N1 Notebook Important Information:

Contents: 

1. Marketing/Branding

2. GotSport 

3. Staff and Coach Requirements

4. N1 Website 

5. Brand Guidelines + Marketing Tips

6. Patches

7. US Club Soccer membership & provisioning

8. N1 Handbook

1.         Brand Guidelines + Marketing Tips

We've added a section to the National 1 League brand guidelines for marketing tips of all digital platforms. Pages 7-10 break down efforts from my team and provide recommendations for how league operators and accepted teams can work together to effectively scale the N1 brand. Please note on page 10 our recommendation for how teams will present themselves next season in GotSport event scheduling: [Club] [Age Group] [Gender] [Team] N1 [(State Abbreviation)]. For example: City FC U14B Green N1 (MI)

Content for Accepted Teams

Finally, a quick reminder that the content you have access to in Box and Greenfly is for you and accepted teams. You’re encouraged to share those assets - particularly the accepted graphic and the accepted template - with teams/clubs. While we don’t have enough user slots in Greenfly, the shared Box folder link can be sent. We’ll have plenty more graphic templates for teams to use during the season, like Starting XI, game day, final score, man/woman of the match, etc. If you have any suggestions for additional templates that you know you and your teams would find useful, please let me know. I can’t guarantee we’ll create ‘em all, but we do aim to please.

2.         GotSport

Reminder regarding US Club Soccer membership & provisioning:

Please communicate the following information to your participating clubs/teams as soon as possible, and also on an ongoing basis as your participants are finalized.

·       All clubs/organizations participating in N1 must be members of US Club Soccer.

·       If your club/org is already a US Club Soccer member, no action is needed at this time.

·       If your club/org is not already a US Club Soccer member, please apply to join US Club Soccer via the US Club Soccer New Organization Member Application ASAP.

·       US Club Soccer membership is at the club/organization level, not the individual team level. Therefore, individual teams should only apply for US Club Soccer membership if they are not part of a club or other broader organization. This is uncommon.

·       Following US Club Soccer membership, club/organization accounts will be provisioned in GotSport and affiliated with US Club Soccer and the corresponding N1 district account(s).

·       If you are unsure of your US Club Soccer membership/affiliation status, please first check internally with your club registrar/administrator. You may also contact the US Club Soccer Member Administration team by submitting a request at: https://usclubsoccer.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

·       Additional information is available at: https://usclubsoccer.org/join

·       US Club Soccer membership and provisioning must be complete before player and staff registration (which opens June 1, 2026), and other administrative items, may begin.

Coach/Manager Eligibility Tutorial Link: https://support.gotsport.com/as-a-coach/manager-how-to-complete-coach-eligibility

3.         Staff and Coach Requirements

To be fully registered with US Club Soccer, all staff must:

• Complete the Staff Registrant Annual Certification in GotSport,

• Complete SafeSport training,

• Pass an Adverse Eligibility List Review,

• Complete and pass US Club Soccer’s USOPC-standard background screening, and

• Purchase a US Club Soccer staff registration.

The Adverse Eligibility List Review is completed by US Club Soccer staff, but the person being registered must submit a brief self-certification form in GotSport to initiate the process. 

US Club Soccer’s USOPC-standard background screening includes an application submission every other seasonal year and an automatic mid-cycle recheck. Background screening costs $27.55, and results are usually available in 1 to 3 business days, but certain jurisdictions and counties may take longer – and in some cases, significantly longer – so it’s important to initiate the background screening process early in the seasonal year. 

More details about Staff Registration are available at Staff Registration - US Club Soccer Website. You can also watch a video about Staff Registration at The staff registration process. 

Coach Requirements:

Clubs can register their coaches to complete the N1 annual development requirement at https://n1join.coachesvoice.com/.

Registration takes 2 minutes, and once set up, club admins can invite their coaches to begin their learning straight away.

Once complete, coaches should download their certificate from the Coaches' Voice platform and upload it via the N1 Coach Eligibility Form in GotSport.

Please share this link with your clubs as soon as possible. The fall deadline is September 15, 2026.

Any questions, please contact n1support@coachesvoice.com or reach out to me directly.

4.         NI Website:

Official N1 Website launch!

As you may have seen on social media last week, we have now launched the OFFICIAL National 1 website https://national1league.org/ Please share this with your teams and share the social media posts from the N1 social media channels. 

5.         Brand Guidelines + Marketing Tips

Edits and updates have been made to the National 1 League brand guidelines for marketing tips of all digital platforms. Pages 7-10 break down efforts from my team and provide recommendations for how league operators and accepted teams can work together to effectively scale the N1 brand. Important new note: on page 10 our requirement for how teams will present themselves next season in GotSport event scheduling: [Club] N1 [Gender] [Birth Years] [Team] [(State Abbreviation)]. For example, this would look like: City FC N1 B2009/10 Green (MI). We understand this may take some additional work for the teams as previously we had indicated U13, U14 etc, but this is now in alignment with the ECNL & ECNL RL requirements, and this has been mandated by the leadership of both US Club Soccer and ECNL. I am sorry for any confusion this may cause.

6.         Patches

Patches will be required and made public shortly. 

7.         US Club Soccer membership & provisioning:

Please continue to communicate the following information to your participating clubs/teams, and also on an ongoing basis as your participants are finalized.

·       All clubs/organizations participating in N1 must be members of US Club Soccer.

·       If your club/org is already a US Club Soccer member, no action is needed at this time.

·       If your club/org is not already a US Club Soccer member, please apply to join US Club Soccer via the US Club Soccer New Organization Member Application ASAP.

·       US Club Soccer membership is at the club/organization level, not the individual team level. Therefore, individual teams should only apply for US Club Soccer membership if they are not part of a club or other broader organization. This is uncommon.

·       Following US Club Soccer membership, club/organization accounts will be provisioned in GotSport and affiliated with US Club Soccer and the corresponding N1 district account(s).

