Coach's Guide to US Youth Soccer U14 2026-27

US Soccer's small-sided standards only cover U12 and younger (9v9 at U11-U12). Above that, games use the IFAB Laws of the Game, with whatever youth modifications your competition has adopted. The 2026-27 edition took effect on July 1, 2026, and US Soccer adopts each year's Law changes on July 1.

The Laws' defaults:

• 11 players a side, one of them the goalkeeper. A match can't start or continue with fewer than 7 on a team.
• Ball: circumference 68-70 cm (27-28 in), which is a size 5.
• Duration: two equal halves.

For youth soccer, the Laws allow the national association or competition to change:

• field size
• ball size, weight and material
• goal size
• the length of the two halves
• the number of players
• the number of substitutes, and whether players can re-enter (return substitutes)
• the use of temporary dismissals (sin bins) for some or all cautions

So the length of the halves and the substitution rules for your games come from your league or tournament.

For youth soccer, the Laws of the Game let the national association or competition decide how many substitutes a team may use and whether return substitutions (players re-entering) are allowed. So the number and timing of subs depend on your league or tournament.

The procedure is the same everywhere (Law 3, 2026-27):

• Substitutes must be named to the referee before kick-off. A substitute who isn't named can't play.
• Tell the referee before any substitution. The substitute enters only during a stoppage, at the halfway line, after the departing player is off, and on the referee's signal.
• New for 2026-27: the departing player must be off the field within 10 seconds of the substitution being signaled, unless injury or safety makes that impossible. If they take longer:
  • they still have to leave
  • the substitute can't enter until the first stoppage after one minute of play has passed
  • the substitution can't be canceled or swapped for a different player
• The departing player normally leaves at the nearest point on the boundary line, unless the referee says otherwise.

US Soccer doesn't restrict heading in U14 games. Its heading recommendations only cover younger age groups:

US Soccer frames these as recommendations to its youth members, so state associations and leagues can set stricter heading rules of their own.

Usually, yes. New for 2026-27 (Law 5): an outfield player has to leave the field and stay off for one minute of running clock after play restarts if any of these happen:

• play is stopped for their actual or suspected injury
• the referee waves medical staff onto the field
• the referee asks if they need on-field attention and they say yes

Players can't be treated on the field, except for a serious injury. They can return only with the referee's permission: from the touchline if the ball is in play, or from any boundary line if it isn't. If a half ends before the minute is up, they can return at the start of the next period. You can still substitute the injured player without delay.

Exceptions (the player doesn't have to leave):

• a goalkeeper is injured
• a goalkeeper and an outfield player collide, or two teammates collide
• a severe injury, especially a head injury, cardiac issue or seizure
• the injury came from a foul for which the opponent was cautioned or sent off
• a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player is taking it
• the player says they don't need attention (unless play was stopped for the injury), or leaves the field by themselves without delaying the restart

Remove the player from play straight away. CDC HEADS UP guidance says an athlete with a suspected concussion stays out for the rest of that day and until cleared by a health care provider.

US Soccer's Recognize to Recover concussion guidelines also say that if a player takes a significant blow to the head, is suspected of having a concussion, or has an apparent head injury during a game, they must be removed for evaluation by a health care professional who knows how to diagnose and manage concussions.

Under the Laws of the Game:

• A severe injury, especially a head injury, is an exception to the one-minute rule, so the player can be assessed on the field.
• Competitions may choose to use additional permanent concussion substitutions:
  • A player replaced this way takes no further part in the match.
  • The substitution doesn't count against the team's normal limit.
  • Each team can make at most one per match.
  • When a team uses one, the opponents may make an additional substitution for any reason.

Under Law 4 (2026-27), every player must wear:

• a shirt with sleeves
• shorts
• socks, with any external tape the same color as that part of the sock
• shin guards of a suitable size and material, covered by the socks
• footwear

Goalkeepers must wear colors that set them apart from all other players and the match officials.

Jewelry and accessories: new for 2026-27, accessories are allowed if they aren't dangerous and are safely and securely covered. Dangerous items must be removed, not taped or covered.

The referee inspects players before the match, and substitutes before they enter. A player with unauthorized or dangerous equipment must remove it, or leave the field at the next stoppage until they comply. A player who refuses, or puts the item back on, is cautioned.

A player who accidentally loses a shoe or shin guard must replace it by the next time the ball goes out of play.

The 2026-27 Laws add countdowns to stop teams wasting time:

• Throw-ins (Law 15): if a player is unfairly delaying a throw-in, the referee starts a visible five-second countdown. If the ball isn't thrown in by the end of it, the throw-in goes to the other team.
• Goal kicks (Law 16): same five-second countdown. If the kick isn't taken in time, the other team gets a corner kick.
• Goalkeepers (Law 12): a goalkeeper who controls the ball with their hands in their own penalty area for more than eight seconds concedes a corner kick. The referee counts down the last five seconds with a raised hand.

In both countdown cases, a player is cautioned only if they then excessively delay the restart that's been awarded to the other team.

Yes. Under Law 5, the referee takes action against team officials (coaches and other staff named on the team list) who don't act responsibly. The referee can:

• give a warning
• show a yellow card (caution)
• show a red card, sending the official away from the field and its immediate surrounds, including the technical area

If the referee can't tell who on the bench committed the offense, the senior coach present in the technical area gets the sanction.

The referee's authority covers the whole match, including halftime. Anything that happens before, during or after the game goes in the referee's match report to the competition authorities.

Under Law 12 (2026-27), a player, substitute or substituted player is sent off for:

• denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) with a deliberate handball (except a goalkeeper in their own penalty area)
• DOGSO with a non-deliberate handball outside their own penalty area
• DOGSO against an opponent moving toward the offender's goal by an offense punishable by a free kick (with exceptions for some challenges inside the penalty area)
• serious foul play
• biting or spitting at someone
• violent conduct
• offensive, insulting or abusive language or actions
• a second caution in the same match

A player sent off after kick-off can't be replaced, so the team plays short. Suspensions after a red card are set by the league or state association, not the Laws.

New for 2026-27: if the referee plays advantage for a DOGSO offense and a goal is scored, the offender is not cautioned, because the offense didn't prevent a goal.