League Rules

U4 League Details: Saturday (practice + play)

• Field Size: 15-20Wx25L

• Ball Size: 3

• Game Format : 4 v 4

• Goalkeeper: None 

• Referee: No certified referees, coaches are on the field 

• Game Duration: Four 6 minute quarters 

• Game Breaks: 5 minute half time + 1 minutes water break after each quarter 

• Offsides: None 

• Heading : None 

• Recommended Roster Size 8-10 

U4 Cubs Rules and Information

• Practices: No mandatory practices during the week. On scheduled game days, teams practice/warm-up 10-12 minutes and then proceed to their game. Practices are on the same field as the game, with both teams practicing at the same time each team on a half.

• Continuous Play: No throw-ins. Whenever a ball goes out of play, the closest coach on that half of the field rolls a new ball into play.

• Substitutions: Allowed any time the ball is out of play - with the permission of the coach (referee).

• Start of Play: Kick offs are used at the beginning of each quarter.

• Slide Tackles: Not allowed.

• Heading the Ball: Not allowed.

• Goalkeepers: No goalkeepers - no player is allowed to defend the goal area. Players should not be standing directly inside the goal area. 

• Spectators: Only coaches and players are allowed on the field. Spectators must remain outside of the fences. 

U4 Practice Plans

U6 League Details: 

• Field Size: 20Wx30L

• Ball Size: 3

• Game Format: 4 v 4

• Goalkeeper: None 

• Referee: No referees, one coach from each team is on the field during play

• Game Duration: Four 10 minute quarters 

• Game Breaks: 5 minute half time + 1 minutes water break after each quarter 

• Offsides: None 

• Heading : None 

• Recommended Roster Size 8-10 

U6 Cubs Rules and Information

• Continuous Play: No throw-ins. Whenever a ball goes out of play, the closest coach on that half of the field rolls a new ball into play. (continuous play).

• Substitutions: Allowed any time the ball is out of play - with the permission of the coach (referee).

• Start of Play: Kick offs are used at the beginning of each quarter.

• Slide Tackles: Not allowed.

• Heading the Ball: Not allowed.

• Goalkeepers: No goalkeepers - no player is allowed to defend the goal area. Players should not be standing directly inside the goal area. 

• Spectators: Only coaches and players are allowed on the field. Spectators must remain outside of the fences. 

• Reminder: If the score becomes unbalanced, the losing team needs to add a player to the game. 

• ROSTER GAME DAY RULE: If a team does not have the correct number of players to start the match, the opposing team should reduce their number of players so that each team has the same number of players on the field to begin the game OR the opposing coach may elect to loan a player or players to the undermanned team so that the maximum number of players are used. Often as the match progresses players arrive late and this will no longer be necessary. 

7U & 8U League Details: 

• Field Size: 25Wx35L

• Ball Size: 3

• Game Format: 4 v 4 (5v5 can be ONLY played if both coaches agree before the game and each team has 9-10 players show up on game day)

• Goalkeeper: None 

• Referee: No (Courage Game Day Staff Official)

• Game Duration: Four 10 minute quarters 

• Game Breaks: 5 minute half time 

• Offsides: None 

• Heading : None 

• Recommended Roster Size 8-10 

7U & 8U Courage House Rules and Information

• Kick-ins: No throw-ins. Kick-ins are awarded to the opposing team when a player causes the ball to entirely cross the touchline. Players may dribble or pass in from the line.

• Goal kick: If the team attempting to score a goal kicks the ball over the goal line outside the goal posts, the opposing team puts the ball back into play with a goal kick. 

• Substitutions: Allowed any time the ball is out of play - with the permission of the referee.

• Start of Play: Kick offs are used at the beginning of each quarter and after each goal. All players must remain on their half of the field until the ball is kicked.

• Corner Kick: If the team defending the goal touches the ball last before it crosses the goal line, the attacking team puts the ball back into play with an indirect kick.

• Slide Tackles: Not allowed.

• Heading the Ball: Not allowed.

• Goalkeepers: No goalkeepers - no player is allowed to defend the goal area. Players should not be standing directly inside the goal area. 

• Spectators: Only coaches and players are allowed on the field. No coaches or parents behind the goal. Spectators must remain outside of the fences. 

• Reminder: If the score becomes unbalanced, the losing team needs to add a player to the game. 

• ROSTER GAME DAY RULE: If a team does not have the correct number of players to start the match, the opposing team should reduce their number of players so that each team has the same number of players on the field to begin the game OR the opposing coach may elect to loan a player or players to the undermanned team so that the maximum number of players are used. Often as the match progresses players arrive late and this will no longer be necessary. 

