sided play.

Not adopted for small-sided (4v4,7v7 or 9v9) play.

Law 4“Jewelry” replaced by “accessories”; accessories permitted if not dangerous and safely and securely coveredAdopted as written. Referee education required; USSF guidance included.
Law 5Advantage may be played when a restart is taken incorrectly and the ball is in playAdopted. No EDP modification.
Law 5Player assessed or treated on the field, or whose injury stops play, must leave and remain off for one minute after the restartAdopted with a EDP player-safety modification for substitution and short-handed situations.
Law 5Competitions may provide referees, ARs and fourth officials with body camerasNot adopted. Body cameras are not permitted outside the professional game per US Soccer.
Law 5Competitions may use VAR, goal line technology and semi-automated offside technologyNot applicable to EDP competitions.
Law 8Dropped ball clarified to include the team that would have taken the restart; dropped at the point of interferenceAdopted. No EDP modification.
Laws 10 & 14Accidental double touch at a penalty kick and in a shoot-out confirmed in Law; automatic caution removed when kicker and goalkeeper offend simultaneouslyAdopted. No EDP modification.
Law 12No caution for a DOGSO offence where advantage is played and a goal is scoredAdopted. No EDP modification.
Law 12Location and number of attackers added to the DOGSO considerationsAdopted. No EDP modification.

Law 12 

(2025-2026 IFAB Change)

Five-second visual countdown of a goalie’s 8 second possession;

corner-kick awarded to the opponents

Adopted for full-sided play.

Not applied for small-sided (4v4,7v7 or 9v9) play.

Law 15Five-second visual countdown at a delayed throw-in; throw-in awarded to the opponents

Adopted for full-sided play.

Not applied in small-sided play.

Law 16

Five-second visual countdown at a delayed goal kick;

corner kick awarded to the opponents

Adopted for full-sided play.

Not applied in small-sided play.

Protocol‘Only the captain’ guidelines become compulsory for all competitions starting on or after 1 July 2027

Adopted for full-sided play (U13+)

Not applied in small-sided play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All EDP Soccer games shall be played under the Laws of the Game per IFAB, but modified, as follows:

 

All Laws of the Game can be found at: www.theifab.com/home

 

Law 1 – The Field

  • The field and goal size will be age appropriate per US Youth Soccer recommendations and guidelines.

 

Law 2 – The Ball

  • The ball used will be age appropriate
    1. 12U & younger will use size 4 ball
    2. 13U & older will use size 5 ball

 

Law 3 – The Players

  • Game formats will be 11v11, 9v9 or 7v7 as age appropriate.
    1. 11v11 = 18 player game roster
    2. 9v9 = 16 player game roster, minimum of 6 players required to play game
    3. 7v7 = 14 player game roster, minimum of 5 players required to play game
  • Unlimited substitutions are permitted by either team at any stoppage of play restart at the referee’s discretion. (for example, throw-ins, goal kicks, kickoffs, corner kicks, after stoppage for an injury, direct free kicks, indirect free kicks, dropped ball, etc.). Free substitution is allowed for all age groups unless tournament format has specific modifications.
  • Substitutes ready to enter the game should up & ready at the halfway line.
  • Players to be substituted should exit the field at the halfway line at their team side touchline, unless otherwise directed by the referee.
  • For 11v11 games, a substituted player has a ten-second time limit to leave the field of play. There is no time limit for 9v9 or 7v7 formats.

 

Law 4 – The Player’s Equipment

  • All soccer equipment must adhere to IFAB standards.
  • A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of accessory). Accessories are permitted if not dangerous and safely and securely covered.
  • Game Referee shall inspect all casts, braces, headgear or any other special needs and their protective coverings where applicable and determine whether a player's participation presents an unreasonable risk to the player and/or others. Such determination is specific to the game for which the inspection is being conducted and is independent of inspection and participation in other games at the tournament.
  • It is strongly suggested that players with any of the aforementioned (or other) additional special needs check in at tournament HQ for review by the on-site referee supervisor.
  • Players’ shirts should have numbers which should coincide with numbers listed on the team roster.
  • All teams should have two sets of shirts in contrasting colors. All players should wear matching color team shorts and team socks; one set of each will be acceptable for the team.
  • In the event that team colors are similar, the home team will change colors. The home team is the team listed first on the schedule, if not clearly designated as “home”.

 

Law 5 – The Referee

  • A player assessed or treated on the field, or whose injury stops play, must leave and remain off for one minute after the restart. This may be modified for player-safety substitutions and in short-handed situations.
  • Body cameras are not permitted outside the professional game, per US Soccer.
  • EDP competitions do not use VAR, goal line technology and semi-automated offside technology.

 

Law 7 – The Duration of the Match

  • Games will be two (2) equal halves > normally of 25, 30, 35 or 40 minutes based on the specific tournament format and age appropriate.
  • The tournament reserves the right to shorten any game(s) in the event of any weather or other delays.
  • There will be no overtime periods. Law 10 - Determining the Outcome of a Match
  • Kicks from the Penalty Mark per IFAB will be used to determine a winner in any games which are FINALS for a bracket when specified by tournament format.
  • All other games may end in a tie.

 

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct

  • The five-second visual countdown of a goalie's 8-second possession; corner-kick awarded to the opponents. 11v11 games only - This is not applied for small-sided (4v4, 7v7 or 9v9) play.

 

Law 13 – Free Kicks

  • For all 9v9 & 7v7 games – Until the ball is in play, all opponents must remain 8 yards from the ball.
     

Law 14 – The Penalty Kick

  • For all 9v9 & 7v7 games – The penalty mark shall be 10 yards from the goal line.

 

Law 15 – The Throw-in

  • The five-second visual countdown at a delayed throw-in; throw-in awarded to the opponents. 11v11 games only - This is not applied for small-sided (4v4, 7v7 or 9v9) play.

 

Law 16 – The Goal Kick

  • The five-second visual countdown at a delayed goal kick; corner kick awarded to the opponents. 11v11 games only - This is not applied for small-sided (4v4, 7v7 or 9v9) play.

 

Protocol

  • ‘Only the captain’ guidelines are compulsory for all competitions, starting on or after July 1, 2027. 11v11 games only - This is not applied for small-sided (4v4, 7v7 or 9v9) play.

 

Addendum & Age Specific

  1. For all 7v7 games, implementation of the EDP Build-Out Line Policy
  2. For all 11U & younger games, implementation of the EDP Heading Policy
  3. All participants will adhere to the EDP Respect & Etiquette Policy (REP)

 

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