Welsh Premier Women’s League to adopt five substitution rule until end of season

The Orchard Welsh Premier Women’s League is set to adopt the five substitution rule until the end of the season, the FAW confirms.

Up until now, WPWL sides were only allowed to make three substitutions per game.

But now they’re permitted to make up to five substitutions per game, following in the footsteps of other leagues like the Cymru Premier.

The rule will be in place until the end of the 2020/21 season, which finishes in late May.

FIFA had first introduced the rule when football returned last season to help cope with the long layoff without football.

They extended the amendment of law 3 of the game into this season, citing “player welfare.”

WPWL sides have been subject to busy schedules since the league returned after a three-month suspension.

At times, teams have had to play twice a week to make up for the time lost due to the lockdown in Wales.

Games being played in a condensed period is something that FIFA stated as a reason to extend the rule into this season.

With clubs now able to make more chances they could turn to their academy players, giving them their first taste of senior football.

The WPWL will have a three month off season before the early start of the 2021/22 season on 4/5 September.