The purpose of this rule is to promote an competitive  balance and ensure a positive playing environment in matches where a significant goal differential develops.

When a team falls behind by five (5) or more goals, that team may add one additional field player to the match. This adjustment remains in effect only while the goal differential is five or greater, and the leading team may not add players under this rule.

If the trailing team reduces the deficit to four (4) goals, the extra player must be removed at the next natural stoppage of play. Should the differential increase again to five or more, the trailing team may reintroduce the extra player. 

• Coaches are responsible for ensuring compliance with this rule.
• Referees shall enforce the rule and may delay restart if the number of players is not correct.

Players at U11 and under are not allowed to intentionally head the ball.

Parents and coaches, please remind your kids/players

Slide tackles are not permitted at any age in the WNISL

ACTIVATION CODE FOR 2026: WNISL2026@

 WNISL Rules Matrix

Two signed game sheets must be submitted to the referee prior to the start of the game. Game sheets can be printed from the WNISL.com website. Two team captains are selected by the coach for each game. Captains will be called over by the referee prior to the start of the game to participate in the coin toss.

Division	U9	U11	U13	U15	U19	U23
Playing Strength	5 v. 5	7 v. 7	9 v. 9	11 v. 11	11 v. 11	11 v. 11
Minimum Players7	5	5	6	7	7	7
Game Length	2 x 25 minute halves	2 x 30 minute halves	2 x 35 minute halves	2 x 40 minute halves	2 x 45 minute halves	2 x 45 minute halves
Ball Size	4 or 5 light	4 or 5 light	4 or 5 light	5	5	5
Match Officials	Referee   (Lincoln & West Lincoln) Game Leader (Grimsby)	Referee	Referee, 2 Assistant Referees	Referee, 2 Assistant Referees	Referee, 2 Assistant Referees	Referee, 2 Assistant Referees
Call Ups		Call ups must be registered U9 interlock players.  Call ups may be used up to build the team up to 10 players for a game	Call ups must be registered U11 interlock players.  Call ups may be used to build the team up to 12 players for a game	Call ups must be registered U13 interlock players.  Call ups may be used to build the team up to 14 players for a game	Call ups must be registered U15 interlock players.  Call ups may be used to build the team up to 14 players for a game	Call ups must be registered U19 interlock players.  There is no maximum number of call ups in this division.
Retreat line3	Yes3	Yes3	Yes3	No	No	No
Offside called3	No	No	Yes3	Yes3	Yes3	Yes3
Free Kicks9, 10	Indirect (except on penalty kick)	Indirect (except on penalty kick)	Indirect or Direct	Indirect or Direct	Indirect or Direct	Indirect or Direct
Throw in or pass in when the ball leaves the field	Pass in	Pass in	Throw in	Throw in	Throw in	Throw in
Substitutions	Unlimited substitutions at any game stoppage	Unlimited substitutions at any game stoppage	Unlimited substitutions after a goal, on a goal kick or on a teams own throw in6	Unlimited substitutions after a goal, on a goal kick or on a teams own throw in6	Unlimited substitutions after a goal, on a goal kick or on a teams own throw in6	Unlimited substitutions after a goal, on a goal kick or on a teams own throw in6

 WNISL Rules Matrix 

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 WNISL Rules Matrix

1. All players must wear shin guards, full uniform and athletic footwear, soccer cleats are recommended for all ages. No jewelry or piercings are permitted to be worn on the field by any player.
2. Unregistered players are not permitted to participate in a game under any circumstance. Registered travel players are not permitted to participate in Interlock games regardless of their age and division.
3. For a complete description of the retreat line and offside rules, please refer to “Laws of the Game” or “Small Sided Laws of the Game”. Consult your referee for clarification if necessary.
4. Corner Kicks are applicable for all interlock divisions, for a complete description of corner kicks please refer to “Laws of the Game” or “Small Sided Laws of the Game”. Consult your referee for clarification if necessary.
5. Slide tackles are not permitted in any WNISL interlock division. A clean slide tackle is still considered a foul under WNISL rules. For an explanation of other fouls please refer to “Laws of the Game” or “Small Sided Laws of the Game”. Consult your referee for clarification if necessary.
6. “Piggy-back” substitutions will be allowed at the discretion of the referee, and must be agreed upon by both teams prior to the start of the game. The Referee must be notified prior to ALL substitutions.
7. If a team must play a game at less than full strength due to player absence, their opponent is NOT required to match their number and may choose to play at full strength. It is the responsibility of all coaches to use call ups so that they are able to field a full team. Coaches are reminded to NOT run up the score on any opponent that has to play at less than full strength. Note: call ups are not allowed in tournament or final day games.
8. Games can be canceled at the field (due to weather) by the referee only.
9. In small sided soccer a foul in the penalty area will still result in a (direct) penalty kick, all other free kicks are indirect.
10. Please refer to “Laws of the Game” for a complete description of the circumstances under which an indirect or direct free kick may be awarded in 11 v.11 soccer.

