ABOUT THE ECNL

The ECNL was founded in 2009 as a challenge to the status quo of youth soccer with a vision to be better. In its first years, the league supported only girls programming.

In 2017, the ECNL Boys was founded, setting the stage for an amazing period of rapid growth, increasing quality and further change in youth soccer. Starting with 57 of the top boys clubs in the country, the creation of the Boys ECNL once again demonstrated how a total commitment to improving the experience of players, coaches, clubs, and the environment in which they develop, can change everything.

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

The ECNL 2020-21 Season began with 113 Girls & 131 Boys Clubs throughout the United States.

ECRL games are played under the same rules as ECNL games.

Below are general information and rules applicable to ECNL and ECRL competition.

Home page: www.theecnl.com

Referee Procedures for Regular Season Competition

ECNL Competition Rules 2023-2024

Pre-Game

  • Referees are expected to arrive at matches no later than 30 minutes prior to kick off for ECNL matches in order to properly facilitate team check-in processes
  • Both the Home and Away Team will provide a Match Report to the referee and have him/her check both teams in using the Match Report and player and staff passcards. This check-in process is vital and no ECNL games should commence without completion of this step
  • Only eighteen (18) players are eligible for the match. These 18 must be indicated on the Match Report. Age-appropriate players that are not pre-printed on the roster may be handwritten on the roster so long as they have a valid ECNL passcard
  • Referee should place a check in the box to indicate the player is playing in this particular match and is wearing the appropriate jersey number. Any notable alterations to uniform numbers should be denoted on the Match Report
  • Referee and/or Team representative should cross off (strike through) any players not participating in the match who are listed on the Match Report, for suspension, injury, or other. If players are on the roster but not struck through, they will count toward the 18 player maximum

Game Ball 

Provided by the home team:

  • U13-U18/U19 : Size 5
  • U11-U12 : Size 4
  • Game ball should be Nike for Girls games
  • Game ball should be Puma for Boys games

Game Length

  • U11 – U12      30 minute halves (10 minutes halftime)
  • U13                35 minute halves (10 minutes halftime)
  • U14 – U16     40 minute halves (10 minutes halftime)
  • U17 – U19     45 minute halves (15 minutes halftime)
  • Referees should provide appropriate stoppage time in every game. This includes ‘drinks’ breaks, as provided for in the IFAB LOTG, which should be limited to one minute.

Substitutions

  • U11 – U12       unlimited substitutions
  • U13 – U19      seven (7) per half. Players may not re-enter in the same half
  • In the event of a head injury, the injured player may be substituted in order to be evaluated without counting toward the team’s substitution count, as long as the team has an available substitute at that time and it is an available sub that checks-in for the evaluated player. If the team does not have an available substitute at that time, the team must play short-handed through the evaluation period. Clearance for the player to return to the match is at the discretion of the Certified Athletic Trainer

Player Passcards

  • Both the Home and Away Team will provide an ECNL Game Report to the referee. Only eighteen (18) players are eligible for the match. These 18 must be indicated on the Game Report. Age-appropriate players that are not pre-printed on the roster may be handwritten on the roster so long as they have a valid ECNL passcard
  • Each player should have an ECNL player passcard. Players should give their pass to the referee when they enter the game – starters before the beginning of the game and after first half. All passcards should be returned to the team at the end of the first half and game

Miscellaneous

  • Referees should arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to scheduled kick off time
  • Discovery Players are tied to the team in which they are carded. They are eligible to play up or down as long they are age eligible and only play in one (1) ECNL competition per day
  • Game fees are to be paid to referees prior to kick-off. The home team is responsible for payment
  • Uniforms: In a one-game weekend (teams will confirm uniform colors with each other)
    • Home Team: light shirt, light socks, any shorts
    • Away Team: dark shirt, dark socks, any shorts
  • Uniforms: In a two-game weekend (teams will confirm uniform colors with each other)
    • Game #1 -Home Team: light shirt, light socks, any shorts | Away Team: dark shirt, dark
      socks, any shorts
    • Game #2 -Home Team: dark shirt, dark socks, any shorts | Away Team: light shirt, dark socks, any shorts

Red Cards

Post-Game

  • Referee should be given time and space to completely fill in the Match Report at the completion of the game. IMPORTANT: please include printed names of the Referee and both Assistant Referees
  • Referee must fill in:
    • Match Score (goals in first half, second half, and final score)
    • Goals (player number and minute-mark for each goal scored)
    • Yellow and/or Red cards in the game (player number and minute-mark for each issued card)
    • Brief incident report if double yellow or red card is given (this can be done on the Game Notes section of the form or on the back of the form). For any serious matters, or incidents that require additional discussion, please email schedule@theecnl.com
    • Any incident involving discriminatory language or actions must be reported immediately. Write up the details on the game report (using exact words and description of action / language). Please follow up with an email to schedule@theecnl.com
  • Home Team should keep the Match Report and/or Incident Report upon completion by Referee – it is their responsibility to submit to the ECNL 

Should you have any urgent game day questions, direct them to: Kristin Brunner, Member Services Manager: (571)435-4916, or kristin@theecnl.com