Summary of IFAB Law Changes beginning in the Fall 2025 season.  Access all laws of the game at the IFAB website OR download the app!

Law 3 – The Players

• Competitions have the option of implementing the ‘Only the captain’ guidelines.

Law 5 – The Referee

• Signal to be used by referees to count down the last five seconds of the eight-second restriction on goalkeepers controlling the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) U9/10 AFTER ALL PLAYERS ARE BEHIND BUILDOUT LINE, THE COUNT WILL BEGIN.

Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play – Dropped ball

• If, when play was stopped, the ball was:
  • inside the penalty area – the ball is dropped for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area
  • outside the penalty area – the ball is dropped for a player of the team that has or would have gained possession if this is clear to the referee; otherwise, it is dropped for a player of the team that last touched it. The ball is dropped at its position when play was stopped.
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Law 9 – The Ball in and out of Play

• Indirect free kick and no disciplinary sanction when a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or player who is temporarily off the field of play touches the ball as it is leaving the field of play and there is no intention to interfere unfairly.

Law 11 – Offside

• When the goalkeeper throws the ball, the last point of contact should be used for the purpose of determining an offside position.