Fluvanna Youth Soccer Association
Recreational Soccer Guidelines and Laws of the Game
General Guidelines
➢ Be positive and encouraging.
➢ Create a fun, safe family friendly environment at your practices and on game days.
➢ Keep kids moving and playing in practice. Follow the 3 Ls: No lines, No laps, No lectures.
➢ Teach proper technique
➢ Do not yell at referees, other coaches, players, or parents. Do not approach referees to complain.
➢ All players must have equal playing time.
➢ Avoid margins of more than 5 goals.
THE LAWS OF THE GAME
FIFA/USYSA Laws will apply as specifically modified and outlined below by FYSA.
U-8 and younger some laws do not apply.
LAW 1 - THE FIELD:
Each team’s players and coaches will be positioned on one half of the sideline. All spectators and parents must be on the opposite side of the field. Parents and spectators are not permitted on the players and coaches side.
U-8 and younger small fields size determined by FYSA
U-10 approximately 60x40 yards
U-12 approximately 70x50 yards U-13 + approximately 120x60
LAW 2 - THE BALL:
U-8 and younger : size 3
U-10 & U-12 : size 4
U-13 + : size 5
LAW 3 - THE PLAYERS:
ALL PLAYERS MUST RECEIVE EQUAL PLAYING TIME
U-6 and younger 3 v3 or more determined by coaches based on roster size
U-8: 5v5 or more determined by coaches based on roster size
U-10: 7v7
U-12: 9v9
U-13 + 11v11
U-6 and younger coaches are on the field with the players.
U-8 coaches should try to avoid coaching on the field during games.
U-10 and older:
All substitutions take place at the mid-field line. Players only enter the field with the referee’s permission.
Substitutions are allowed at these times:
● By either team, after a goal has been scored.
● By either team, prior to a goal kick.
● By either team, when the referee stops the match for an injury.
● By either team at half time.
● By the team in possession of the ball, prior to a throw-in.
Substitution is required if a player is issued a yellow card. The player may re-enter that game at the next opportunity with the permission of the referee.
LAW 4 - PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT:
All players wear FYSA uniforms. If colors are the same one team will wear pinnies.
Shin guards are required.
Shoes/cleats cannot have a toe cleat.
No watches or jewelry.
Casts must be properly padded.
LAW 5 - THE REFEREE
The referee’s decisions are final.
Do not argue or yell at referees, other coaches, players, or parents.
Do not approach referees to complain.
LAW 6 - OTHER OFFICIALS
FYSA Director Tom Beckham fysaforce@aol.com
LAW 7 - DURATION OF THE GAME:
U-6 and younger: four 12 minute quarters, 3-5 minutes between quarters
U-8: two 25 minute halves, 5 minute halftime
U-10: two 30 minute halves, 5 minute halftime
U-12: two 35 minute halves, 5 minute halftime
U-14 + : two 40 minute halves, 5 minute halftime
The game clock is the responsibility of the referee and will run continuously.
Play will be stopped if field conditions become dangerous or if there is thunder / lightning in the area.
LAW 8 - START AND RESTART OF PLAY
Kick-off at the center of the field. All players must be on their side. The defending team must be outside of the center circle.
Play begins with the referee’s whistle. Play stops with the referee’s whistle.
Drop balls are not contested and go to the team with possession or to the goal keeper if the ball is inside the penalty area. Defending players must be 5 yards away.
U-6 and younger: coaches facilitate all starts and restarts
U-10 and younger: Infractions on restarts. Infractions for all restarts (throw-ins, goal kicks, corner kicks, free kicks, etc.) are given back to the team with the ball to be retaken.
U-10 and younger: Build out line. The build out line will be painted on the field or the half line will be used as the build out line. Build out lines are required for U-8 and U-10 age groups. Build out lines promote playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting. When the goalkeeper has the ball, either during play (from the opponent) or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play. Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punting is not allowed). After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal. The ball is considered “in play” when the goalkeeper’s intended recipient has received the ball. Not the moment that the goalkeeper releases the ball.
