U6
U6 does not use thow-ins, corner kicks, goal kicks or goal areas. Kick-ins are used instead of throw-ins. If the ball crosses the goal line without a goal being scored within five yards of the goal, the kick-in should be made from the goal line five yards from the goal. Defenders should all be at least six yards away from the ball upon the placement of the ball for the kick-in, free kicks and kick offs. A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-in.
U7 and U8
Goal areas extend from the goal line to four yards out, and should be marked with cones on the touch line. The goal area should be approximately 10 yards wide, centered on the center of the goal, and can again be marked with cones. Goal kicks have to take place from within (or on the theoretical lines of) the goal area. Defenders should all be at least six yards away from the ball upon the placement of the ball for the kick off, free kicks, goal kicks and corner kicks. In U8, throw-ins, corner kicks and goal kicks are used to restart play after the ball entirely leaves the field without a goal having been scored. If a throw-in is done improperly, the Referee allows a “do-over”; if it is done improperly the second time, play is allowed to continue. In U7 a kick-in is used in place of a throw-in. Defender should stand four yards back from the ball.
U9 to U11
Same as U7 and U8, except that:
- Goal area is wider - approximately 12 yards wide.
- The penalty mark is eight yards from the goal line (used for penalty shots).
- The penalty area extends to 12 yards from the goal line and is approximately 25 yards wide. In the penalty area the keeper can use his hands to touch the ball, and penal fouls on the defending team result in a penalty kick. On goal kicks, the ball must leave both the goal area and the penalty area before the ball is properly restarted.
- The goal area, penalty area and halfway lines should both be marked with cones.
- No “do-overs” on throw-ins.
- Defenders should maintain a distance of at least eight yards from the ball on kick offs, free kicks, goal kicks and corner kicks.
- U9 and U10 play with a build-out line.
U12 to U19
Same as U9-U11, except that:
- Fields are generally larger and the goal area, penalty mark and penalty areas are clearly marked at larger dimensions that are generally proportionate with the larger fields. Note that when we play sideways across turf fields, cones will need to be used to indicate the goal area and penalty area, as well as the halfway line.
- The penalty mark is 12 yards from the goal line.
- Defenders should maintain a distance of at least 10 yards from the ball on kick offs, free kicks, goal kicks and corner kicks.
- The goal keeper is permitted to play more than a half in goal, as much as the entire game if they wish.
Procedural Rules - Number of players per side, substitution rules, etc.
- Games should start and MUST END at the scheduled times - no exceptions.
- There is NO requirement that teams field the same number of players. If one team has too few, the coaches may agree to share players, but this is also not a requirement. No player may sit out just to make the team sizes equal.
- No team should be required to play short handed if it will mean that a child on a fully staffed team does not get his/her full three quarters of playing time.
- U9 to U11 - Goalkeepers may play no more than 1/2 of a game in goal. U12 and older, they may play up to the entire game in goal.
- Substitutions ONLY at quarter breaks, half time, or in response to an injury. In WSSL and in organized soccer elsewhere we NEVER substitute "on the fly" - only upon a stoppage of play and with the Referee's consent.
- Goalkeepers may change positions at a substitution break, or with another player already on the field at any stoppage in the game, with permission of the Referee; both the incoming and outgoing keeper must be dressed for their new position (contrasting shirt for keeper, uniform shirt for player).
Exceptions to the Substitution Rule (This is still NOT ever substituting "on the fly"):
- In very cold weather, substitutes can get very uncomfortable if they are sitting for extended stretches of time. Neither team is allowed to play more players than their division rules permit, but before the game the Referee may consult with the coaches and permit more frequent substitutions in that game, but only on stoppage of play and with the Referee's consent.
- If the ratio of a team's attendees ten minutes before the game is scheduled to start to the number of permitted players for that game is greater than 4:3, the Referee may consult with the coaches and permit more frequent substitutions in that game, but only on stoppage of play and with the Referee's consent.
- In U19 games, teams may use monitored substitutions under the following circumstances:
- A coach, assistant coach or other volunteer tracks how much time each player on a team is on or off the field with an objective of evening out each player's time.
- Substitutions are only allowed immediately before a goal kick or kick-off, before a team that wants to substitute takes a throw in, or if an injury causes a stoppage in play (the objectives being not to waste time during the process and not to disadvantage the attacking team).
- A "fourth official", wearing a pinnie or Referee shirt, is available to indicate substitutions are desired. This fourth official does not need to be a certified Referee and they can be trained in about 30 seconds before the game.
- Both teams position their substitutes near the halfway line on the same side of the field, and indicate to the fourth official (or in the absence of a fourth official, the Assistant Referee on that side of the field) that they wish to make a substitution at the next available opportunity. The fourth official (or in the absence of a fourth official, the Assistant Referee on that side of the field) signals to the Referee that a substitution is desired by either or both teams.
- After the center Referee signals to permit the substitutes, the substituted players quickly leave the field of play, the substitutes then quickly enter the field of play, and the fourth official (or in the absence of a fourth official, the Assistant Referee on that side of the field) lowers the flag to indicate that the substitution is completed.
- If it is not too hot, there are enough substitutes for each team, the center Referee does not need a quarter break, and the keepers are not expected to change positions at a quarter break, the Referee should consider before each half to allow each team to play through the quarter break.