·       If you are unsure of your US Club Soccer membership/affiliation status, please first check internally with your club registrar/administrator. You may also contact the US Club Soccer Member Administration team by submitting a request at: https://usclubsoccer.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

·       Additional information is available at: https://usclubsoccer.org/join

·       US Club Soccer membership and provisioning must be complete before player and staff registration (which opened June 1, 2026), and other administrative items, may begin.

8.        N1 Handbook:

Over the past couple of days, a few teams and Clubs have contacted me with several questions regarding N1 Rules

I've answered all those questions to the best of my knowledge and/or interpretation, but to make things easier for everyone, I'm including on this email the N1 rules

Please click on the link to download the National-1-Handbook-2026/27 https://share.google/DfqW9OfldiIui8tMT

NATIONAL 1 2026-27 LEAGUE HANDBOOK

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 1 of 24NATIONAL 1 LEAGUE HANDBOOK & RULES OF COMPETITION

National 1 League (N1) is a new competition organized by US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer

as part of the competition pathway as identified by U.S. Soccer, utilizing the existing US Club

Soccer National Premier Leagues (NPL) and US Youth Soccer National League (NL) foundation.

The competition is sanctioned and managed by US Club Soccer in alignment with U.S. Soccer’s

‘Pathway Strategy’ and ‘In Service to Soccer’ initiative.

VISION:

US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer shall establish a new competition with the following

principles:

• consolidated competition structure

• incorporated existing US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer staffing with a league commissioner

• centralized registration platform

• standards-driven operators prioritizing proven existing operators primarily team-based, merit-

based competition with promotion and relegation

• exploration of showcase and experiential opportunities for deserving teams and players

• postseason pathways connected to ECNL and the elite pathway

• postseason pathway inclusive of regionalized to national events

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 2 of 24SECTION 1. Definitions

1.1. 1.2. 1.3. 1.4. 1.5. 1.6. 1.7. 1.8. 1.9. 1.10. 1.11. 1.12. 1.13. 1.14. 1.15. 1.16. 1.17. 1.18. 1.19. “National 1 League” is the new unified team-based competition bringing together US Club Soccer’s

National Premier Leagues and US Youth Soccer’s National League into a single platform. The

competition is sanctioned by US Club Soccer with Operators authorized to operate local districts.

“Authorized National 1 League District(s)” means the district(s) for which Operator shall be authorized

to operate, pursuant to the National 1 League Operator License Agreement.

"Club Pass" player is defined as any US Club Soccer registered player within the same club as a team

participating in National 1.

"Commissioner" is the individual, or their designee, responsible for the oversight of National 1. The

Commissioner is vested with all necessary power and authority to manage, regulate, supervise,

administer, and conduct National 1.

“Director” means anyone in a leadership position of a US Club Soccer Member Organization

participating in National 1 with authority to represent the organization.

“District” means the National 1 territory as outlined in Appendix 1.

“ECNL” means Elite Clubs National League.

“ECNL Conference League Playoffs” is an integrated postseason managed by ECNL, inclusive of National

1 and Regional League qualifiers.

“Fixture” means all matches scheduled on the same match week.

“Game official” means a representative from the competition with authority over the competition but

not a referee.

“National 1 Management Committee” means the Ad-Hoc Committee pursuant to US Club Soccer Bylaw

9.2.3., consisting of representatives of US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer to provide management and

guidance of National 1.

“National 1 Competition” means a National 1 game played in all divisions and age groups, including

those qualifying for postseason competition(s).

“National 1 Game Roster” is the official competition roster available on the GotSport website and used

for National 1 League matches.

“National 1 Rostered Player” means a player registered with US Club Soccer on a National 1 official team

roster.

“Operator(s)” is an entity approved by US Club Soccer to operate in an authorized National 1 District(s)

for the limited purpose of participating in the applicable National 1 season pursuant to the National 1

Operator License Agreement and the Rules.

“Organization Member” means a U.S. Soccer Organization Member as defined by the U.S. Soccer

bylaws.

“Passcard” is the physical or digital card demonstrating an eligible US Club Soccer player or staff

registration.

“Regional League” means ECNL Regional League.

“Rules” means the then-in-effect bylaws, policies, procedures, rules and directives of US Club Soccer, as

well as this National 1 Handbook and other National 1 rules and directives.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 3 of 241.20. “State Association” is the specific U.S. Soccer Organization Member category defined in U.S. Soccer

bylaws.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 4 of 24NATIONAL 1 HANDBOOK

SECTION 2. OPERATOR STANDARDS

2.1. Expectations. Lack of knowledge of the publicly available National 1 rules and policies will not

relieve any Operator from the responsibilities and possible penalties herein. These standards are

subject to change at any time for any reason at the discretion of US Club Soccer.

2.1.1. National 1 is delivered through a network of approved Operators who are entrusted

with administering competition in alignment with the mission, values, and standards of

US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer.

2.1.2. Operators must prioritize National 1 as the top level of team-based competition. As a

condition of serving as Operator, neither Operator nor Operator's owner(s) may

manage any competition that would reasonably be viewed as competing with National

1 or the National 1 pathway.

2.1.2.1. Operators shall not prospect clubs or teams from outside of the defined

district for purposes of joining any competition without written approval from

US Club Soccer and the other Operator. This shall be inclusive of any

competition, regardless of sanctioning body.

Appropriate Operator representatives shall attend all required meetings and events

aimed at sharing of best practices, league management and ensuring standards.

2.1.3. 2.2. Eligibility.

2.2.1. 2.3. 2.4. Any entity in good standing as defined in US Club Soccer and/or US Youth Soccer

policies, or that is eligible to operate a US Club Soccer-sanctioned league, is eligible to

apply to become an Operator through the publicly available application.

2.2.2. Upon recommendation by the National 1 Commissioner, US Club Soccer at its sole

discretion may determine the number of Operators and territory of management in any

District.

2.2.3. Operators may, at the sole discretion of US Club Soccer, be awarded a license to operate

in more than one (1) District.