U-10 and younger: No punting. If a goalkeeper punts the ball, play is stopped by the referee and the ball is given back to the goalkeeper to pass, throw or roll the ball into play.
U-10 and younger: No heading. If a player intentionally plays the ball with his/her head the opposing team is awarded an indirect kick. If a ball hits a player in the head by accident play is stopped by the referee, the player’s safety is evaluated then the ball is dropped to the team with possession prior to the ball hitting the players head.
LAW 9 - THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
The ball is out of play only after the entire ball has crossed the line.
If the ball touches the referee play is stopped and then restarted with a drop ball to the team with possession.
LAW 10 _ DETERMINING THE OUTCOME OF A MATCH
U-8 and younger: DO NOT KEEP SCORE. Exemplifying and teaching sportsmanship is of utmost importance.
U-10 + : FYSA recreational soccer is a community program designed to be a fun and engaging experience for all players. Exemplifying and teaching sportsmanship is of utmost importance. Scores are not reported and standings are not kept. FYSA understands that players and parents keep score. Coaches are responsible for emphasizing that the game is for fun, that scores do not matter, and coaches are responsible for avoiding margins of more than 5 goals.
All players must receive equal playing time in ALL games.
LAW 11 - OFFSIDE:
Coaches, players and spectators are not permitted to request an offside call.
U-12 + : Offside will be enforced according to FIFA Law 11.
U-8 & U-10: Offside will be enforced for offenses that are obvious and create an attacking advantage. An attacking player will be considered offside if they are positioned clearly behind the last defender. The restart for an offside offense is at the location of the offense with an indirect kick.
LAW 12 - FOULS AND MISCONDUCT:
Coaches, players and spectators are not permitted to request a foul be called by the referee or that a card be issued by the referee.
Yellow cards are issued for dissent, repeated fouling, and unsporting behavior.
Two yellow cards for any player or coach are a red card (ejection).
Any player issued a red card (ejected) from a game is not allowed to participate in the remainder of the game.
Any coach observed behaving with misconduct towards a player, referee or spectator AND/OR any coach issued a red card (ejected) must leave the premises immediately. Further action may be implemented by FYSA.
Handling the ball - it is only an offense if the player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm. Accidentally touching the ball with the hand/arm is NOT an offense. Coaches, players and spectators are not permitted to request a handling offense. The restart is a direct free kick.
Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their players and their supporters. No player, coach, or spectator shall enter the field of play regardless of the circumstances, unless that person has been given permission to enter the field by the referee.
LAW 13 - LAW 17 FREE KICKS, PENALTY KICKS, THROW-INS, GOAL KICKS & CORNER KICKS
13) Free kicks are signaled by the referee. Defending players must be 10 yards away. Indirect kicks must touch another player before the ball can go into the goal. Direct kicks may enter the goal without touching another player.
14) The penalty kick is awarded by the referee if a direct free kick foul is committed by the defending team inside their penalty area. The penalty spot is 12 yards from the goal line. Coaches, players and spectators are not permitted to request a penalty kick be awarded by the referee.
15) The throw-in must be taken on or behind the line with both feet on the ground. The player must throw the ball with both hands from behind and over the head. The referee determines the spot of the throw-in. Opponents must be at least 2 yards away from the player throwing the ball. U-10 and younger: Infractions on all throw-ins are given back to the team with the ball to be retaken.
16) The goal kick is awarded when the ball goes over the goal line after it was last touched by the attacking team and a goal is not scored. If the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal a corner kick is awarded. The goal kick can be taken by any player on the defending team and must be taken from within the goal area. There is no offside on a goal kick.
U-10 and younger: Build out line. The build out line will be painted on the field or the half line will be used as the build out line. Build out lines are required for U-8 and U-10 age groups. Build out lines promote playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting. The opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play. Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punting is not allowed). After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal. The ball is considered “in play” when the goalkeeper’s intended recipient has received the ball. Not the moment that the goalkeeper releases the ball.
17) The corner kick is awarded when the ball goes over the goal line after it was last touched by the defending team and a goal is not scored. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick. There is no offside on a corner kick.