EFL announces major adjustment, which we saw for the first time on Monday.

With the clocks going back an hour last Sunday, it was a sign that winter football was getting closer, which, in the opinion of many fans, is frequently their favorite period of the EFL season.

The Championship, League One, and League Two are known for producing high-quality games throughout the 46-game regular season, which determines the short- and sometimes long-term destiny of numerous teams around the country.

Because of the sheer amount of fixture rounds that must be completed in such a short period of time, the winter months are frequently credited with defining the final end table.

The EFL’s basement divisions have already played more rounds of fixtures than the Championship, as is customary, due to the second tier already having two two-week fixture gaps due to international breaks ahead of next summer’s FIFA World Cup in the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico, with another scheduled between the 8th and 22nd of November, with England facing Serbia and Albania in the meantime.

Aside from the obvious weather forecast, one indicator that temperatures and visibility, particularly in stadiums with less infrastructure, have begun to fall is the use of gloves by players, many of whom are still adjusting to the typical British weather after transferring from a club in a warmer climate.

However, there was another alteration that provided that clue, which was announced on Monday night ahead of Stockport County’s eventual 3-0 victory against Port Vale in League One at Vale Park, and one that supporters will become accustomed to in the coming weeks and months.

EFL announces huge change, shown for the first time prior of the Port Vale versus Stockport County fixture.

The EFL and its providers, PUMA, announced in June 2025 that the organization’s ‘exclusive match ball supplier’ had finished the design for the 2025/26 season, known as the ‘PUMA Orbita Ultimate EFL’ design.

At the time of release, it was stated that the design had taken important factors into account, such as twelve panels that aid in the ball’s weight distribution, allowing it to remain balanced throughout a 90-minute period in which players exert maximum force on shots, throw-ins, headers, and clearances.

The ball also had deeper seams, ensuring that no detrimental changes would occur despite the well-known shift in temperatures and weather conditions that occurs after a Championship, League One, League Two, or EFL Cup season.

Unsurprisingly, the main ball was largely white, following long-standing traditions from prior EFL seasons, with a neon yellow variety expected to be given at the beginning of November.

However, in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Monday night, the Valiants and Hatters became the first teams to use the new ball, which is used in low-visibility conditions.

The EFL announced the move with a simple social media message that stated, “Looking good, @pumafootball.” Tonight, we see the Orbita High Vis in action for the first time.

EFL Cup matches have also used the new ball update.

Of course, it is not a given that the ball will be utilized in all confrontations right away, since it depends on the conditions and is ultimately determined by the relevant match officials.

Unsurprisingly, it has already been used in some EFL Cup last 16 ties, including the all-Welsh clash between Wrexham and Cardiff City on Tuesday night, when Will Fish’s second-half strike was enough to send the Bluebirds into the last eight, defeating their compatriots and rivals on the way to the quarter-finals.

The shift, of course, has minimal impact on players, personnel, or supporters; it is simply an indicator of cold weather and the fact that we are approaching the busy holiday season.