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Recreational Rules
Division U5
| Field | 70 by 100 feet; no center circle |
| Goals | 4 ft. high and 6 ft. wide |
| Ball | Size 3 |
| Players | 4 v 4 (or 5 v 5, if both coaches agree); no goalkeepers. Substitutions between periods and at halftime. Playing time: 50% minimum, 75% preferred. |
| Players' Equipment | Tennis shoes or rounded soft-cleated soccer shoes. Shinguards – MANDATORY at all practices and games. |
| Referee | Could be registered youth or adult referee, coach or parent. Referees should emphasize safety, fairness, fun and learning. |
| Duration of Game | Four 6-minute periods; Quarter breaks 2-3 minutes; Halftime break 5 minutes. |
| Start of Play | The game should be started by a free kick in the middle of the field. A coin flip will determine which team will kick off. The opposing team will start the second half. Referees will end quarters when the ball goes out of play as close to regulation time as possible. The next quarter will being with the appropriate re-start (throw-in, corner kick, free kick) by the team with possession. The referee will ensure that all opponents are at least 10 feet from the spot of any free kick. |
| Ball In and Out of Play | When the whole ball crosses the touch line either on the ground or in the air, it should be thrown in from where it crossed the line, by a player on the opposing team. When the whole ball crosses the goal line (not into the goal), it should be kicked into play from where it crossed the line by a player on the opposing team. |
| Method of Scoring | A goal is scored when the whole ball completely crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar. No score is kept at this level. |
| Fouls and Misconduct | Direct free kick for all fouls, with opponents 10 feet away. Referees should explain ALL infractions. |
Soccer Specific Training for the Under - 5 Player
| Techniques | Dribbling (close & turning) Instep kick (left/right foot) Throw-in |
| Knowledge | Ball in and out of play Handball Don’t kick or trip others |
| Principles of Play | Penetration (directional) |
Division U6
| Field | 90 X 120 feet; center circle 10-foot radius; no penalty area or mark. |
| Goals | 5 ft. high and 10 ft. wide |
| Ball | Size 3 |
| Players | 5 v 5 (or 6 v 6, if both coaches agree) with a goalkeeper. Substitutions between periods and at halftime. Playing time: 50% minimum, 75% preferred. |
| Players' Equipment | Tennis shoes or rounded soft-cleated soccer shoes. Shinguards – MANDATORY at all practices and games. |
| Referee | Could be registered youth or adult referee, coach or parent. Referees should emphasize safety, fairness, fun and learning. |
| Duration of Game | Four 8-minute periods; Quarter breaks 2-3 minutes, Halftime break 5-7 minutes. |
| Start of Play | The game should be started by a free kick in the middle of the field. A coin flip will determine which team will kick off. The opposing team will start the second half. Referees will end quarters when the ball goes out of play as close to regulation time as possible. The next quarter will being with the appropriate re-start (throw-in, corner kick, free kick) by the team with possession. The referee will ensure that all opponents are at least 10 feet from the spot of any free kick. |
| Ball in and Out of Play | When the whole ball crosses the touch line either on the ground or in the air, it should be thrown in from where it crossed the line, by a player on the opposing team. When the whole ball crosses the goal line (not into the goal), it should be kicked into play from where it crossed the line by a player on the opposing team. |
| Method of Scoring | A goal is scored when the whole ball completely crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar. No score is kept at this level. |
| Fouls and Misconduct | Direct free kick for all fouls, with opponents 10 feet away. Referees should explain ALL infractions. |
Soccer Specific Training for the Under - 6 Player
| Techniques | Dribbling (close & turning) Instep kick (left/right foot) Throw-in |
| Knowledge | Ball in and out of play Handball Don’t kick or trip others |
| Principles of Play | Penetration (directional) |
Divison U8
| Field | 120 X 165 feet; goal area 18 X 48 feet; penalty area 36 X 84 feet (no penalty kicks for rec); center circle 18-foot radius. |
| Goals | 6.5 X 12 feet. |
| Ball | Size 4 |
| Players | 8 v 8 (or 9 v 9, if both coaches agree) with goalkeepers. Substitutions between periods and at halftime. Playing time: 50% minimum, 75% preferred. |
| Players' Equipment | Tennis shoes or rounded soft-cleated soccer shoes. Shinguards – MANDATORY at all practices and games. |
| Referee | Registered youth or adult referee. Referees should emphasize safety, fairness, fun and learning. |
| Duration of Game | 4 12-minute quarters; Quarter breaks 2-5 minutes, Halftime break 5-7 minutes. |
| Start of Play | The game should be started by a free kick in the middle of the field. A coin flip will determine which team will kick off. The opposing team will start the second half. Referees will end quarters when the ball goes out of play as close to regulation time as possible. The next quarter will being with the appropriate re-start (throw-in, corner kick, free kick) by the team with possession. The referee will ensure that all opponents are at least 16 feet from the spot of any free kick. |
| Ball In & Out of Play | When the whole ball crosses the touch line either on the ground or in the air, it should be thrown in from where it crossed the line, by a player on the opposing team. When the whole ball crosses the goal line (not into the goal), it should be kicked into play from the goal area line by a player on the opposing team (usually the goalkeeper or a defender). |
