Over the weekend, United Soccer League revealed they will reduce the number of allowed substitutions in league matches beginning in 2017. The league will move from five substitutions to the international standard of three substitutions per side per match.
“[It’s] something that we’ve mandated and gone through that with our technical committees and competition committees, and that’s something we were looking at doing for the last few seasons, but next season, 2017 season, it’ll be the three-substitution rule,” said Edwards about the change.
The previous five-substitution rule had been a unique feature in USL, carrying over from the older days of the league. As late as 2014, the league featured a more condensed schedule where travelling teams could play two matches in three nights or even on back-to-back days.
For example, Sacramento Republic FC played road matches against Rochester Rhinos and Dayton Dutch Lions in 2014 on May 23 and 25 respectively. Additional short turn-around matches included matches on June 26 and 28, then July 12, 14 and 17 and then September 4 and 6. Republic FC went 2-0, 1-1 and 2-1 respectively across those periods.
Republic FC also played back-to-back matches once in 2014, playing Orange County Blues FC on Saturday, Apr. 12 followed by LA Galaxy II on Sunday, Apr. 13. Republic FC lost the first match 1-2 and then won the next 3-0.
However, with league expansion—which has grown from 14 clubs in 2014 to 32 in 2017—USL’s schedule and season length has also grown from a 28-match regular season in 2014 to a 30-week regular season of 32 matches in 2017. With the expansion, the league management decided it was time to align with international standards.
The 2017 USL regular season will kick off in March 2017. Republic FC’s season ticket package will feature 16 USL regular season matches, two domestic friendly matches, one international friendly match and a U.S. Open Cup match.
To learn more about 2017 season tickets visit https://www.sacrepublicfc.com/tickets/season-tickets.
Over the weekend, United Soccer League revealed they will reduce the number of allowed substitutions in league matches beginning in 2017. The league will move from five substitutions to the international standard of three substitutions per side per match.
“[It’s] something that we’ve mandated and gone through that with our technical committees and competition committees, and that’s something we were looking at doing for the last few seasons, but next season, 2017 season, it’ll be the three-substitution rule,” said Edwards about the change.
The previous five-substitution rule had been a unique feature in USL, carrying over from the older days of the league. As late as 2014, the league featured a more condensed schedule where travelling teams could play two matches in three nights or even on back-to-back days.
For example, Sacramento Republic FC played road matches against Rochester Rhinos and Dayton Dutch Lions in 2014 on May 23 and 25 respectively. Additional short turn-around matches included matches on June 26 and 28, then July 12, 14 and 17 and then September 4 and 6. Republic FC went 2-0, 1-1 and 2-1 respectively across those periods.
Republic FC also played back-to-back matches once in 2014, playing Orange County Blues FC on Saturday, Apr. 12 followed by LA Galaxy II on Sunday, Apr. 13. Republic FC lost the first match 1-2 and then won the next 3-0.
However, with league expansion—which has grown from 14 clubs in 2014 to 32 in 2017—USL’s schedule and season length has also grown from a 28-match regular season in 2014 to a 30-week regular season of 32 matches in 2017. With the expansion, the league management decided it was time to align with international standards.
The 2017 USL regular season will kick off in March 2017. Republic FC’s season ticket package will feature 16 USL regular season matches, two domestic friendly matches, one international friendly match and a U.S. Open Cup match.
To learn more about 2017 season tickets visit https://www.sacrepublicfc.com/tickets/season-tickets.