2026 Finale | MLS NEXT HG & AD Roster Rules
MLS NEXT HG & AD U13-U17 Roster Rules
Online Check-In Requirements | All Teams
- All bio-banding (late developers) regulations are in effect, so if a player is a late developer in MLS NEXT they are eligible to be bio-banded in the National Academy Championships.
- Players who are serving suspension from MLS NEXT competitions are still eligible to participate.
- Players may only participate on one team during the event
- Homegrown Players Can only play for Homegrown teams
- Clubs can have unlimited Club Pass Players (this is a player that is currently with your club, but not on the HG or AD team)
- Clubs can have up to 3 Guest Players (this is a player that is currently not with your club, but has permission from their current club to Guest play at the event)
- At the U17 age group, clubs can have up to 5 current U19 HG or AD players that are part of the 2027 graduating class
- Please find Online Check-in Requirements below
- You are permitted 20 players on your match day rosters and all 20 can participate in the match.
- 9 Substitutions over 3 moments per match not including half time. Maximum of 2 moments per half.
- Temporary concussion substitutions do not count toward substitutions or moments.
- No Re-Entry
- Concussion Protocol: A player who is suspected to have suffered a head injury may be substituted while being evaluated. The substitution for the evaluation of the concussion/head injury will not count against the team's total number of substitution moments in the half.
- If the player is deemed by the on-site Athletic Trainer to not have suffered a concussion, the player may re-enter the match at any stoppage of play and must replace the original substitute; this head injury evaluation will not count as a substitute moment.
- If the player is not cleared to return to play by the on-site Athletic Trainer, the replacement player will no longer be considered a temporary substitute.
- You are permitted 20 players on your match day rosters, and all 20 can participate in the match.
- Unlimited substitution over 3 moments per half not including half time. No re-entry per half
- Temporary concussion substitutions do not count toward substitutions or moments.
- Concussion Protocol: A player who is suspected to have suffered a head injury may be substituted while being evaluated. The substitution for the evaluation of the concussion/head injury will not count against the team's total number of substitution moments in the half.
- If the player is deemed by the on-site Athletic Trainer to not have suffered a concussion, the player may re-enter the match at any stoppage of play and must replace the original substitute; this head injury evaluation will not count as a substitute moment.
- If the player is not cleared to return to play by the on-site Athletic Trainer, the replacement player will no longer be considered a temporary substitute.
Online Check-In Requirements | All Teams
- The documents outlined below must be uploaded to Gotsport by May 27 (Weekend #1) or June 2 (Weekend #2)
- All teams must complete the NAC Finale Excel Roster and upload to Gotsport
- All teams must provide proof of player registration (Kitman Labs Roster and/or Passes for Club Pass Player and/or Player Pass for Guest Players
- Instructions to print player passes https://help.injuryprofiler.com/en/articles/12395817-mls-next-player-cards (need to be signed into Kitman Labs) | Do not cut up into cards; upload as one pdf
- Please follow these instructions to upload completed forms to Gotsport.
- Upload NAC Finale Excel Roster as an Excel document