Selection criteria. The licensing of an Operator is at the sole discretion of US Club Soccer and the

National 1 Management Committee, and shall include without limitation consideration of the

following factors:

2.3.1. Commitment to collaboration in the best interest of the sport.

2.3.2. Existing US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer sanctioned leagues.

2.3.3. Demonstration of the ability to manage team-based leagues with clear guidelines for

promotion and relegation.

2.3.4. Prioritization of National 1 and its affiliated competition pathway.

2.3.5. Proven history of ethical behavior and expertise amongst the leadership group.

2.3.6. Commitment to management and/or support of coach and referee development, talent

identification and development, and cup competitions.

Requirements and standards. Operators are required to comply with the Rules.

2.4.1. Completion of the applicable National 1 Operator License Agreement and US Club

Soccer League Certification & Sanctioning Agreement is required of each Operator as a

condition to serving as an Operator.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 5 of 24NATIONAL 1 HANDBOOK

2.5. 2.6. 2.7. 2.8. 2.9. 2.10. 2.4.2. Operators are expected to build and maintain a strong leadership structure that

supports the full scope of league operations. Each Operator shall designate committed

individuals to oversee:

2.4.2.1. Executive leadership

2.4.2.2. Competition management

2.4.2.3. Safeguarding and compliance, including disciplinary processes

2.4.2.4. Referee assigning

2.4.2.5. Coach education

2.4.2.6. Talent identification and development

2.4.2.7. Overall governance with stakeholder involvement

2.4.3. Operators shall ensure a safe playing environment and pledge to support all US Club

Soccer safeguarding, compliance, and discipline initiatives as well as establish a process

for addressing violations of both U.S. Soccer Policy 531-9 (Misconduct Toward Game

Officials) and competition rules.

2.4.3.1. All non-physical yellow and orange level violations and all physical yellow level

violations of U.S. Soccer policy 531-9, (according to U.S. Soccer’s Penalty

Overview) shall be reported to US Club Soccer.

2.4.3.2. Operators shall adjudicate all “non-physical yellow and orange level violations

and all physical level yellow violations of U.S. Soccer Policy 531-9.

Licensing fee. Operator shall pay US Club Soccer an annual licensing fee as outlined in the

National 1 Operator License Agreement.

Postseason team slot fees. Operator shall pay US Club Soccer postseason per-team slot fees as

outlined in the National 1 Operator License Agreement. If a playoff exists within a district

involving multiple Operators, these fees shall be split between Operators.

Team registration fees. National 1 is committed to lowering the cost of participation in youth

soccer. As such, Operators may charge reasonable fees, which are subject to approval by the

National 1 Commissioner.

Operator policies. Operators may, upon approval by US Club Soccer, enact additional reasonable

standards, including but not limited to membership eligibility and technical or operational

standards. Any standards in addition to those listed in the National 1 Handbook must be

published publicly.

Pathway representations. Operator shall not state, advertise, market, or otherwise imply that

participation in any league or competition operated by Operator is the sole, exclusive, or only

pathway into National 1.

Annual participating club/team review. Operators shall establish a process for providing

meaningful feedback and/or evaluation for clubs with teams participating in National 1.

2.10.1. National 1 supports any initiative aimed at improving the game day experience,

including imposition of additional overall standards and/or standards related to

sportsmanship.

2.10.2. Operators must have a publicly available process for removal of teams or clubs due to

violations of the National 1 Handbook and/or Operator policies.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 6 of 24NATIONAL 1 HANDBOOK

2.11. Removal. US Club Soccer may, at its sole discretion: 1) revoke an Operator’s license to operate in

an Authorized National 1 District(s) pursuant to the National 1 Operator License Agreement;

and/or 2) decline to offer Operator a license to operate in a future National 1 season.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 7 of 24SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY

3.1. Expectations. Lack of knowledge of the Rules does not relieve any participant from the

responsibilities and possible penalties therein.

3.1.1. All clubs, team officials, parents and players, by participating in National 1, agree that

they are bound by these rules.

3.2. Team eligibility. The age groups for participation are U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19 as

defined by US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer.

3.2.1. Each participating team must be part of a US Club Soccer member organization.

3.2.2. Participating teams shall also satisfy any eligibility requirements of the Operator.

3.2.3. Teams in National 1 shall prioritize National 1 Competition and may not reschedule

matches for outside competition.

3.3. Coach eligibility.

3.3.1. Beyond the US Club Soccer staff registration requirements, all coaches are required to

complete five (5) hours of annual development through an approved method listed

below:

• In the ECNL/US Club Soccer Coaches Voice platform before August 1 of the

competition year.

• Any course or clinic that qualified for U.S. Soccer Continuing Education Units (CEU)

• U.S. Soccer Licensing Course – at or above the minimum of “D” license or equivalent

earned in the past 5 years. (A waiver may be awarded if a coach can show that

he/she is on the coaching education pathway. A waiver must be co-signed by the

club director and USYS state assn. technical lead, stating the coach’s development

plan, with timelines. This will be verified by the Operator.

3.3.2. Process. Coaches must upload certificate of completion from any of the approved

courses/ clinics with their registration (same process as SafeSport).

3.3.3. Registered coaches are not required to complete education requirements prior to

participation in other US Club Soccer sanctioned competitions outside of National 1, in

which the annual development requirement does not apply.

3.4. Removal. Participation in National 1 is a privilege and not a right. Any team, club or participant

may be removed from participation for violation of the Rules, in compliance with any U.S. Soccer

due process requirements, if applicable. SECTION 4. REGISTRATION AND ROSTER RULES

4.1. Player and staff registration. US Club Soccer player and staff registration (whichever may be

applicable) via the applicable club/organization is required for all National 1 participants prior to

any participation (including without limitation training and team activities), pursuant to the

Rules.

4.1.1. 4.2. 4.3. 4.4. 4.5. 4.6. 4.7. A player is considered bound to an organization (club/team) for purposes of

participating in National 1 when a player or the player’s parent/guardian accepts

placement with the organization in writing, electronically, or on-line for the applicable

Seasonal Year and pays a deposit required by the organization at the time of

acceptance.

