LAWS OF SOCCER
(Summarized and
Modified for MVSC Recreational League)
1.
The Field of Play
Field must
be rectangular and longer than it is wide. Field will be appropriate in
size to age of players.
2.
The Ball
U6 –
U8: No. 3 ball
U9 – U12: No. 4 ball
U14 – U19: No. 5 ball
U6 – no formal teams
U7 – 4 v 4
U8 – 5 v 5
U9 – 6 v 6
U10 – 8 v 8
U12 – 9 v 9
U14 – 11 v 11
U16 – 11 v 11
U19 – 11 v 11
A team may substitute during a stoppage of play as follows: on their
throw-in, or either team’s goal-kick, or after a goal is scored.
Substitutions are not allowed on corner kicks or penalties. The referee
must be notified and approve of a substitution prior to a
player leaving or entering the field of play.
4.
Equipment
All players shall wear a team jersey, shorts, shin-guards, socks and
soccer cleats. Baseball cleats (with a front toe cleat) are not
allowed. Shin-guards should be worn underneath socks. No jewelry
(earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.), or other equipment deemed
unsafe by the referee is allowed. Goalies shall wear a jersey differing
in color from either team.
5.
The Referee
The referee has full authority to make all decisions regarding all 17
Laws. The referee's decisions are final and not subject to appeal. The
referee's authority extends to the coaches and other spectators.
The referee’s primary
objective is insuring the player’s safety, but he should permit the game
to flow and not call trivial fouls, nor should he call fouls where
stopping play for a free kick would be less beneficial to the fouled
team than permitting play to continue. Especially at younger ages, a
referee is encouraged to explain calls to assist players in learning.
U7 – Coaches/Parent ref. Coaching allowed on field, but must be
objective and helpful to both teams. Encouragement of both teams
is allowed, but cheering exclusively for your team is inappropriate.
U8 – Coaches/Parent ref. Minimal coaching allowed on the field, but no
cheering.
U9 – Parent ref. No coaching allowed on field.
U10+ - Licensed ref supplied. In event of no shows, see rules for U9.
Referees, whether licensed or parent
volunteers, must be trusted to use their best judgment with integrity
and objectivity, to insure the safety of the players at all times.
Their calls should not be questioned by coaches, parents or players, but
should be supported by all with thanks for their efforts on the field.
6.
The Assistant Referees
Asst. Referees (or Linesmen) assist the Referee in officiating the game;
calling balls out of bounds, off-sides, and other fouls as necessary.
The Referee will grant them more or less authority based on their
qualifications.
7.
Duration of Game
Games are
played with two equal halves. Time is continuous – the clock is not
stopped for injuries or balls out of bounds. No “stoppage time” is
added in recreational soccer.
U6:
no formal games
U7: 15 min. halves
U8 : 20 min. halves
U9 – U10: 25 min. halves
U12: 30
min. halves
U14: 35
min. halves
U16: 40
min. halves
U19: 45 min. halves
8.
Start of Play
A coin flip
(or similar random device) is used to determine which team attacks first.
Play begins with a kick-off, with each team on their respective sides, and
the defending team outside the center circle. A kick-off is awarded at the
start of each half, or after a goal is scored.
9.
Ball In and Out of Play
The ball is out of play when the entire ball has completely crossed over the
touch line (sideline) or the goal line (end line), either on the ground or
in the air, and the referee has stopped play. The position of a player
touching the ball has no impact on the ball being called out of bounds (a
player may be on, or even outside the lines, when he is playing a ball).
The ball is deemed in play at all other times.
10.
Scoring
A goal is scored when the entire ball passes over the goal line, between the
goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no foul has been committed
previously by the scoring team.
U6 – U12: No score is kept on the field, and no standings within the league
are tracked.
Blow out rule.
If one team is
leading by 4 goals, then the coach of the leading team should take steps to
avoid a needlessly lopsided score. This includes rotating more skilled
players out of attacking positions, taking shots outside the penalty area,
and/or requiring a minimum of passes between players.
It is incumbent on
the coach of the leading team to implement such changes with
discretion.
11.
Off-sides
An attacking player is off-side only if the player is (1) in the opponents’
half of the field, (2) in front of the ball, (3) closer to the goal line
than at least two opponents, and (4) is involved in active play at
the moment the ball is played forward by the player’s teammate.
A player is not offside if the referee deems them even with the second to
last defender, even with the ball, or not involved in the attack. A player
is not considered offside if he receives the ball directly from a throw-in,
goal kick or corner kick.
