2026 Fall Soccer Registration is Now Open!
Division 1: 3 or 4 players per side (depending on turnout). NO goalkeepers or net-defenders allowed. Play for 1 hour; water breaks as needed.
Division 2: 6 players (5 field players + 1 Goalkeeper). Four (4) 12-minute quarters.
Division 3: 8 players (7 field players + 1 Goalkeeper). Four (4) 12-minute quarters.
👉 Short on Players? If a team lacks a legal number of players, coaches MUST share players so the kids can still play the game.
Player Gear: Team shirts and shin guards are mandatory for all players. Mouth guards are optional but strongly encouraged.
Goalkeepers: Will be provided a different colored pinnie to distinguish them from field players.
Referees: Appointed for matches in Divisions 2 & 3. They are responsible for game control, and all referee decisions are final.
Kickoff: Determined by a coin flip. Teams must stay on their own half. Defenders must remain at least 5 yards away from the ball until it is kicked.
After a Goal: The team scored upon takes the kickoff.
Halftime: Teams switch ends; the opposite team takes the kickoff.
Note: A goal cannot be scored directly from a kickoff.
In/Out of Play: The ball is out only when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline (on the ground or in the air), or when the referee stops play.
Scoring: A goal is valid only when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the posts, and under the crossbar.
Throw-Ins: Taken from the spot where the ball crossed the touchline by the opposing team. No direct goals allowed.
Divisions 1 & 2: Allowed 1 retake of an illegal throw after referee instruction.
Division 3: 1 warning allowed during Week 1 only. After that, illegal throws result in a turnover.
Goal Kicks: Taken from the approximation of the "6" line (not the edge of the penalty box) when the attacking team kicks the ball out over the goal line.
The Retreat Rule: The defending team must retreat to the midfield line. The kicking team does not have to wait for them to retreat to restart play.
Corner Kicks: Taken from the nearest corner when the defending team kicks the ball out over their own goal line.
NO HEADING: In alignment with US Youth Soccer Rules, heading is strictly prohibited in both practices and games.
Penalty: Intentional headers result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team at the spot of the infraction.
Slide tackling is strictly prohibited across all divisions of HDYS.
Direct Kicks: A goal can be scored directly from the kick.
Indirect Kicks: The ball must touch another player before a goal can be scored.
Division 1:
No Off-sides.
All fouls result in an indirect free kick.
Division 2:
No Off-sides, but "goal hanging" is not allowed. Referees will alert the coach to address goal-hanging players.
All fouls result in an indirect free kick.
Division 3:
Standard Off-side rules apply. (Offside if a player is nearer to the goal than the ball and the second-to-last defender when the ball is played to them).
Standard USSF rules for Direct and Indirect kicks apply.
Penalty Kicks: Awarded for direct kick fouls inside the penalty box. Any player may take the kick, and any defending player may go in goal.
⚠️ Flagrant Violations: Intentionally kicking, tripping, jumping at, charging violently/from behind, striking, holding, pushing, spitting, or handling the ball results in a free kick. If a defender commits any of these inside their own penalty area, it results in a penalty kick, and the offending player must be substituted out for the remainder of the quarter.
Division 1: Coaches are permitted on the field to guide players.
Division 2: Coaches are not allowed on the field (except during Week 1 as needed).
Division 3: Coaches are not allowed on the field.
Coaches and spectators must remain on the sidelines.
Absolutely no one is allowed on the end lines (behind the goals) during play.
Parents/Spectators must sit on the opposite side of the field from the teams. Referees will enforce this setup.
Substitutions: Allowed on any dead ball once the coach has notified the referee.
Practices: Required once a week for all divisions except Kindergarten. Inform your coach in advance if a player must miss a practice.
Inclement Weather: The HDYS Board determines field safety. Coaches and players will only be notified if games are officially cancelled.
Equal Playing Time: Coaches must guarantee equal playing time across both offensive and defensive positions.
Goalkeeper Rotation: Every player must have opportunities to play goalie throughout the season. A single player should only play in goal for one quarter per game.
Managing Lopsided Games: Coaches are expected to limit individual scoring when games are one-sided. Consider swapping players at halftime, implementing extra passing rules, or moving dominant goal-scorers to defense/bench.