Roster minimum. Teams must register a minimum of 15 primary rostered players by the date

designated and published for each district and maintain that minimum number of players

throughout the Seasonal Year.

Roster maximum. A maximum of thirty (30) primary players may be rostered on any National 1

team’s roster (in any one age group). Once a player is added to a National 1 team’s roster, that

player shall be counted against the roster maximum for that team, even if the player is later

released, transfers, or is dropped, unless the Commissioner in their sole discretion grants an

exception due to unique and exceptional circumstances. (Use of a club-passed player as outlined

in Section 5.4 does not count against the 30 primary players.)

Player drops. Operators may establish regulations related to player releases or transfers, subject

to the requirements of Section 4.3.

Roster freeze date. Operators may establish a roster freeze date.

Postseason roster tie. The National 1 rules of competition shall govern player movement and

rosters, respectively, once a team qualifies for postseason summer competition. ECNL

Postseason Roster Tie date will apply to a specific team and age group at check-in of the first

ECNL Postseason stage in which they appear.

Recruiting; Tryouts; Registration. Operators may establish recruitment and/or tryout regulations

in addition to the rules seen below. Additional regulations may not contradict the rules below.

4.7.1. Recruiting; No Tampering. National 1 clubs and teams may recruit players for

participation on a National 1 team at any time during the year (subject to these

Regulations) and subject to the following restrictions.

4.7.2. National 1 clubs and/or teams may not train, invite a player to train, tryout, invite a

player to tryout, or have play in any tournament or competition as a guest player any

National 1 registered player from another National 1 club prior to the designated tryout

date of that season, unless the player has been released (or it has been expressly

approved in writing) by their current National 1 club or team to do so.

4.7.3. Clubs/teams may not invite a player to train, invite a player to tryout, or promote their

club to players or their parents or guardians during any National 1 competition in which

the player is currently participating.

4.7.4. Once a player is registered as a National 1 registered player within the designated

National 1 player registration system for the subsequent National 1 Season, the

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 9 of 244.8. 4.9. 4.10. National 1 Registered Player may no longer be contacted or recruited by other National

1 Clubs, per this Rule 4.7.

Note: National 1 coaches and administrators may be subject to the rules of other U.S. Soccer organization

members regarding recruitment and tryouts if they compete in other competitions or leagues outside of

National 1.

Tryouts. Any team may conduct publicly announced, open tryouts to acquire players on or after

the date established in each District, which will be published on the National 1 and Operator

websites. Any player and/or his/her parents or guardians may initiate direct contact with any

coach or team/club official for the purpose of joining that team.

Transfers. A player rostered to a National 1 team member club is ineligible to transfer to any

other National 1 team within the same seasonal year except when all of the following criteria is

satisfied: 1) the player has moved to a different District; and 2) the player’s new location is

beyond a reasonable travel distance from the player’s current club; and 3) both Directors agree

to the transfer.

4.9.1. Within a seasonal year, Registration with a new team participating in National 1 after

release from a previous team participating in National 1 does not make the player

eligible for transfer to a subsequent team participating in National 1.

4.9.2. A player’s right to choose allows for a player to transfer clubs mid-season provided all

obligations are met; however, the player shall not be eligible to participate with the

new club in National 1 for the remainder of the seasonal year, unless approved by the

Commissioner, in consultation with the operator.

4.9.3. US Club Soccer may provide a waiver of transfer restrictions if in its sole discretion a

transfer is in the best interest of the player or of a player’s sibling in the same club.

Violation of recruiting rules. Coaches and/or team/club officials who violate rules related to

transfer and release set forth in this Section 4 may be subject to consequences assigned by an

Operator-appointed committee.

4.10.1. Allegations of recruitment in violation of this Handbook shall be submitted in writing to

the Operator within 30 days of the alleged violation.

4.10.2. The complaint shall be reviewed and adjudicated by an Operator-appointed committee.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 10 of 24SECTION 5. COMPETITION RULES

5.1. 5.2. 5.3. 5.4. 5.5. 5.6. 5.7. General. All National 1 matches will be played in accordance with the FIFA/U.S. Soccer Laws of the

Game except as modified in these Competition Rules.

Game length. National 1 Matches shall be played with the following game length:

§ U13: 2 x 35 minutes with 10-minute half-time

§ U14: 2 x 35 minutes with 10-minute half-time

§ U15: 2 x 40 minutes with 10-minute half-time

§ U16: 2 x 40 minutes with 10-minute half-time

§ U17: 2 x 45 minutes with 10-minute half-time

§ 18/19U: 2 x 45 minutes with 10-minute half-time

Game day roster. A maximum of eighteen (18) players may be rostered on a game day roster.

Club pass. Subject to Operator policies and the Rules, any US Club Soccer registered player within

a club or team participating in National 1 or approved affiliate may participate in a National 1

game, except as outlined below. The team shall follow the procedures published by the Operator

for adding a player to the game day roster.

5.4.1. Any player rostered or having participated in the current year in an official ECNL

competition or equivalent is ineligible to participate in any official National 1 matches

for the same club. (The player may become eligible to participate if transferring to a

new club under the transfer rules outlined in this Handbook.)

5.4.2. A maximum of four players rostered or having participated in the current year in an

official ECNL Regional League competition may participate in any National 1 match.

Player limitations. A primary rostered player may only play for one team in a District Division in

which their primary team is participating. In situations where a club has multiple teams

participating in the same District Division, at no time may such primary players appear on both

District Division rosters. Under no circumstances may a player be listed on multiple team rosters

if such teams are from different clubs.

5.5.1. During the National 1 season, a player may play for only one (1) District team per day.

During the National 1 season, a Goalkeeper may be listed on up to two (2) National 1

game cards per day from the same club, with the written consent by the Operator. A

Goalkeeper must play as a Goalkeeper in both matches and may not play on more than

one team in the same gender age group of a District Division and is subject to the same

standards as club pass players.

Trapped U15 player. A player registered to a team participating in National 1 who is in 8th grade,

but who is age appropriate for the U15 age group is classified as a “Trapped U15 Player.