U6 – U8: Off-sides is not called, but coaches should discourage “cherry
picking.”
12.
Fouls
A major foul occurs when a player carelessly, recklessly, or with
disproportionate force does one of the following:
a.
Kicks
or attempts to kick an opponent.
b.
Trips
or attempts to trip an opponent.
c.
Jumps
at an opponent.
d.
Charges
an opponent.
e.
Strikes
or attempts to strike an opponent.
f.
Pushes
an opponent.
g.
Tackles
an opponent and makes contact with the player before touching the ball.
Slide tackling is not allowed in ages U10 or younger.
h.
Holds
an opponent.
i.
Spits
on an opponent.
j.
Deliberately
handles the ball with any
portion of his arm from fingers to shoulder (except for the goalkeeper
within his own penalty area). For a “hand ball foul” to be called, their
must be intent by the player to strike the ball with some portion of
the arm or hand.
Generally, if contact is made “hand to ball” it is a foul. If it is
“ball to hand,” no foul.
If a player is protecting themselves from a hard shot, or if the ball
inadvertently strikes the hand, there is no foul.
A major foul results in a
direct free-kick. (*See note on “Free Kicks” & “Penalty Kicks”)
A minor foul occurs if a
player:
a.
Plays
in a dangerous manner.
b.
Impedes
the progress of an opponent.
c.
Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands.
d.
Charges
the goalkeeper.
A goalkeeper can commit a
minor foul if he:
a.
Touches
the ball with his hands after releasing it into play before it is touched by
another player.
b.
Touches
the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to the
goalkeeper by a teammate.
c.
Touches
the ball with his hands after receiving the ball directly from a teammate’s
throw-in.
A minor foul results in
an indirect free-kick, even if the foul occurs in the defending team’s
penalty box.
YELLOW CARDS & RED
CARDS:
The
Referee may determine that certain fouls or behavior warrant a significant
caution (yellow card) or ejection from the game (red card). An ejected
player may not be replaced by a substitute.
13.
Free Kicks
Direct free kicks – a goal may be scored directly from the kick.
Indirect free kicks – a goal cannot be scored until the ball is touched by a
player other than the kicker.
*In U6 – U9, all fouls result in an indirect free kick.
14.
Penalty Kicks
A penalty kick is awarded when a major foul is committed by a defender
within his own penalty area. The kick is taken on the penalty mark (approx.
11 meters directly in front of the goal) with no defense except the goalie,
who must remain on the goal line until the ball is kicked.
*No penalty kicks are allowed in ages U6 – U9.
15.
Throw-Ins
When the ball is played out of play over a touch line (side line), play is
restarted with a throw in for the team that didn’t touch the ball out of
play. A legal throw-in requires the player face the field with both feet on
the ground and outside the touch line, and uses both hands to throw the ball
from behind and over his head. An illegal throw-in results when the player
lifts one or both feet, uses only one hand to throw, or fails to bring the
ball from behind and over his head.
U6 – U8: An illegal throw in results in a warning, and a 2nd
attempt.
U9+: An illegal throw-in results in a throw in for the other team.
16.
Goal Kick
When the ball is played out of play over the goal line by the attacking
team, play is restarted with a goal kick for the defending team. The ball
is placed anywhere within the goal area and then kicked. Attacking
players must be outside the penalty area prior to the kick. The ball must
leave the penalty area before it is played by another player of either team,
or it is re-kicked.
17.
Corner Kick
When the ball is played out of play over the goal line by the defending
team, play is restarted with a corner kick for the attacking team. The ball
is placed within the corner arc on the side the ball went over the goal
line. Defenders must be at least 10 yards away.
Other Modified Rules
A.
Spectators:
Parents and spectators
must occupy the opposite side of the field from the players – NO
EXCEPTIONS. Both teams should occupy one side. Coaches are not permitted
to walk past the halfway line into the area occupied by the other team.
B.
Code of Conduct:
All parents are required
to read and support the policies and philosophies detailed in the “Code of
Conduct.” As a “self-policing” policy, every referee, coach and parent has
a responsibility to demonstrate and encourage good sportsmanship in both
players and each other. Behavior outside the guidelines of the Code should
be addressed and/or reported to the Club.
C.
Common Sense:
Referees in soccer must use common sense in applying and interpreting the
Laws in order to maintain the spirit of the game. Soccer is a game of
constant motion with no time for instant replay. Good judgment must be used
to allow the game to flow, which will sometimes result in “no calls” for
fouls that would contravene the spirit of the game or take an attacking
advantage away from a team.
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