Season 2026/27
Rules & Operations
How the competition is played, scheduled and delivered — the standards every club signs up to.
Structure
Competition Format
Home and away
Every team plays each of the other eight entrants twice.
League scoring
3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a defeat.
Flexible dates
Exact dates and kick-off times are agreed inside published game periods.
Inaugural-season fee
No joining or participation fee; each club covers its own operating costs.
On the pitch
Match Format
- 90 minutes, played as two 45-minute halves under the Laws of the Game and applicable FA rules.
- Up to five substitutes may be named and used; re-entry is permitted for development and return-to-play.
- The home team is responsible for appointing three registered match officials.
- The home club is listed first on the fixture schedule.
Standings
Tie-break Order
Squads
Player Eligibility
U16 – U21 age groups
Players may be selected from the U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 age groups.
1 over-age goalkeeper
One over-age goalkeeper is permitted in each matchday squad.
3 over-age outfield players
A maximum of three over-age outfield players is permitted per fixture.
All players
Eligible, registered, insured, medically fit and appropriately consented.
Scheduling
Fixture Protocol
The home club proposes at least three viable dates and kick-off times inside the game period. Varsity Nine acts as the conduit to organise matches.
Clubs agree the fixture and confirm venue, surface, colours and match officials in writing.
Team contacts reconfirm arrangements. Late postponement is reserved for emergencies or unsafe conditions.
A fixture may move anywhere inside its published two-week window by mutual agreement. A move outside the window requires organiser approval and a new confirmed date.
Matchday
Home Club Responsibilities
- Suitable pitch, secure changing facilities and safe venue operations.
- Qualified referee and two registered assistants, unless agreed centrally.
- Match balls, technical areas and agreed video-recording position.
- Appropriate on-site medical or first-aid cover.
- Result, scorers, cautions, dismissals and incidents reported within 24 hours.
Matchday
Both Clubs
- Confirm kick-off, venue, surface and kit colours at least 10 days out.
- Submit accurate team sheets and shirt numbers no later than 60 minutes before kick-off.
- Carry appropriate insurance, medical information and safeguarding arrangements.
- Provide suitably qualified, checked and responsible staff.
- Report serious injury, safeguarding or conduct concerns promptly.
Non-negotiables
Welfare, Safety & Conduct
Medical readiness
Players are fit to participate and appropriate first-aid or medical cover is present.
Safeguarding
Club policies, supervision, checks and consent arrangements remain in force at every fixture.
Respect
Players, staff, parents and spectators behave appropriately towards officials, opponents, venues and guests.
Prompt reporting
Serious injuries, safeguarding issues and major incidents are escalated immediately.
Serious misconduct, repeated non-fulfilment or avoidable disruption may lead to fixture sanctions, removal from the competition, future exclusion or recovery of direct evidenced costs.
Video & data
Club obligations, every fixture
- Record, or permit recording of, every fixture in full — first whistle to last, across all 18 game periods.
- Submit accurate team sheets and shirt numbers before kick-off so footage can be tagged to the right players.
- Hold current player, parent/guardian and staff consents on file for the whole season.
- Retain the original full-match file for the season and supply it on request for verification or appeals.
Video & data
Competition standards & outputs
Video & data
Fixture compliance checklist
Work through this for every fixture, all 18 game periods. Ticks are saved on this device only — they are a working aid, not a submission to the competition.
Before kick-off
Set up so the fixture can be recorded and tagged correctly.
On matchday
Capture the fixture in full, without gaps.
After the fixture
Submit, verify and retain.
Video & data
Video quality & upload guidance
Resolution & frame rate
Record at 1920x1080 where possible. 1280x720 at 25fps is the minimum accepted; anything lower is rejected and must be re-supplied.
Duration
The file must cover the full fixture — 70 to 150 minutes. Clips, highlights or single halves do not satisfy the requirement.
Format & codec
MP4, MOV or MKV only, H.264 video with AAC audio preferred. Keep files under 8 GB; compress rather than trim if you exceed it.
Naming & deadline
Name files NWC_P{period}_{HOME}-v-{AWAY}_{YYYY-MM-DD}.mp4 and upload within 72 hours of full-time.
- Minimum
- 1280x720
- Frame rate
- 25fps+
- Duration
- 70–150 min
- Deadline
- 72h
Preferred encode: H.264 (AVC) video with AAC audio in an MP4 container. File name: NWC_P{period}_{HOME}-v-{AWAY}_{YYYY-MM-DD}.mp4
Check a recording before you upload
Select a match file to check its resolution, duration, format and name against the season standards. The file stays on your device — nothing is uploaded.