The National Women’s Soccer League announced today updates to its competition rules and regulations, effective this Friday June 26 in time for the 2026 Challenge Cup. The updates were developed in partnership with stakeholders such as the NWSL Players Association, NWSL clubs, medical and competition personnel, and the Professional Referee Organization (PRO). The updated guidance was shared with clubs, PRO, and the NWSLPA during the June break.
Four key updates have been made to competition rules and
regulations.
The league is implementing an Off-Field Treatment Rule that may require a player to leave the field for a one-minute treatment period once play restarts. It is triggered by a player remaining on the ground after a potential injury and causing play to stop and medical personnel to enter the field. This rule is aimed at reducing unnecessary stoppages and improving match flow.
The NWSL’s new Timed Substitution Rule is aimed at ensuring efficient restarts and discouraging time-wasting. Under this rule, a player being substituted off must leave the field of play within 10 seconds. If the player fails to do so, their substitute may not enter the field until the first stoppage in play following a one-minute delay period, and their team will play a player down for that time.
The league has also updated its Gameday Heat Safety Policy. Under the new rules, which intend to simplify hydration break procedures and create a more consistent approach to in-match cooling breaks, all mandatory hydration breaks will now last between two and a half and three minutes. This replaces a previous two-tiered approach which mandated a five-minute break when Wet Bulb Globe Temperature readings exceeded 87.1 degrees. The heat safety policy remains otherwise unchanged.
Finally, the NWSL has updated its Fan Code of Conduct. The updated policy formally extends into digital and social spaces by including a new Digital Code of Conduct that outlines prohibited online behavior. This includes threats, harassment, discriminatory language, and abuse that is directed towards players, clubs, officials, and other fans.