” A

Trapped U15 Player is eligible to participate in U14 National 1 Competition that is played during

the player’s sanctioned high school soccer association’s competition season. No more than two

(2) Trapped U15 Players may participate in any individual U14 National 1 Competition.

Substitutions. (Operator Rules may supersede these substitution rules for 2026-27.) Substitutions

may be made at any stoppage with the approval of the referee. Any substitution during play is

considered a moment regardless of the opponent’s substitution.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 11 of 245.8. 5.9. 5.10. 5.7.1. U13-14. Unlimited over three (3) moments in each half plus halftime.

5.7.2. U15-18/19. Unlimited over four (4) moments per match plus halftime.

5.7.3. 5.7.3 In situations where there are multiple Operators within a National 1 District, the

Operators substitution policies shall align as agreed by both operators and the

Commissioner

5.7.4. Coaches may not agree to changes to the substitution policy.

League scheduling. The Operator shall determine the dates for competition, along with the

corresponding scheduling deadlines, provided all matches are completed by the established date

for the respective District.

5.8.1. Teams are expected to be available to play at any time on the scheduled game dates

Rescheduling. Operator policies shall govern reschedule process.

Team communication. Communication between teams is vital for the smooth operation of the

league.

5.10.1. GotSport page (Manager and Coach) and ensure that both contacts have a current

5.11. 5.12. 5.13. 5.14. Teams must have at least two different contacts (manager and coach) listed on their

email address and phone number listed.

5.10.2. Once published in GotSport, all team scheduling communication shall take place

through the GotSport chat system to have a proper record of the communication. Team

contacts are expected to respond to communication within 48 hours. Listing the wrong

email or phone number is not a valid excuse for not responding to communication and

may result in a fine if a forfeit or no-show occurs.

Postseason qualification. A team shall only be eligible for one league-based postseason pathway.

If a team competes in more than one competition in the pathway (i.e. ECNL RL and National 1), it

shall declare the pathway in which it is participating in writing to the Commissioner and operator

in writing prior to the first scheduled match of the season. Failure to proactively declare the

pathway may result in ineligibility for any in which it participates.

Outside competition. National 1 Competition must be the priority competition for all teams

participating in National 1. National 1 match may not be rescheduled to accommodate outside

competition, except as approved by the Operator.

Athletic trainer. The home team is strongly encouraged to provide a certified athletic trainer at

the home club’s expense.

5.13.1. If no certified athletic trainer is available, a player suspected of a head injury by the

referee is not permitted to return to the match.

5.13.2. Any player removed from a match with a suspected concussion is ineligible to return to

play without clearance from an appropriate medical professional.

Failure to appear and forfeits. Failure to appear for a scheduled match will result in a forfeit. A

team must be present and ready to play (7-player minimum) within 10 minutes of scheduled

match time.

5.14.1. Consequences for failure of a team to appear for a National 1 match or forfeit of a

match shall be determined by Operator policies. Operator penalties imposed under

Operator policies pursuant to Section 5.11 above, any team forfeiting a match may be

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 12 of 245.15. 5.16. deemed ineligible for post-season competition and/or automatically relegated by the

Commissioner.

Red card (player). Any player sent off or non-player dismissed will be automatically suspended for

the remainder of the day and the next National 1 match played by that team.

5.15.1. Any player sent off from a National 1 match must leave the field of play but may remain

in the team bench area under the supervision of a team official, but only if a

parent/guardian is not available to supervise the player. If the sent off player commits

further misconduct or further disrupts the match, the referee may require the removal

of the player from the entire field area. If such a player is removed from the field area,

a team official or parent must supervise the player away from the field area.

5.15.2. Official reports involving racism, spitting, discriminatory incidents or use of banned

words as outlined in 7.2 will be subject to a minimum four (4) match suspension

5.15.3. For situations involving Referee Abuse or Assault, the U.S. Soccer Referee Abuse Policy

(RAP) will be utilized to help determine additional suspensions and sanctioning.

5.15.4. Send-offs and dismissals shall be reviewed by the Operator which, in consultation with

the Commissioner, may impose an additional suspension, including suspending the

player or non-player from participating with other teams participating in National 1

during the suspension period. An additional one (1) match suspension cannot be

appealed.

5.15.5. If the red card is issued in the last National 1 match of the season, the sit-out will be

taken in the next National 1 match of the following season.

5.15.6. No substitutions may be made for the ejected player during the match in which the red

card is issued.

5.15.7. It is the duty of the coach to withhold the red-carded player from the next game even if

the player appears eligible on the game card.

5.15.8. Any organization, club, team, or individual allowing participation of a disqualified or

suspended individual in a National 1 match shall forfeit the match in which the

suspended individual(s) participates and shall be subject to additional penalties.

5.15.9. Red cards earned in outside competition or tournaments do not carry over to National 1

Competition unless an additional suspension is issued by the Operator, US Club Soccer,

or State Association.

Red card (coach). A coach or team official receiving a red card from the referee must leave the

field and the area surrounding the field (out of sight and hearing) for the remainder of the match.

5.16.1. Any team official who is dismissed is prohibited from communicating with his/her team

during a match, including but not limited to cell phone use, texting, or other means of

communication.

5.16.2. Official reports involving racial, spitting, discriminatory incidents or use of banned words

as outlined in 7.2 will be subject to a minimum four (4) match suspension

5.16.3. Send-offs and dismissals shall be reviewed by the Operator which, in consultation with

the Commissioner, may impose an additional suspension, including suspending the

player or non-player from participating with other teams participating in National 1

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 13 of 245.17. 5.18. 5.19. 5.20. during the suspension period. An additional one (1) match suspension cannot be

5.16.4. appealed.

For situations involving Referee Abuse or Assault, the U.S. Soccer Referee Abuse Policy

(RAP) will be utilized to help determine additional suspensions and sanctioning.

5.16.5. The team official is ineligible to participate with any team for the remainder of the day

and is prohibited from participating in the next match, including playoffs, and is not

allowed to be present at the field or in the area surrounding the field for the respective

team in which the red card was received.

