LAW 1 - The Field of Play: This is the basic layout of a soccer field. The size of the field will vary from league to
league, usually depending on the age of the players.
LAW 2 - The Ball: A regulation size soccer ball is a No. 5 ball. Youth leagues may use different size
balls, such as a No. 3 ball or a No. 4 ball, depending on the age of the children.
LAW 3 - Number of Players: There must be no more that 11 players on the field of play for either team. A minimum number of players is usually 7. Some youth leagues encourage games with less than 11 players to help in the development of young players. One player from each team must be designated as a goalkeeper. The goalkeeper must wear a different color shirt from his teammates so that everyone can easily distinguish the goalie. The goalie can only use his hands inside the penalty area.
LAW 4 - Player’s Equipment: Players must wear the same colored jersey or shirts. All youth programs require shin guards to be worn by all players. If your players will be wearing cleats, make sure they are soccer cleats. A soccer cleat does not have a cleat at the front edge of the shoe like a baseball cleat. This is for safety.
LAW 5 - Referees: The referee enforces the 17 laws. There is one difference between soccer and most other sports played in America. In soccer, the referee may let play continue and not call a foul if he or she thinks that stopping play would give an advantage to the team committing the foul. This is called the “advantage clause”. The referee should say “play on” when this occurs.
LAW 6 - Linesmen and Lineswomen: Two linesmen may assist the referee in controlling the game. The linesmen’s duty is to signal to the referee when the ball is out; to indicate a corner kick, a goal kick or to designate which team is entitled to the throw-in. The linesmen may also signal offsides, fouls or misconduct if a goal has been scored or when substitution is desired. The referee on the field makes the official and final decisions. The linesmen are there to assist the referee; the referee may or may not act upon their advice. Coaches should not expect to have linesmen at their youth soccer games. Sometimes you are lucky to have a single referee. I have coached games where the opposing coach and I had to take turns being the referee, because an official never showed up.
LAW 7 - Duration of the Game: The duration of the game will depend on the age of the children. Older children will more than likely have two halves. Younger children often times play four quarters. Your league will determine whether quarters or halves are played and how long each will be.
LAW 8 - Start of Play: Kick Off and Drop Ball: A kick off is taken to start a game, to restart play after a goal has been scored or to start the second half or a new quarter. At kickoff all players must be on their team’s half of the field. The ball is placed on the center spot in the middle of the center circle. The ball must be kicked forward at least one full rotation into the opponents’ “half of the field.” The team that kicks off to begin the game is determined by a coin toss between the captains and the referee. After a goal the team that was just scored upon starts the kick off. For new quarters and halves, the team, which did not kick off the previous quarter or half will kick off. A goal cannot be scored by kicking the ball directly into the goal on a kick off. A drop ball is played when the referee stops play for a reason other than a rule infraction. An injury is a good example. The referee restarts play by dropping the ball between two players, one from each team. A dropped ball may not be played until it touches the ground. The first player playing the ball is allowed to play the ball again without it having to be touched by another player. This means the player may dribble, pass or shoot the ball after touching it.
LAW 9 - Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play whenever it is completely outside the outside edge of the touchline or the goal line either on the ground or in the air. Also it is out of play when the referee stops play for any reason. The ball is in play if any part of the ball is inside or touching the touchline or goal line. The ball is considered in play after bouncing off of a goal post, cross bar, corner flag, linesmen or referee if the ball remains on the playing field.
Law 10 - The Method of Scoring: A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.
Law 11 - Offside Position: It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct : A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force.
Law 13 - Free Kicks: Free kicks are either direct or indirect.
Law 14 - The Penalty Kick: A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits one of the ten offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each half or at the end of periods of extra time.
Law 15 - The Throw-In: A throw-in is a method of restarting play. A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball crosses the touch line, either on the ground or in the air. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
Law 16 - The Goal-Kick: A goal kick is a method of restarting play. A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team
Law 17 - The Corner Kick : A corner kick is a method for restarting the game. A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.
league, usually depending on the age of the players.
