• All players are required to wear shin guards 

• Cleats are allowed (no toe cleat, no metal spikes) 

• Coin toss determines who gets the ball to start 

• 5 minute halftime

Small sided soccer provides players with more opportunities for touches on the ball, which in turn helps the overall player development.

U6 - 3 v 3

• Size 3 ball 

• Coach on the field 

• No goalie 

• No headballs 

• Free Substitution at any break in play

• 1 referees 

U8 - 4 v 4 

• Size 3 ball 

• Coach moves to the sideline

• No goalie 

• No headballs 

• Ball may not be played in the goal box/play results in a corner kick or goal kick 

• Substitution rules apply 

• 1 referee 

U10 - 7 v 7

• Size 4 ball

• Offsides 

• No headballs 

• Referee and two ARs 

U12 - 9 v 9

• Size 4 ball 

• 30 minute halves 

U14 - 11 v 11 

• Size 5 ball 

• 35 minute halves 

Hand balls  

The rule for a hand ball includes using any part of the body from the tips of the fingers to the shoulder. The proper way to look at this rule is that a player cannot “handle” the ball. A ball that is kicked and hits a player’s hand or arm is not a hand ball. The referee will judge whether or not a hand ball is accidental contact or the player handled the ball on purpose to gain an advantage. 

There is also a situation in which the goalie cannot use his/her hands (sometimes called the back-pass rule). Goalkeepers cannot pick up a pass that came directly from one of their teammates. In this case, the goalkeeper must use his/her feet. 

Throw-ins  

A throw-in is taken when the ball crosses a sideline and leaves the field. The two basic rules for a proper throw-in are to have both feet on the ground and to throw the ball with both hands over the head.  

Corner Kicks & Goal Kicks  

A corner kick or goal kick is taken when the ball leaves the field across the goal line – the end of the field. If the offensive team kicks it out, play is restarted with a goal kick. If the defensive team kicks it out, play is restarted with a corner kick. The goal kick is taken from anywhere inside the “goal area box”. It can be taken by any player. The ball must leave the “Penalty Area” before anyone can touch the ball. If the ball does not leave the Penalty Area then the kick must retake. The corner kick is taken from the corner nearest to where the ball left the field.  

Offside 

A player is in an offside position if: he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. You cannot be offside on a corner kick, goal kick, or throw-in. Also, it is not an offense for a player to be in an offside position. The player must be involved in active play as determined by the referee to be called offside. 

Two-touch Rule 

A player cannot touch the ball twice in a row when putting the ball in play. It applies everywhere. You will see it frequently on kick-offs or direct and indirect kicks. If a player barely hits the ball and decides to take another kick at it, that is a two-touch. This also applies to throw-ins. A player cannot throw the ball in and then kick it. 

Fouls  

A player cannot kick, trip, jump at, charge, strike, push, hold, or spit at an opponent. Bumping, leaning or going shoulder-to-shoulder while competing for a ball is not a foul until the hands or elbows come up.