For Age specific Rules:

U05/U06      U08     U10     U12     U14

Condensed Laws of the Game

Law 2 - The Ball  

Size 5 U14

Size 4 U12

Size 4 U10

Size 3 U08

Size 3 U05/U06

Law 3 - Number of Players

If a team does not have enough players to field a full team, the opposing team shall lend players to the other team on a rotating basis.

Substitutions shall be made during halftime or quarter breaks. Injured players who have been replaced may not return to the game until the next normal substitution break.

The uniform consists of jersey, shorts, socks, and shin guards. Cleats, if worn, must be of rubber or plastic. A player may not wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewelry). The goalkeeper must wear colors which distinguish him from the other players, the referee, and the assistant referees.

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed. The referee acts as timekeeper, stops the match for injuries, and reminds players of proper game conduct. The referee may caution or eject a player due to persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game. The referee shall also ensure that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play. The player may return if the referee is satisfied that the bleeding has stopped.

Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate when the ball has left the field of play; which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick, or throw in; and when a player may be penalized for being in an offside position.

U14           Two halves of  35 min

U12           Two halves of  30 min

U10           Two halves of  24 min

U08            Four ten minute periods

U05/U06    Four five minute periods

Additionally, the referee may make an allowance for time lost for injury assessment, time wasting or any other cause deemed appropriate. The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

The winner of a coin toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half with the kick-off going to the other team. The coin toss winner will kick-off in the second half. A kick-off is also the way of restarting the match after a goal has been scored. A goal may be scored directly from a kick-off. All players must be in their own half of the field and the opposing team must remain outside the center circle until the ball is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward. The kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

The ball is out of play when when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line on the ground or in the air or play has been stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times including when it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar, corner flag, or referee and stays on the field.

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts, and under the crossbar.

A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second to last opponent. A player is not in an offside position if he is on his own half of the field, he is level with the second to last opponent, or he is level with the last two opponents.

A player in an offside position is penalized only if, at the moment the ball is played by one of his team, he is involved in the active play by interfering with the play or an opponent or otherwise gaining an advantage. A player cannot be penalized for offside on a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in. Not enforced in U06/U08 age groups.

If enforcement of the following fouls would result in a disadvantage to the

team which was fouled, the referee shall allow play to continue. If the

anticipated advantage does not occur, the referee may then appropriately penalize the original offense.

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team for any of the following offenses:

Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent

Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent

Jumping at or charging an opponent

Striking or attempting to strike an opponent

Pushing or attempting to push an opponent

Holding an opponent

Spitting at an opponent

Handling the ball deliberately (with the exception of the

goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

Making contact with the opponent before otherwise legally taking possession of the ball

A direct free kick is generally taken from where the offense occurred. If any of the above offenses is committed in the penalty area, the referee shall award a penalty kick. For U06 and U08 age groups, neither direct kicks or penalty kicks shall be awarded. The referee shall award an indirect free kick when these offenses are committed in these age groups.

An indirect free kick is awarded for any of the following offenses:

Playing in a dangerous manner

Impeding the progress of an opponent

Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball into play

A goalkeeper taking more than 6 seconds to release the ball while controlling the ball with his hands

A goalkeeper handling the ball after releasing it into play but before it has touched another player

A goalkeeper handling the ball after it has been deliberately kicked or thrown-in to him by a teammate

A goalkeeper wasting time

The indirect free kick is generally taken from where the offense occurred.

Offenses resulting in either caution or ejection are covered by this Law, however, we have elected to omit them in this handbook.

Free kicks are either direct or indirect. For either kick, the ball must be stationary when kicked and the kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

If a direct kick goes into the opponents goal, a goal is awarded. To score a goal on an indirect kick, the ball must be subsequently touched by another player before it enters the goal.

Opponents must be 10 yards from the ball before the free kick is taken unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts.

Direct kicks are not awarded in U06 and U08 age groups.

A penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark. All players with the exception of the kicker and the goalkeeper must be outside the penalty area and 10 yards away from the ball. The goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the kick is taken.

Penalty kicks are not awarded in U06 and U08 age groups.

Law 15 - The Throw-In

A throw-in is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the touch line at the point where it crossed the touch line to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball.

To complete a throw-in properly, the thrower must face the field of play; have part of each foot on or behind the touch line; use both hands; and deliver the ball from behind and over his head.

A goal may not be scored directly from a throw-in. The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

If the thrower does not complete a proper throw-in, a throw-in is awarded to the opposing team. In U06 and U08 age groups, players will be given more than one opportunity to properly complete a throw-in.

A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, crosses over the goal line in such a manner which would not result in a goal being awarded to the attacking team.

The defending team kicks the ball from any point within their goal area. The opposing team must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. The ball is not in play until it passes outside the penalty area. The kick will retaken until it passes outside the penalty area.

A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, crosses over the goal line in such a manner which would not result in a goal being awarded to the attacking team.

The attacking team kicks the ball from inside the corner arc at the nearest corner flag. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player. The corner flag post may not be moved. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

The unwritten law not found in FIFA’s Laws of the Game. Applies to all coaches’, parents’, referees’, and players’ decisions and actions. If you can only remember one law, this is the one!!

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