LAW 2 - The Ball: A regulation size soccer ball is a No. 5 ball. Youth leagues may use different size
balls, such as a No. 3 ball or a No. 4 ball, depending on the age of the children.
LAW 3 - Number of Players: There must be no more that 11 players on the field of play for either team. A minimum number of players is usually 7. Some youth leagues encourage games with less than 11 players to help in the development of young players. One player from each team must be designated as a goalkeeper. The goalkeeper must wear a different color shirt from his teammates so that everyone can easily distinguish the goalie. The goalie can only use his hands inside the penalty area.
LAW 4 - Player’s Equipment: Players must wear the same colored jersey or shirts. All youth programs require shin guards to be worn by all players. If your players will be wearing cleats, make sure they are soccer cleats. A soccer cleat does not have a cleat at the front edge of the shoe like a baseball cleat. This is for safety.
LAW 5 - Referees: The referee enforces the 17 laws. There is one difference between soccer and most other sports played in America. In soccer, the referee may let play continue and not call a foul if he or she thinks that stopping play would give an advantage to the team committing the foul. This is called the “advantage clause”. The referee should say “play on” when this occurs.
LAW 6 - Linesmen and Lineswomen: Two linesmen may assist the referee in controlling the game. The linesmen’s duty is to signal to the referee when the ball is out; to indicate a corner kick, a goal kick or to designate which team is entitled to the throw-in. The linesmen may also signal offsides, fouls or misconduct if a goal has been scored or when substitution is desired. The referee on the field makes the official and final decisions. The linesmen are there to assist the referee; the referee may or may not act upon their advice. Coaches should not expect to have linesmen at their youth soccer games. Sometimes you are lucky to have a single referee. I have coached games where the opposing coach and I had to take turns being the referee, because an official never showed up.
LAW 7 - Duration of the Game: The duration of the game will depend on the age of the children. Older children will more than likely have two halves. Younger children often times play four quarters. Your league will determine whether quarters or halves are played and how long each will be.
LAW 8 - Start of Play: Kick Off and Drop Ball: A kick off is taken to start a game, to restart play after a goal has been scored or to start the second half or a new quarter. At kickoff all players must be on their team’s half of the field. The ball is placed on the center spot in the middle of the center circle. The ball must be kicked forward at least one full rotation into the opponents’ “half of the field.” The team that kicks off to begin the game is determined by a coin toss between the captains and the referee. After a goal the team that was just scored upon starts the kick off. For new quarters and halves, the team, which did not kick off the previous quarter or half will kick off. A goal cannot be scored by kicking the ball directly into the goal on a kick off. A drop ball is played when the referee stops play for a reason other than a rule infraction. An injury is a good example. The referee restarts play by dropping the ball between two players, one from each team. A dropped ball may not be played until it touches the ground. The first player playing the ball is allowed to play the ball again without it having to be touched by another player. This means the player may dribble, pass or shoot the ball after touching it.
LAW 9 - Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play whenever it is completely outside the outside edge of the touchline or the goal line either on the ground or in the air. Also it is out of play when the referee stops play for any reason. The ball is in play if any part of the ball is inside or touching the touchline or goal line. The ball is considered in play after bouncing off of a goal post, cross bar, corner flag, linesmen or referee if the ball remains on the playing field.
Law 10 - The Method of Scoring: A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.
Law 11 - Offside Position: It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct : A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force.
Law 13 - Free Kicks: Free kicks are either direct or indirect.
Law 14 - The Penalty Kick: A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits one of the ten offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each half or at the end of periods of extra time.
Law 15 - The Throw-In: A throw-in is a method of restarting play. A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball crosses the touch line, either on the ground or in the air. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
Law 16 - The Goal-Kick: A goal kick is a method of restarting play. A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team
Law 17 - The Corner Kick : A corner kick is a method for restarting the game. A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.