Youth Soccer League Rules & Divisions

👕 Equipment & Match Personnel

• 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.

⏱️ Gameplay Rules

The Start of Play

• 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.

Out of Bounds & Scoring

• 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.

Restarts (Throw-Ins, Goal Kicks, Corners)

• 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.

🛑 Fouls, Off-Sides, and Misconduct

Heading Policy (All Divisions)

• 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

• Slide tackling is strictly prohibited across all divisions of HDYS.

Free Kick Guide

• 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-Specific Rule Variations

• 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.

👥 Field Access & Conduct

Coaches on the Field

• 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.

Spectator & Sideline Rules

• 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.

🦅 League Policies & Fair Play

• 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.