The EFL have announced a new range of measures aimed at improving the amount of time the ball is in play during games.
They have confirmed changes relating to additional time, the treatment of players, law changes and behaviour which will be put in place immediately.
Match officials are charged with overseeing the changes to time-keeping.
Thay are expected to add the exact time lost when certain events happen in games, rather than a "nominal" time which was added previously.
Officials will calculate a more exact amount of time taken for substitutions, injury treatment, goal celebrations, penalties and red cards, including the time taken for players to leave the field.
"Match officials will also be taking a more robust approach to dealing with clear/deliberate actions that are impactful in delaying the restart of play," added a statement from the League in conjunction with refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
That means players will be booked for delaying the restart of play or failing to retreat ten yards when defending free-kicks.
"Alongside a more accurate allowance for time lost during the game, the EFL will also adopt the multi-ball system, which has been proven to increase ball in-play time," added the statement.
The amount of ball in play time was an issue raised by the Blues last season after a home game against Stevenage.
Manager Paul Simpson claimed the ball was in play for just 41 minutes in the 0-0 draw, compared to a normal amount of around 58-60 minutes.
“It makes it very difficult to get any flow and tempo to the game. And this isn’t a criticism of Stevenage, they’re good at it," Simpson said.
Other adjustments include the ruling that players in need of assessment for injury must be treated off the pitch, other than in certain particular circumstances such as collisions, goalkeeper injuries and severe injuries.
"After the restart of play, a period of time - not less than 30 seconds - will be afforded for the player to be treated and they will not return to the pitch before this period has elapsed," the statement added.
"As always, the player’s return to the pitch requires the referee's permission and may be delayed beyond 30 seconds if the phase of play is in the vicinity of the player looking to re-enter the pitch."
Players will be booked if they delay or refuse to restart a game in a situation where a supposedly injured team-mate has declined a physio.
"This will promote player safety, which is of paramount importance to the match officials, and act as a deterrent to players who request attention as a tactic to waste time or break the momentum of the game," added the statement.
Other law changes have been announced, including the rules over denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity which leads to a penalty.
If it is deemed the offence was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball, only a yellow card will be issued - with a red card shown in all other circumstances, such as holding, pulling, pushing and no attempt to play the ball.
This, lawmakers hope, will punish "cynical" actions rather than genuine attempts for the ball.
There are further adjustments to offside rules concerning 'deliberate' attempts to play the ball, while officials are asked to maintain a "high threshold" for penalising contact, "with officials not awarding a foul for all contact yet penalising when contact has a detrimental impact on an opponent."
The full law changes and EFL/PGMOL announcement, which follow guidance from the International Football Association Board, can be found HERE
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