Rules Summary - Spring Season
Last Updated on Saturday, April 05, 2014

  U6 U7 U8 U10 U12 (spring) U14/U16/U18 (spring)
Format 3 v 3 - dual field 4 v 4 - dual field 5 v 5 - dual field 7 v 7 8 v 8 11 v 11
Refs Coach ref Center Ref Center Ref Center Ref Center Ref + ARs Center Ref + ARs
Min Ref Cert n/a Grade 9 Grade 9 Grade 9 Center = Grade 8
AR = Grade 9
Center = Grade 8
AR = Grade 9
Game Length 25 min practice session.  Game is played in quarters with time determined by coaches. 12 min quarters 12 min quarters 30 min halves 30 min halves U14 = 35 min halves
U16+ = 40 min halves
Breaks As needed 2 min between quarters 1 & 2 and 3 & 4.   5 min half 2 min between quarters 1 & 2 and 3 & 4.   5 min half 5 min half 5 minutes less than 10 minutes
Min # of players any any any any 6 7
Ball Size # 3 Size # 3 Size # 3 Size # 4 Size # 4 Size # 5
Subs On the fly On the fly On the fly On goal kick by either team, after a goal by either team, half-time, during injury stoppage by either team, prior to your own throw-in, prior to your opponents throw-in if they sub. On goal kick by either team, after a goal by either team, half-time, during injury stoppage by either team, prior to your own throw-in, prior to your opponents throw-in if they sub. On goal kick by either team, after a goal by either team, half-time, during injury stoppage by either team, prior to your own throw-in, prior to your opponents throw-in if they sub.
Goalies No No Yes - keeper may not distribute ball directly beyond midfield line.** Yes - keeper may not distribute ball directly beyond midfield line.** Yes - keeper may not distribute ball directly beyond midfield line.** FIFA
Goal Kicks Yes - from anywhere on along the goal line. Yes - ball may not be kicked directly beyond midfield line. Yes - ball may not be kicked directly beyond midfield line. Yes - ball may not be kicked directly beyond midfield line. Yes - ball may not be kicked directly beyond midfield line. FIFA
Thrown-ins Throw-ins or Kick-ins. Yes - Player gets one do-over if foul throw Yes - Player gets one do-over if foul throw FIFA FIFA FIFA
Free Kicks All direct. No PKs. All indirect. No PKs. All indirect. No PKs. FIFA FIFA FIFA
Kick-offs   Indirect - may not score directly. One do-over. Indirect - may not score directly. One do-over. FIFA FIFA FIFA
Required Distance 4 yds 4 yds 4 yds 8 yds 8 yds FIFA - 10yds
Offside No No No FIFA FIFA FIFA
Fouls/
Misconduct
No cards.
No slide tackles.
Players may receive a "timeout".
No cards.
No slide tackles.
Players may receive a "timeout".
No cards.
No slide tackles.
Players may receive a "timeout".
FIFA - only use your cards in extreme cases. Explain offenses. FIFA FIFA

** U8 through U12s - Once a goalkeeper plays the ball with their hands, they can not kick, throw, or punt the ball directly over the half way line. It must bounce or be touched in their own half first. If the goalkeeper dribbles the ball outside of their own penalty area or does not play the ball with their hands, then there is no restriction on how far the ball can be played.  Violation: U7/U8 - indirect free kick from half-way line. U10/U12 - indirect free kick from half-way line.