5.16.6. It is the coach’s duty to comply with the assigned suspension. If a suspended coach

participates, enters the field of play, or the area surrounding the field while under

suspension, or communicates with the team/team officials via electronic or other

means, the team shall forfeit the match and the club sponsoring the team shall be

liable for any referee’s fees incurred and is subject to additional penalties.

5.16.7. Because of the seriousness of such instances, red cards or sanctions issued after the end

of the match or as a result of physical assault, are subject to review and additional

penalties by the Operator and Commissioner.

5.16.8. Red cards earned in outside competition or tournaments do not carry over to National 1

Competition unless an additional suspension is issued by the Operator or US Club

Soccer.

Yellow card accumulation. There shall be no yellow card accumulation policy for National 1

league matches.

Standings. League standings will be used to determine post-season qualification.

5.18.1. Teams shall be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss.

5.18.2. In a situation where a season/group cannot be completed due to exceptional

circumstances and teams have played an unequal number of games Operator may use

Points Per Game (PPG) or equivalent results to determine final standings.

Tiebreakers (two teams). The following tiebreakers will be used for resolving ties in the standings:

5.19.1. Points earned in head-to-head in competition.

5.19.2. Winner of most matches (all divisional matches played)

5.19.3. Goal Difference (all divisional matches played, no limit)

5.19.4. Fewest goals allowed (all divisional matches played, no limit)

5.19.5. Total goals for (all divisional matches played, no limit)

5.19.6. Coin toss

Tiebreakers (more than two teams). The following tiebreakers will be used for resolving ties in

the standings. The tiebreaking procedure does not revert to the previous criteria if one team is

eliminated.

5.21.:

5.21.1. 5.21.2. Results earned in head-to-head in competition among the tied teams.

Goal Difference (matches among the tied teams, no limit)

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 14 of 245.22. 5.23. 5.24. 5.25. 5.26. 5.21.3. Goal Difference (all divisional matches played, no limit)

5.21.4. 5.21.5. 5.21.6. Fewest goals allowed (matches among the tied teams, no limit)

Fewest goals allowed (all divisional matches played, no limit)

Total goals for (matches among the tied teams, no limit)

5.21.7. Total goals for (no limit)

5.21.8. Coin toss

Facility standards. Operator policies shall govern facility standards.

Rainouts. Operator policies shall govern rainout procedures.

Referee decision of unplayable conditions. A referee may suspend or terminate a match due to

weather conditions, i.e., lightening, rain, fog, etc. before or during a match. Under these

conditions, the referee’s decision is final.

Official game. A game terminated due to weather shall be considered complete if the first half is

completed.

Abandoned game. Any game abandoned at any point due to behavior by coaches, players and/or

spectators shall result in a forfeit against the offending team. If the Operator determines both

teams are at fault, the match will be considered a no contest if the game has not reached half-

time or considered complete if the first half has been completed.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 15 of 24SECTION 6. GAME DAY PROCEDURES

6.2. 6.3. 6.4. 6.5. 6.6. 6.1.1. Uniforms. Each team is required to attend each match with two (2) sets of jerseys and

socks (kits): a light-colored kit and a dark colored kit. The home team shall confirm the

uniform colors for each team prior to the match.

6.1.2. The team listed first on the schedule (i.e. home) is to wear their light kit and the team

listed second on the schedule (i.e. away) is to wear their dark kit.

6.1.3. The Referee shall define what constitutes light vs dark color. If, in the opinion of the

referee, there is a conflict in uniform color, the offending team causing the conflict

should change into their other kit.

6.1.4. All players must have uniforms with individual numbers on the shirt that corresponds

with the number on the team’s game day roster. Emergency uniforms may be used

temporarily until a replacement jersey is available. The referee shall indicate the use of

a temporary jersey on the game card.

6.1.5. The goalkeeper’s shirt must be easily distinguishable from all other players and referees.

Game ball. The home team shall provide at least two (2) quality game balls.

Score reporting. Operator shall establish and publish the process for score reporting and

submission of required post-match reports.

Additional equipment. Players may wear additional equipment if in the determination of the

referee it meets the standard of safety for all players.

6.4.1. Players who are wearing corrective glasses may be allowed to play at the discretion of

the referee.

6.4.2. Casts are permitted if approved by the Referee and Athletic Trainer (if available).

Pre-Game procedures. National 1 intends on utilizing a digital administrative game day

experience. Teams are expected to prepare for technical outages.

6.5.1. Referees or an agreed designee shall confirm eligibility of all participants prior to the

start of the match.

6.5.2. The home team should print and make available a copy of the game card. (Away teams

are encouraged to print a backup.)

6.5.3. Digital passcards shall be utilized when available. Each team should make available

printed and laminated cards for all players and coaches in the technical area or a

downloaded copy of the official roster during the match.

6.5.4. Both teams must have available an official National 1 team roster available for review

upon request.

6.5.5. Unless otherwise approved by the Commissioner or his/her designee, players and

coaches who do not have a pass card will not be permitted to participate in a National 1

match.

Spectator and technical areas. Home teams shall provide clear direction for spectator areas.

6.6.1. All coaches, players, and spectators will remain eighteen (18) yards from the goal lines.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 16 of 246.7. 6.8. 6.6.2. Where possible, coaches and players are to take opposite sides of the field from the

spectators.

6.6.3. No coaching, either from a coach or spectator, may take place within 18 yards from the

goal line or from behind the goal lines.

6.6.4. All coaches and spectators shall remain at least two yards from the touchline.

Official match/Referee report. The referee’s authority begins when they arrive at the match site

and continues until they depart the match site or 30 minutes post-match has elapsed.

6.7.1. Matches should be officiated by the three-person FIFA/U.S. Soccer Referee System, but

some may be officiated by less than a three-person FIFA/U.S. Soccer Referee System

based on unique circumstances. In these unique cases the Referee may appoint “Club”

Assistant Referee(s). Club Assistant Referees will be limited to decisions only on the

touchlines and possession.

6.7.2. Operator shall establish the process by which licensed U.S. Soccer Referees are assigned

to each match.