                                      Regarding the “no slide tackle rule”

   The purpose of this Rule change is to reduce the chance of injury and promote safe and fair play.

The League defines a 'Slide Tackle' as:

1. Leaving your feet to CHALLENGE an opponent, contact with the opponent is not required 
   1. Every Slide Tackle awards a Direct Free Kick or Penalty Kick
   1. Careless, Reckless or Excessive force standards apply, Cautions or Dismissal offences do not change
   1. Denying Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) considerations still apply - no changes.

Exceptions to the Rule are: 

1. Goal Keeper challenging an Opponent to make a save in his own Penalty Area
   1. Player sliding to keep ball in play – no opponent nearby
   1. Player sliding to stop pass or shot – no opponent nearby

The below information was sent out via Ontario Soccer Bulletin on May 6^th & 8^th respectively:

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Please be advised that Take 5 is effective province-wide for all 5v5 & 7v7 matches. Take 5 is a tool Small Sided officials can use to manage poor spectator behaviour. More information on Take 5 can be found by clicking here. As a reminder, Take 5 is restricted to 5v5 & 7v7 matches ONLY. It cannot be implemented in 9v9 or 11v11 games.

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Additionally, all U9 matches (5v5) will be using a modified corner kick for the 2026 season. More information on the modified corner kick and its implementation can be found by clicking here. An explainer video for match officials is available by clicking here. An explainer video for parents is available by clicking here.

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Please ensure all affected coaches are made aware of these changes, and please reamplify this information to your Small Sided officials.

U9 Fundamental games include:

• 5-minute warm-up
• Two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime

All players get equal playtime and must be substituted. If a team lacks players, sharing with the opponent is encouraged. Water breaks are given as decided by the Field Referee.

Law 17: Modified Corner Kick

A modified corner kick is used to restart play when the ball has completely crossed the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, after last touching a defending player, and no goal has been scored. The player taking the restart may either pass the ball or dribble it into play.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a modified corner kick. If the ball enters the goal without being touched by at least two players, play is restarted as follows:

• with a goal kick for the opposing team if the ball enters the opponents’ goal; or
• with a modified corner kick if the ball enters the kicker’s own goal.

Procedure

• The ball must be placed on the touchline, 5 yards from the corner nearest to where it crossed the goal line.
• The ball must be stationary before the restart is taken.
• The ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves.
• All opposing players must remain at least 3 metres (3 yards) from the spot where the modified corner kick is taken.

When the goaltender makes a save, they are not permitted to drop kick the soccer ball to resume play. Instead, the goaltender must either place the ball on the ground and kick it or roll the ball back into play.

U9 BOYS - THURSDAY

U11BOYS - THURSDAY

U13BOYS - MONDAY

U15BOYS - WEDNESDAY

U19BOYS - MONDAY

U9GIRLS - TUESDAY

U11GIRLS - WEDNESDAY

U13GIRLS - THURSDAY

U15GIRLS - TUESDAY

U19GIRLS - MONDAY

2026 WNISL FINAL DAY SCHEDULE - TBD

WEST LINCOLN	U12 BOYS	30 MIN HALVES
TIME	LEISUREPLEX #4	LEISUREPLEX #5
9AM	1ST VS 4TH	2ND VS 3RD
10:15AM	5TH VS 8TH	6TH VS 7TH
11:30AM	WINNERS 9AM	LOSERS 9AM
12:45PM	WINNERS 10AM	LOSERS 10AM
WEST LINCOLN	U14 GIRLS	30 MIN HALVES
TIME	LEISUREPLEX #2	LEISUREPLEX #1
9AM	1ST  VS 4TH	2ND VS 3RD
10:15AM	5TH VS 8TH	6TH VS 7TH
11:30AM	WINNER OF 9AM	LOSERS OF 9AM
12:45PM	WINNER OF 10AM	LOSERS OF 10AM

GRIMSBY	U14 boys	2x 30min
time	southward 1	Southward 2
9:00 AM	3rd vs 5th (game 1)	4th vs 6th (game 2)
11:00	winner game 1 vs 1st (game 3)	winner game 2 vs 2nd (game 4)
1:00	winner game 3 vs winner game 4

GRIMSBY	u12 girls	2x 20 min
time	southward 3	southward 4
9AM	Cal - Val - GSC vs Accipiter - PSC (game 1)	Portage Mutual - PSC vs Niagara Pallet - WL (game 2)	Tier 2
10AM	Home Hardware - DSC VS Meaghan Lazenby Pers Real Estate Corp - LSC (Game 6)	Great Niagara Sheet Metal & HVAC - WL VS Dwight Tebrake Cpa Pro Corp - LSC (Game 7)	Tier 1
11AM	John Deere - GSC vs Winner of Game 1 (Game 3)	Loser of game 1 & 2 (Game 4)	Tier 2
12AM	Winners of Game 6 & 7	Losers of Game 6 & 7	Tier 1
1AM	Winner of game 3 & 2		Tier 2