| Method of Scoring | A goal is scored when the whole ball completely crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar. Scores are kept at this level. |
| Fouls & Misconducts | Direct free kick for all fouls, with opponents 16 feet away. Referees should explain ALL infractions. There are NO penalty kicks at the U8 level. |
Division U10
| Field | 135 X 180 feet; goal area 18 X 54 feet; penalty area 42 X 87 feet; penalty mark 30 ft; penalty arc 21 ft; center circle 18-foot radius. |
| Goals | 6.5 X 18 feet |
| Ball Size | Size 4 |
| Players | 7 v 7 (or 8 v 8, if both coaches agree) with goalkeepers. Substitutions between periods and at halftime. Playing time: 50% minimum, 75% preferred. |
| Players' Equipment | Tennis shoes or rounded soft-cleated soccer shoes. Shinguards – MANDATORY at all practices and games. |
| Referee | Registered youth or adult referee. Referees should emphasize safety, fairness, fun and learning. |
| Duration of Game | 4 14-minute quarters; Quarter breaks 5 minutes; Halftime break 5-7 minutes. |
| Start of Play | The game should be started by a free kick in the middle of the field. A coin flip will determine which team will kick off. The opposing team will start the second half. Referees will end quarters when the ball goes out of play as close to regulation time as possible. The next quarter will being with the appropriate re-start (throw-in, corner kick, free kick) by the team with possession. The referee will ensure that all opponents are at least 18 feet from the spot of the free kick. |
| Ball In & Out of Play | When the whole ball crosses the touch line either on the ground or in the air, it should be thrown in from where it crossed the line by a player on the opposing team. When the whole ball crosses the goal line (not into the goal), it should be kicked into play from the goal area line by a player on the opposing team (usually the goalkeeper or a defender). |
| Method of Scoring | A goal is scored when the whole ball completely crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar. Scores are kept at this level. |
| Fouls & Misconducts | All Direct and Indirect Free Kick fouls are enforced (e.g., tripping, handball, offside, etc.), including penaly kicks. |
Divison U12
| Field | 150 X 200 feet; goal area 18 X 54 feet; penalty area 42 X 87 feet; penalty mark 30 ft; penalty arc 24 ft; center circle 18-foot radius. |
| Goals | 6.5 X 18 ft |
| Ball Size | Size 4 |
| Players | 7 vs 7 (or 8 vs 8, if both coaches agree) with goalkeepers included. Substitutions on possession. Playing time: 50% minimum, 75% preferred. |
| Players' Equipment | Tennis shoes or rounded soft-cleated soccer shoes. Shinguards – MANDATORY at all practices and games. |
| Referee | Registered youth or adult referee, with 2 Assistant Referees. Referees should emphasize safety, fairness, fun and learning. |
| Duration of Game | 2 30-minute halves; Halftime break 5-7 minutes. |
| Start of Play | The game should be started by a free kick in the middle of the field. A coin flip will determine which team will kick off. The opposing team will start the second half. Referees will end each half when the ball goes out of play as close to regulation time as possible. The referee will ensure that all opponents are at least 18 feet from the spot of any free kick. |
| Ball In & Out of Play | When the whole ball crosses the touch line either on the ground or in the air, it should be thrown in from where it crossed the line by a player on the opposing team. When the whole ball crosses the goal line (not into the goal), it should be kicked into play from the goal area line by a player on the opposing team (usually the goalkeeper or a defender). |
| Method of Scoring | A goal is scored when the whole ball completely crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar. Scores are kept at this level. |
| Fouls & Misconducts | All Direct and Indirect Free Kick fouls are enforced (e.g., tripping, handball, offside, etc.), including penaly kicks. |
Divison U14
| Field | TBD |
| Goals | TBD |
| Ball Size | Size 5 |
| Players | TBD |
| Players' Equipment | Tennis shoes or rounded soft-cleated soccer shoes. Shinguards – MANDATORY at all practices and games. |
| Referee | Registered youth or adult referee, with 2 Assistant Referees. Referees should emphasize safety, fairness, fun and learning. |
| Duration of Game | TBD |
| Start of Play | The game should be started by a free kick in the middle of the field. A coin flip will determine which team will kick off. The opposing team will start the second half. Referees will end each half when the ball goes out of play as close to regulation time as possible. The referee will ensure that all opponents are at least 18 feet from the spot of any free kick. |
| Ball In & Out of Play | When the whole ball crosses the touch line either on the ground or in the air, it should be thrown in from where it crossed the line by a player on the opposing team. When the whole ball crosses the goal line (not into the goal), it should be kicked into play from the goal area line by a player on the opposing team (usually the goalkeeper or a defender). |
| Method of Scoring | A goal is scored when the whole ball completely crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar. Scores are kept at this level. |
| Fouls & Misconducts | All Direct and Indirect Free Kick fouls are enforced (e.g., tripping, handball, offside, etc.), including penaly kicks. |
For 2012 Spring Season Would you like 6 or 8 weeks?