6.7.3. Operator shall establish the process by which all referees/assignor fees are collected

and paid.

6.7.4. The officials are responsible for conducting the matches in accordance with FIFA/U.S.

Soccer Laws of the Game and/or this National 1 Handbook, which shall take

precedence.

6.7.5. Referees’ pre-game responsibilities shall be provided to the appropriate referee

organization or assignor by the Operator or the club with whom National 1 teams are

participating prior to the beginning of each season.

Referee failure to appear. A licensed center referee must be present for an official league match.

6.8.1. The Operator shall determine appropriate next steps when a request for referee

assignment was made and no referee is available.

6.8.2. A forfeit for the home team shall be recorded when a request for assignment was not

made or was not confirmed by the home team, and no referee is available.

6.8.3. In case of a dispute, Directors are responsible for providing written confirmation from a

referee assignor to verify that a request for services was made.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 17 of 24SECTION 7. CONDUCT

7.1. 7.2. Standards of conduct. National 1 exists to provide youth the opportunity to acquire and develop

soccer skills through a higher level of competition. These skills, as well as the individual growth of

the players, cannot be nurtured in an environment that permits confrontation, poor

sportsmanship, and verbal and physical abuse among spectators, game participants, and game

officials. While National 1 cannot dictate the internal administrative rules and regulations of the

clubs with teams participating in National 1, it must provide a framework for addressing

violations of the Rules, including without limitation US Club Soccer’s risk management policies,

including its Prohibited Conduct Policy. Players are expected to perform in a manner consistent

with the principles of good sportsmanship. Coaches and spectators should act in a manner that

reinforces the concepts of good sportsmanship.

7.1.1. Allegations of misconduct shall be reported to the Operator and the Commissioner and

participants committing misconduct in violation of US Club Soccer policies are subject

to additional penalties beyond those that may be imposed by the Operator.

7.1.2. Under no circumstances shall a player, coach, parent or spectator enter the field of play

during the match unless invited by the referee.

7.1.3. The coach is responsible for the actions of parents and spectators on the sidelines.

Coaches may be sent off the field or even banned from future games for their

misbehavior or inciting spectator behavior in violation of this standard.

7.1.4. Parents and spectators can be asked by the referee to leave the playing site, and if the

request is refused, the referee can, at his/her discretion, terminate the match.

7.1.5. Except as outlined in 5.15.1 (player) if any player or coach refuses to leave the playing

site immediately after an ejection by the referee, the referee may terminate the match,

and the match will be scored as a forfeit with the offending team losing by a score of 3-

0, unless the offending team is losing by a margin greater than 3 goals in which case

that score shall be recorded. The referee has the discretionary power to suspend or

terminate a match whenever, by reason of the elements, interference by spectators, or

other causes, he/she deems such stoppage necessary.

7.1.6. Clubs with teams participating in National 1 shall ensure that this Handbook, including

the conduct standards in this section, is distributed and adopted. Repeated occurrences

of misconduct may result in prohibition of a team from further participation in National

1.

Banned words. Any official reports from a referee or league/event official regarding the use of

any listed banned word(s) shall be subject to a minimum four (4) match suspension and may be

subject reporting to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if required by the SafeSport Act and the

SafeSport Code. Subsequent incidents by the same player, team official, or team will result in

additional sanctioning.

7.2.1. The following is not an exhaustive list of prohibited language words or phrases but

rather is intended to provide examples of language prohibited in National 1 and under

US Club Soccer’s Prohibited Conduct policy. Use of the asterisk (*) is utilized to prevent

the actual word in print.

7.2.2. 5.15.3. Use of banned word shall be reviewed by the Operator which, in consultation

with the Commissioner, may impose an additional suspension, including suspending

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 18 of 24the player or non-player from participating with other teams participating in National 1

during the suspension period.

National 1 Banned Words List (non-exhaustive)

B*tty Boy Cr*cker F*ggot K*ke P*to Sl*nt

Be*ner C*nt G*y Mar*con P*ssy Sp*c

Black Boy/Girl D*ck H*mo N*gger / N*gga Rag He*d Wetb*ck

Ch*nk F*g Jewb*y N*gro R*tard / R*tarded White Boy/Girl

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 19 of 24SECTION 8. PROTESTS

8.1. 8.2. General. A protest is a formal written objection of any violation of established policies, rules, or

procedures related to a specific match. Only the teams involved are permitted to protest a match

result. Third parties, i.e., coaches from other teams, state administrators, cannot file protests on

a specific match. Protests must be based upon a violation of the published rules of National 1, or

IFAB Laws of the Game. All decisions of the referees regarding matters of fact, including

judgment matters, are final and cannot be protested.

Submission. Operator policies shall govern protest procedures subject to appeal to the

Commissioner.

SECTION 9. GRIEVANCES

9.1. 9.2. 9.3. 9.4. 9.5. 9.6. 9.7. 9.8. General. Grievances address potential violations of the National 1 Handbook or Operator policies.

Submission. Any Director who believes an Operator has violated the policies included in this

National 1 Handbook may submit a written grievance containing the allegations of policy

violation and requesting their desired remedy. The written grievance must be accompanied by a

check in the amount of $250 payable to US Club Soccer. The grievance may be sent electronically

to the Commissioner and is not considered received until receipt has been confirmed by the

Commissioner or their designee.

Determination of submission. The Commissioner shall determine whether the grievance has

been properly filed and evaluate the nature of the allegations therein. If the Commissioner

determines the grievance is validly submitted, the Commissioner shall initiate action to resolve

the issue. This may be accomplished by consulting other members of the staff and/or Board of

Directors of the parties to the grievance or by holding a hearing. The Commissioner has sole

discretion to determine how the grievance is resolved.

Grievance Committee. A Grievance Committee, if appointed, shall consist of the Commissioner or

Commissioner’s designee and two (2) other members appointed by the US Club Soccer CEO. The

Grievance Committee shall hear the grievance within 30 days of the date the Grievance

Committee was appointed.

