Technical Standards

General

Ages:
  • U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19

Playoff Ages:
  • U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19

High School Participation:
  • High school soccer is permitted by Primary Players​

Rosters

Roster Minimum:
  • 14 Players per Team
Roster Maximum:
  • Maximum of 28 players per National Academy League team
Match Day Roster:
  • 18 players per Team
Start Percentage:
  • All Ages: Recommend that all Primary Players start in 25% of official matches
  • U13, U14 & U15: Recommend that all players participate in 50% of minutes per week
Playing Up:
  • Players are eligible to play in an older age group while being rostered in their younger birth year age group, so long as they meet competition standards and play only 90 minutes per day across a maximum of 2 matches
Roster Freeze:
  • The deadline to make any additional adds is Thursday, April 4, 2024

For information on Rosters go to Match Day Requirements

Staff

Staff Requirements:
  • Academy Director must have USSF Academy Director Course, EFCL Certificate or USSF/CSA A license or equivalent
  • Academy Head Coach must have C License or equivalent (exceptions must be approved by MLS NEXT Technical Director)
  • Recommended best practice of Head Coaches operating 1 2 teams at the club with additional Assistant Coaches, especially if coaching more than one team
  • Recommended best practice: A coach shouldn't be Head coach of 2 teams, but can be a Head coach on one
    team and an assistant on other teams
Match Day Staff:
  • Maximum of 5 coaching staff members permitted in technical area and must be listed on the Digital Match Roster (Not including Qualified Medical Professional or ATC)
  • There must be at least (1) registered staff member in the technical area for each match​, and the NAL recommends at least (2). 
  • Any Staff members that will be working with NAL players or will be in the technical area during NAL matches will be required to complete the registration process, including the risk management requirements

Competition

Match Timeframe:
  • Players can only play in 90 minutes per day across a maximum of 2 matches
  • Players should not appear in more than 2 consecutive match days
Match Ball:
  • Size 5 Official match ball must be used for all NAL matches
Hydration:
  • Home club must provide adequate hydration for both teams
Technical Area:
  • Home club must provide adequate seating (benches) for both teams
Athletic Trainer:
  • It is recommended that the Home club provide a Qualified Medical Professional (QMP) for all venues
Match:
  • It is recommended that the Home Club Video U15-U19 matches and upload match footage for U15-U19 age groups to the Veo Video League Exchange platform.
Spectators:
  • Home club must ensure there are no spectators/parents in the technical area or that sideline.
  • Each club is responsible for the behavior of their spectators
Match Length:
  • U13 = 2x35 minute halves, 10 minutes HT
  • U14 & U15 = 2x40 minute halves, 15 minutes HT
  • U16, U17, U19 = 2x45 minute halves, 15 minutes HT
Warm Up Periods:
  • Teams must be provided with an appropriate warm up area 30 minutes prior to kick off
Age Group Order:
  • Recommended that older age groups play first to accommodate younger players "playing up"
Multiple Matches at Once:
  • No more than 2 matches played simultaneously between two clubs
Kick Off Times:
  • No earlier than 9:00 AM without permission from NAL League Manager
Time between Matches:
  • Minimum of 18 hours between matches if playing on consecutive days
Match Day Roster:
  • Maximum of 18 players and minimum of 14 players on match day rosters
Substitutions:
  • U13-U19 = Unlimited over 3 moments per half, plus HT. Re-entry is allowed. ​
  • Exceptions according to Concussion Protocol (see below)
Match Changes:
  • NAL League Manager must approve any request for schedule changes
  • Any requests for substantial changes in time or location received within two weeks of the match will result in a fine

Discipline

Red Cards:
  • A red card will follow a player and staff member across all age groups.  A player/coach must sit out all remaining games in the same day's fixture where red card was received, and must sit out the next game day fixture.  Once a player/coach sits out the subsequent game day fixture, they will be able eligible to compete. 
Yellow Cards:
  • In the event a player or staff member receives 2 yellow cards in the same match resulting in a red card, the player/staff member must follow the same rules established for a red card. 
Fixture:
  • When two clubs play against each other across multiple age groups over one weekend, then all
    matches between the two clubs are considered part of the fixture.

Facilities & Training

Field Standards for Matches:
  • Expectations for NAL clubs to provide appropriate, high quality fields to host NAL matches
  • Minimum Field Sizes:
    • U13 & U14 = Minimum of 64x105
    • U15 & Older = Minimum of 70x110
  • Any fields outside of these standards, must be approved by NAL League Manager before the season

Match Locations:
  • Clubs can use multiple locations for NAL Regular Season matches, subject to NAL League Manager approval
Training:
  • U13 must train a minimum of 3 times per week
  • U14 & up must train a minimum of 4 times per week
Rest Day:
  • Individual players must be given at least one day off per week

Concussion Protocol
A player who is suspected to have suffered a head injury may be substituted while being evaluated.  The substitution for the evaluation of the concussion/head injury will not count against the team's total number of substitution moments in the half. 
  • If the players is deemed by a QMP to have suffered a concussion, the player may re-enter the match at any stoppage of play and must replace the original substitute; this head injury evaluation will not count as a substitute moment.  
  • If the player is not cleared to return to play by a QMP, the replacement player will no longer be considered a temporary substitute.