National FAs, confederations and FIFA have the option to modify some organisational areas of the Laws of the Game. For youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football they may change more, including the size of the pitch, the ball and the goals, the length of the halves, the number of players, return substitutes and sin bins.
The principle: play and refereeing should be the same everywhere
How football is played and refereed should be the same on every field in the world. The flexibility the IFAB allows is in organisational areas of the Laws.
The areas listed below are options: national FAs, confederations and FIFA may each modify all or only some of them for the football they are responsible for.
What may be modified, and for whom
Here are the areas that may be modified, and the football each option covers.
| Area | May be modified for |
|---|---|
| The number of substitutes each team may use, up to a maximum of five (in youth football the maximum is set by the national association, confederation or FIFA) | All levels |
| The use of additional permanent concussion substitutions, applying the IFAB's protocol | All levels |
| The implementation of the “Only the captain” guidelines | All levels |
| The size of the field of play; the size, weight and material of the ball; the size of the goals | Youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football |
| The duration of the halves; the number of players | Youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football |
| Return substitutes; temporary dismissals (sin bins) for some or all cautions; specific requirements for the captain's compulsory armband | Youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football |
The options in more detail
The substitutes option has its own youth provision: in official competitions the number may be set up to five, while in youth football the maximum is decided by the national association, confederation or FIFA. Law 3 sets further conditions for matches that go to extra time.
The “Only the captain” guidelines are currently an option to implement. They will be compulsory for all competitions starting on or after 1 July 2027.
For youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, the goal options are the width between the goalposts and the height of the crossbar from the ground, and the duration option covers the two equal halves of the game and the two equal halves of extra time. National FAs, confederations and FIFA also have the flexibility to decide the age restrictions for youth and veterans football, and each national FA decides which competitions at the lowest levels count as grassroots football.
Taking part in any trial of a potential Law change requires the IFAB's permission, for confederations, national FAs and competition organisers alike.
What a return substitute means
A return substitute is a player who has already taken part in the match, has been substituted, and later comes back into the same match by replacing another player.
Return substitutes are permitted only in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, and only with the agreement of the national FA, confederation or FIFA.
Apart from allowing a substituted player to return, every other provision of Law 3 and of the Laws of the Game still applies to return substitutes. The substitution procedure in Law 3, in particular, must still be followed.
FAQ
Can national associations change the Laws of the Game?
They have the option to modify certain organisational areas for the football they are responsible for. How the game is played and refereed should be the same everywhere.
Can grassroots football use smaller pitches?
The size of the field of play is one of the areas that may be modified for youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, along with the ball and the goals, by the national FA, confederation or FIFA responsible.
Are rolling substitutes allowed in football?
If that means a player can come back on after being taken off, that is a return substitute. It is permitted only in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, with the agreement of the national FA, confederation or FIFA, and it still has to follow the Law 3 substitution procedure.
What is a return substitute in football?
A player who has already played in the match and been substituted, and who later in the match returns to play by replacing another player.