Just one more good night’s sleep until the 2025 NWSL campaign finally kicks off! Excitement is at an all-time high as 14 teams prepare to compete in the 13th edition of this much-anticipated season. This year also brings some slight changes to the workings of this American women’s domestic competition, including the introduction of ‘Good Behavior Incentives’—a topic that has the entire soccer community buzzing.

We know you all must be thinking, ‘What in the actual world this is?’ Well, judging by the name, we hope you get some gist about this new rule. Apparently, players and even technical staff members will now have a chance to reduce their accumulated yellow cards throughout the season by maintaining good behavior. The rule will come into effect from the 2025 season and seems to have been added for the years ahead.

In fact, it’s not very difficult to understand. Consider a situation where a player goes five consecutive games without receiving any form of disciplinary action, a yellow or red card. In that case, one yellow card will be automatically deducted from their season total. But don’t think there’s any sort of infinity glitch trick that a player may end up using to get their yellow cards withdrawn.

This will be only applicable if a player plays 10+ minutes in each match, be it as a starter or a substitute (brought on by the 80th minute). Additionally, players can avail this up to three times per season, meaning a player can remove a maximum of 3 yellow cards each campaign. Also, the count for consecutive games starts only after a player has received their first yellow card. Of course, you can’t be at 0 and still get deductions.

Meanwhile, for the coaches, the rule requires them to at least go 10 consecutive games without getting a YC, RC, or supplemental discipline. If successfully done, one yellow card will be removed and this can happen up to twice per season. Hence, a maximum of 2 yellow cards can be removed, with the count starting only after the coach receives their first yellow card. Again, you can’t get deductions if you never got one.

Indeed, this is quite an interesting rule that the National Women’s Soccer League has put forward. But how is the soccer fraternity taking it? Well, it has surely left the internet debating.

Soccer community’s honest opinion on latest NWSL rule

After this rule came to the notice of a few fans, it was shared on Reddit for some perspective discussion. While a few are in favor of this new addition, others are taking a subtle dig at NWSL by citing its drawbacks.

Now that the topic of pros and cons has actually been touched upon, let’s glance at the positive side for a while. It’s no surprise that the rule is to encourage discipline and fair conduct among players and coaches, incentivizing better behavior and lowering the chances of unnecessary dissent. On top of that, more games mean more yellow cards, suspensions become easier to trigger, and this rule helps balance that without being too lenient.

“I think this adjustment is good because there were several player last season who wouldn’t have been hit with yellow card accumulation in previous but since there were more games, the average number of yellow a you could get per game without an accumulation issue actually decreased and it’ll only be worse next year with 2 more teams. This seems like a decent medium that will be less permissive than outright allowing another yellow per season but does still loosen the reigns a bit.”

The biggest contradicting fact would be that all players would end up being nice for a while. And next thing you know, they are suddenly creating a ruckus. This fan cites the example of Kelli Hubly, who received 6 yellows in the last NWSL season. 

“kind of like the idea of seeing Hubly trying to act nice for a few matches to avoid a suspension.”

Last season, just guess who received the most yellow cards. Well, ladies and gents, it was Racing Louisville’s midfielder Kayla Fischer, who topped the standings with a tally of 10. Now, just imagine if this rule had been in effect last year. Well, this fan already has!

“Rule would have had Kayla Fischer see one yellow card deducted all of last season. Her first one.”

Many would see this rule as a way to limit suspensions and keep key players available for crucial matches. However, this fan’s perspective highlights another key advantage—it specifically benefits players who occasionally pick up yellow cards due to momentary lapses in judgment or rare professional fouls. In short, the system helps players who aren’t reckless but pick up the occasional necessary or unfortunate booking. This will further prevent them from accumulating suspensions unfairly.

“Kaleigh Kurtz ended 2024 with 4 yellows, with this rule it’d have been 2 yellows, and once she was within one game of getting the 3rd allowed reduction. It’s going to help exactly those players, the occasional poor judgement yellow, or those that once in a great while pull a professional foul.”

Similarly, another fan thinks that the rule will benefit defensive midfielders like Kayla Fischer—who finished last season with 8 yellow cards—who often have to make tactical fouls in the middle of the pitch.   

“Which player does this help the most? I’m thinking Hal Hershfelt.”

To conclude, this rule indeed promotes better behavior while offering some leniency in yellow card accumulation. However, it also adds a strategic layer, making it interesting to see how teams and players adapt. Regardless, share your views in the comments.