U5
Teams will play 3v3 or 4v4 (no keepers). Use pug nets. Try to encourage players to play defensively but not goal keep.
There are no offside. The retreat line is half field (after a goal the opposition must retreat to half field). No kick offs. Use dribble ins to restart play.
No Corner Kicks, instead use a dribble in to restart play.
U7
Teams will play 6v6 (including keepers).
There are no offside. The retreat line is half field (when keeper has a place kick the opposition must retreat to half field). We use kick ins.
No Corner Kicks, instead use a goal kick from inside of the Goal Area (the ball may be place anywhere inside the goal area and the keeper or a teammate may take the placed kick).
No Penalty Kicks, instead use a Direct Free kick from outside of the Penalty Area (place the ball on the parallel penalty area line from the goal line from the spot of the infraction) for all Penalty Kicks.
U9
Teams will play 6v6 (including keepers).
There are no offside. No retreat line (when keeper has the ball you must give him/her 5 yards). We use kick ins.
No Penalty Kicks, instead use a Direct Free kick from outside of the Penalty Area (place the ball on the parallel penalty area line from the goal line from the spot of the infraction) for all Penalty Kicks.
U11
Teams will play 6v6 (including keepers).
There are no offside. No retreat line. We use kick ins.
U13+
Teams will play 5v5 (including keepers).
There are no offside. No retreat line. We use kick ins.
Hour Format
The first half of the hour, the players will work on skills and play small sided games.
The last half of the hour, the players will play a game. (allow 20-25 minutes, see Duration of Match for game time)
Rules
Governing Rules: The playing rules are regular FIFA soccer rules, unless specifically expressed below;
Equipment: Goalkeeper jersey must be different color to team jersey or a different colored bib. Shin guards must be worn and socks must cover shin guards. No watches, jewelry, rings, hard hair bands, etc. allowed with the exception of medic alert bracelets/tags. Only water in plastic or metal containers (no glass) is permitted on the field. No hot drinks, Juices, Gatorade (or similar product).
Start of the Game: Coin toss - winner chooses kick off or end
Time: Play Two 10 minute halves with a 3 minute halftime break.
Substitutions: Substitutions are permitted “on the fly”, at a place within 5 yards of the halfway line and players should be fully off the field before the substitute is allowed to enter. The exception is the goal keeper who can only be substituted at any stoppage of play with the permission of the referee
Ball “in and out of play”. The ball is “out of play”: a) when the whole of the ball has crossed the goal-line, or side-line, whether on the ground or in the air. b) when the ball touches ceiling structures. c) when the game has been stopped by the referee. NOTE: The ball is “in play” at all other times.
Restarts. When the ball goes out of play, the game is re-started by one of the following methods: a) Over the sidelines, with a kick in. b) Over the goal line or end line, with a goal kick if the attacking team last touched the ball; or a corner kick if the defending team last touched the ball. Goal kicks can be taken from anywhere inside the goal area. Corner kicks are taken from the corner arc. Goal kicks (and free kicks in the penalty area) no longer needs to leave the penalty area to be in play. c) Hitting ceiling structures, with an indirect free kick to the team that did not touch the ball last at a place below where the ball touched the ceiling.* d) An opponent must be a minimum of 3 yards from the place where indirect and direct free kicks take place. *Note: An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponents’ goal area is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
After a goal is scored, re-start the game with a kick-off at center mark.
Goals cannot be scored directly from a kick-off at center mark.
No Offside.
Slide tackling is not allowed.
Safety is of primary importance. Coaches are expected to stop reckless or dangerous play. Coaches should discuss fair play practices and what player actions would constitute a foul and encourage appropriate behavior.
