Soccer vs Soccer — Same Game, Different Rules

NWSL operates under the league's Concussion Management Protocol developed in conjunction with U.S. Soccer and the league medical staff.

NCAA concussion management protocol: any player with actual or suspected concussion is removed from play immediately and is subject to a graduated return-to-play assessment before being cleared. Concussion substitution permits an additional substitution beyond the normal framework.

WBGT-based heat thresholds for cooling breaks and play modifications. Mandatory water/cooling breaks at high WBGT.

The league applies WBGT-based heat thresholds for cooling breaks and, in extreme cases, for delays of kickoff or postponement. Air-quality-index thresholds apply for venues affected by wildfire smo...

Regular-season NWSL matches consist of two 45-minute halves separated by a half-time interval not to exceed 15 minutes. The referee adds additional time at the end of each half to compensate for st...

Two 45-minute halves; halftime up to 15 minutes; NCAA uses a visible countdown clock managed in coordination with the referee — historically a key NCAA-vs-FIFA distinction; the referee remains the on-field clock authority and signals stoppages; Regular season: tied matches end at full time (no ex...

Center referee, two assistant referees, fourth official, plus replay/video review official at championship-level events (NCAA Tournament). Regular-season conference matches typically use 3-4 officials without VAR.

Each NWSL match is officiated by a referee, two assistant referees, a fourth official, a Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and at least one assistant VAR (AVAR). The referee on the field has final on-field authority.

Each club designates one starting captain per match who wears a captain's armband visible to the match officials. Identification of the captain is operative for the 2026 "Only The Captain" rule (Section 7), under which only the captain may approac...

FIFA Quality Programme approved size 5 ball: spherical, 68-70 cm circumference, 410-450 g start-of-match weight, 0.6-1.1 atmospheres pressure (IFAB Law 2). Conference- or championship-issued match ball.

Surface: natural grass, hybrid grass, or FIFA Quality Pro approved synthetic. Home institution responsible for surface conformance.

NWSL matches are played on a rectangular field within IFAB Law 1 limits — a length of 100 to 110 meters (110 to 120 yards) and a width of 64 to 75 meters (70 to 80 yards) — with the league's preferred dimensions favoring the upper end of the range...

Center referee, two assistant referees, fourth official, plus replay/video review official at championship-level events (NCAA Tournament). Regular-season conference matches typically use 3-4 officials without VAR.

Each NWSL club selects a match-day roster of up to 20 players (11 starters and 9 named substitutes). Senior roster construction, international slots, allocation money, and salary mechanics are governed by the separate NWSL Roster Rules & Regulations document and are out of scope here.

Five alternating kicks per team from the penalty mark; if tied, sudden death continues until a winner. IFAB KFTPM procedure with NCAA-specific implementation.

The referee signals each substitution opportunity, the substitute enters at the halfway line, and the player being replaced exits across the nearest sideline within a brief permitted window. Tactical or non-medical delays during a substitution are penalty-deserving conduct under IFAB Law 12.

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided no infringement was committed previously by the team scoring the goal (IFAB Law 10). All NWSL venues use goal-line techno...

Conference standings typically use 3-1-0 points (win-draw-loss). Tiebreakers vary by conference and may include head-to-head, goal differential, goals scored, and other published criteria.

The IFAB list of cautionable offenses applies, including unsporting behavior, dissent by word or action, persistent infringement of the Laws, delaying the restart of play, failure to respect the required distance at restarts, entering or re-enteri...

Direct free kicks, indirect free kicks, and penalty kicks per IFAB Law 12-14. Penalty kick from 12 yd / 11 m mark; goalkeeper must be on the goal line at the moment of release.

NWSL operates under the league's Concussion Management Protocol developed in conjunction with U.S. Soccer and the league medical staff.

NCAA concussion management protocol: any player with actual or suspected concussion is removed from play immediately and is subject to a graduated return-to-play assessment before being cleared. Concussion substitution permits an additional substitution beyond the normal framework.

3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss. The full tiebreaker chain listed in Section 5 governs final standings position when teams are level on points.

Conference standings typically use 3-1-0 points (win-draw-loss). Tiebreakers vary by conference and may include head-to-head, goal differential, goals scored, and other published criteria.

FIFA Quality Programme approved size 5 ball: spherical, 68-70 cm circumference, 410-450 g start-of-match weight, 0.6-1.1 atmospheres pressure (IFAB Law 2). Conference- or championship-issued match ball.

NWSL matches use a FIFA Quality Programme approved match ball: spherical, 68–70 cm circumference, 410–450 g at the start of the match, and inflated to 0.6–1.1 atmospheres of pressure at sea level (...