Rules Summary

Updated: 9/11/23

Referee Procedures for Conference and Cross-Conference Games 

The Elite Clubs National League (“ECNL”) is the country’s top league for female soccer players, teams and clubs, including the nation’s top 66 girls youth soccer clubs, at U13 through U18. As a top level female competition platform, ECNL requires the best referees in the country. Thank you for accepting the assignment to referee in the ECNL.

Every game played in the ECNL matters. The teams are competing for conference championships, national standings and championships, an overall ECNL club champion, and promotion and relegation between 2 national competition flights. As such, the ECNL and its teams, coaches, players and parents expect high standards of professionalism and performance from the referees. In return, the ECNL demands high standards from its clubs and coaches.

Reference Documents/Links

• • ECNL resources website  

  • ECNL Referee procedures document

Pre-Game

• Both team benches on same side of field, away from spectators

• Both the Home and Away Team will provide the ECNL Game Report (printed sheet of paper) to the referee. Age-appropriate players that are not pre-printed on the Game Report may be hand-written on the roster so long as they have an ECNL pass. U13 Matches can use ECNL Temporary passcards. Maximum game day roster size is 18, do not allow more than the allowed number to be checked in and play.

• Check players and coaches/managers against their ECNL Pass. NO PASS, NO PLAY!

• The ECNL Pass is issued by US Club Soccer (the US Club Soccer logo appears on the back). A non-ECNL US Club Player Pass is NOT valid for ECNL competition. For regional and cross-regional competition the ECNL Pass can either be laminated paper, hard plastic, or a mixture of the two.

• ECNL does not ban players from playing with casts, but it does not force referees to allow them to play. It is up to the judgment of the referee as to whether the cast is safe. Jewelry is not allowed. Medical bracelets are allowed if made safe to the Referee's satisfaction

• Diagonal System of Control (DSC) mandatory. 

Post-Game

• • Return player passes to teams. Do not keep the passes of any sent-off players or team officials

  • After the Game Report has been completed by the referee and signed by both teams, the referee gives the Game Report back to the home team. Make sure you record the score for yourself so you can enter it into the Arbiter

  • Referee also enters game report into Arbiter

  • Red cards should be reported immediately following game to schedule@theecnl.com. The report should include age group, teams, player(s) sent off, the offense, and referee’s name, email and phone number. Referees should not keep player passes for players that are sent off. 

Playing Rules

• • In the event of a uniform color conflict, the home team must change jersey uniform color.

  • Size 5 ball.

Substitution Rules (U13-18)

• A substitution can take place at any stoppage with the Referee’s permission.

• Once a player is substituted in one half of an NPL or ECNL RL match, that player may not re-enter the game for the duration of that half. There shall also be a maximum of seven (7) substitutions in any half of any NPL or ECNL RL match.

• Players give their pass to the referee when they enter the game.

• All passes should be returned to the team at half time and at the end of the game.

• An injured GK will have one re-entry per half (no Field Player re-entry).

• Any player who leaves the game with a suspected head injury must be evaluated by a healthcare professional before returning to play. If a player is being evaluated on-site by a healthcare professional, 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 or the player replacing them. 

Game Length

• U13:

  1. • 35 minute halves, 10 minute half-time.

• U14, U15 & U16:

  • 40 minute halves, 10 minute half-time.

• U17 & U18:

  • 45 minute halves, 10 minute half-time.