9U & 10U League Details: 

• Field Size: 45Wx65L

• Ball Size: 4

• Game Format: 7 v 7 (6 field players and 1 goalkeeper)

• Goalkeeper: Yes

• Referee: One Center Referee

• Game Duration: Two 25 minute halves (no added time)

• Game Breaks: 5 minute halftime 

• Offsides: None 

• Heading : None 

• Recommended Roster Size: 12-15

9U & 10U Courage House Rules and Information

• Throw-Ins: Players are allowed a second chance if there is a violation on the first throw-in attempt. The foul should be explained to the player prior to making a second attempt. The ball goes to the opposing team if there is a foul on the second attempt.

• Goal Kicks: If the team attempting to score a goal kicks the ball over the goal line outside the goal posts, the opposing team puts the ball back into play with a goal kick. 

• Substitutions: At any time with the permission of the referee.

• Start of Play: Kick offs are used at the beginning of each half and after each goal. 

• Corner Kick: Opponents must be eight yards away from the ball until the ball is kicked.

• Free Kicks: Free kicks are awarded for all major fouls. The defending team must be eight yards away. 

• Slide Tackles: Not allowed.

• Heading: Not allowed. Whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped. The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the ball with his or her head. If deliberate, the proper restart is an indirect free kick for the opposing team. If this occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If the play by the head is deemed inadvertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.

• Goalkeepers: Goalkeepers are to wear colored jerseys which distinguish them from the players and referees.

• Punting: Punting or drop kicking the ball is not allowed.

• Build Out Line: The opposing team must always move behind the build out line during a goal kick or when the goalkeeper has possession.  A cone will be placed on the sideline to mark the build out line. 

  1. The spirit of this rule is to encourage the U9 and U10 teams to learn how to play the ball forward from the first third. Traditionally keepers have been able to just punt the ball across the midway line which was a detriment to the players learning how to progress the ball forward from defense to midfield to the attackers.

  2. When the goalkeeper (Team O) has the ball in his/her hands during play, the opposing team (Team X) must move behind the build-out line until the ball is released from the goalkeeper's possession.

  3. Once the opposing team is behind the build-out line, the goalkeeper can release the ball by passing (NOT dribbling), throwing, or rolling the ball to a teammate who is on his/her side of the build-out line or beyond the build-out line.

  4. PUNTS and DROP KICKS are not allowed from the keeper.

  5. After the ball is released from the goalkeeper's possession, the opposing team may cross the build-out line and play resumes as normal.

  6. The goalkeeper releasing the ball from possession or the player taking the goal kick does not have to wait for the opposing players to move behind the build-out line.

  7. The play from the goalkeeper or from the goal kick can be played to a teammate beyond the build-out line. 

• Spectators: Only coaches and players are allowed on the field. No coaches or parents behind the goal. Spectators must remain outside of the fences. 

• Mercy Rule: When there is a 5 goal difference, the losing team can add an 8th player. If the score differential goes up to 6 the losing team can add a 9th player. No additional players are allowed after the 9th. Coaches need to remember that once they score, they must pull the player back out.  The mercy rule is designed to ensure the best experience for all the players so please use it. 

• ROSTER GAME DAY RULE: If a team does not have the correct number of players to start the match, the opposing team should reduce their number of players so that each team has the same number of players on the field to begin the game OR the opposing coach may elect to loan a player or players to the undermanned team so that the maximum number of players are used. Often as the match progresses players arrive late and this will no longer be necessary. 

11U & 12U League Details:  

• Field Size: 55Wx80L

• Ball Size: 4

• Game Format: 9 v 9 (8 field players and 1 goalkeeper)

• Goalkeeper: Yes 

• Referee: One Center Referee

• Game Duration: Two -  30 minute halves

• Game Breaks: 5 minute halftime 

• Offsides: Yes 

• Heading : NO

• Recommended Roster Size: 14-16

11U & 12U Courage House Rules and Information

• Substitutions: At any stoppage of play with the permission of the referee.

• Heading: No

• Goalkeepers: Goalkeepers are to wear colored jerseys which distinguish them from the players and referees.

• Spectators: Only coaches and players are allowed on the field. No coaches or parents behind the goal. Spectators must remain outside of the fences. 

• Mercy rule: Winning team removes a player after a 5 goal differential. If the score increases, remove a second player from the winning team. No more than two players should be removed from the winning team. Players are added back when the score differential drops from 5 to 4 goals difference. The mercy rule is designed to ensure the best experience for all the players so please use it. 

• ROSTER GAME DAY RULE: If a team does not have the correct number of players to start the match, the opposing team should reduce their number of players so that each team has the same number of players on the field to begin the game OR the opposing coach may elect to loan a player or players to the undermanned team so that the maximum number of players are used. Often as the match progresses players arrive late and this will no longer be necessary.  

13U-19U NCSL Rules and Information

• Ball Size: 5

• Game Format: 11 v 11

• Referee: Yes, three

• NCSL Rules located on their website

Spectators: Only coaches and players are allowed on the field. No coaches or parents behind the goal. Spectators must remain outside of the fences.