Sustained. If the grievance is sustained, the check shall be returned. If the grievance is denied, the

check will be retained by US Club Soccer.

Final decision. The decision of the Grievance Committee is final and is not appealable.

Legal costs. If the aggrieved party remains dissatisfied after having exhausted all requirements

concerning grievances, or, if not having exhausted all requirements concerning grievances, if

he/she invokes the aid of the courts of any state or the United States, should the person bringing

the action not prevail in such court action, he shall then be liable for all expenses incurred by

NATIONAL 1 in defending such action including, but not limited to, the following:

• Court Costs

• Attorneys' fees

Compensation. Reasonable compensation for time spent by US Club Soccer employees in

responding and defending against allegations in the action, including responses to discovery and

court appearances.

• Travel expenses

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 20 of 24• Expenses of any special meeting(s) necessitated by the action.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 21 of 24SECTION 10. BOARDS OF INQUIRY OR HEARINGS

10.1. 10.2. 10.3. 10.4. 10.5. 10.6. General. Periodically, it may be necessary for the US Club Soccer and/or the Operator to conduct

inquiries or hearings on breaches of the Rules.

Notice. Unless waived by both parties, inquiries and/or hearings may be announced at least seven

(7) days in advance. An effort shall be made to schedule such activities at the convenience of the

majority of the participants, whether members of the hearing panel or persons to appear before

the panel.

Appearance. When established in accordance with notice pursuant to Section 10.2, persons to

appear before a hearing panel shall be so notified. Their personal appearance, or the appearance

of an individual(s) acting on their behalf, shall be mandatory.

10.3.1. Once notified, persons requested to appear shall have 48 hours to submit in writing

matters in extenuation or mitigation that may preclude their appearance. The

convening authority shall have sole authority to rule on such matters.

10.3.2. Failure to appear, unless duly excused, shall be grounds for additional sanctions.

Report to US Club Soccer. If an inquiry or hearing is conducted by the Operator, they shall provide

US Club Soccer information concerning sanctions and suspensions it has levied.

Recruiting violations. If the hearing panel finds a recruiting violation has occurred, the panel may

impose one or more penalties including, but not limited to: forfeiture of one or more games,

fines, and temporary or permanent suspension from National 1 club activities.

Appeals. Any aggrieved party may appeal any decision or the imposition of any penalty or fine to

the CEO.

10.6.1. 10.6.2. 10.6.3. A $250 appeal fee shall accompany the appeal. If the appeal is upheld, the appeal fee

shall be returned. If the appeal is denied, the fee shall be retained by National 1.

Upon receipt of an appeal, the CEO, working with the Board Chair, shall convene a board

of inquiry.

The decision of the Board of Inquiry is final within National 1.

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 22 of 24SECTION 11. FINES.

11.1. 11.2. General. The implementation of fines is intended to mitigate situations that would negatively

impact the participant game day experience and negative impacts on the competition,

opponents, and the league.

Fee schedule. The fee schedule outlined below is a guideline with maximum amounts collected by

the Operator. The fees schedule may be superseded by Operator policies provided they are

publicly available and approved by the Commissioner.

OFFENSE MAXIMUM AMOUNT

TEAM ACCEPTANCE

Failure to claim acceptance by league deadline $200 per team

Team drops after team declaration deadline & prior to release of schedules Application fee

Team drops after schedule release prior to first match $350 + application fee

Team drops after first match or failure to complete league schedule $500 + application fee

SCHEDULES AND RESCHEDULES

Failure to schedule matches by league deadline $50 per game

Failure to reschedule a canceled match within 48 hours $50 per game

Reschedule: At least 2 weeks from original schedule. $50 per game

Reschedule: Two weeks to 96 hours from original schedule. $100 per game

Reschedule: 96 to 48 hours from original schedule. $250 per game

Reschedule: Withing 48 hours from original schedule (no-show). $500 + referee fees

MATCH DAY

Failure to provide appropriate game day requirements (e.g. bench,

shade/tents for both teams) – if applicable per Operator Standards

$50 per occurrence

Team forfeits more than 48 hours prior to kickoff (each occurrence) $300

Team forfeits less than 48 hours prior to kickoff (each occurrence) $400 + referee fees

Team no-shows for match (each occurrence) $500 + referee fees

OTHER VIOLATIONS

Qualifying team failure to attend post-season. $1,500 + event fee

Playing unregistered player. $500

Playing unregistered or overage/ineligible player. $1,000

Participation of unregistered coach. $1,500

Home team fails to report score within 24 hours. $25 per game

Failure to provide three certified referees at a game. $100 per referee

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 23 of 24APPENDIX 1 | DISTRICTS

DISTRICT GEOGRAPHICAL TERRITORY

Northeast District 1 ME, VT, NH, MA, RI

Northeast District 2 NY-E, CT

Northeast District 3 NJ, PA-E

Northeast District 4 NY-E Upstate

Mid-Atlantic District 1 DE, MD, DC

Mid-Atlantic District 2 VA

Mid-Atlantic District 3 NC

Mid-Atlantic District 4 TN

Southeast District 1 GA, SC

Southeast District 2 FL

Southeast District 3 AL, FL Panhandle

Southeast District 4 LA, MS

South District 1 OK, AR

South District 2 TX-N, OK

South District 3 TX-S

South District 4 TX-W, El Paso, NM

Central District 1 MN, WI-W

Central District 2 MO, KS, NE, IA

Midwest District 1 OH-N, PA-W, NY-W, WV

Midwest District 2 OH-S, IN-S, KY

Midwest District 3 WI, IL

Midwest District 4 IL-Chicago

Midwest District 5 MI, IN-N

Northwest District 1 ID, MT

Northwest District 2 OR

Northwest District 3 WA

Northwest District 4 AK

Northwest District 5 HI

West District 1 CO, WY-Cheyenne

West District 2 AZ

West District 3 CA-S

West District 4 CA-N

West District 5 NV-Las Vegas

West District 6 UT

__

2026-27 National 1 Handbook

Updated March 31, 2026

Page 24 of 24