Rogers Park AYSO Soccer

Local Rules for Rogers Park AYSO Region 1206

Pre-Game Responsibilities for Referees

• Arrive 15 min. before game
• Check field for debris and/or holes
• Meet coaches: get roster cards, request club linesmen, remind positive coaching & cheering
• Player Line-up: shin-guards, no steel spikes, no jewelry, socks over guards
• Jerseys tucked in and over any other garments
• Remind linesmen: stay parallel w/ ball or 2nd last defender
• Coin flip w/ captains: winner selects side, other team kicks off
• Adjust length of game to finish on time
  

U-6 Rules

For players who are five years of age by Aug. 31

• Ball: Size 3
• Maximum number of players on field: 3
• No goalkeeper, no offside, no headers
• Four 8-minute quarters
• Direct Free Kick (DFK) for all fouls, opponets 6 yards away
• If an incorrect throw-in is taken have the thrower take it again.
• Referees should explain all calls

U-8 Rules

For players 6 and 7 years of age by Aug. 31

• Ball: Size 3
• Maximum number of players on field: 5
• No goalkeepers, no offside, no headers
• 20 minutes for each half
• Direct Free Kick (DFK) for all fouls, opponents 6 yds away; no Penalty Kicks (PKs) (DFK from center mark)
• We are no longer doing the "special" kick on open goal from the halfway line. If foul by defender in the penalty area, attacker takes a direct free kick (DFK) on a defended goal. For safety, the ref should move the DFK far enough back, 6-10 yds to protect defenders making "the wall."
• Referees should briefly explain infractions
• Throwers get two chances to do a correct throw-in

U-10 Rules

For players age 8 and 9 by Aug. 31

• Ball: Size 4
• Maximum number of players on field: 7
• Goalkeepers
• 25 minutes for each half
• We are now allowing headers.
• The four step rule is out. Goalkeepers now must release ball from their possession within six seconds, but they can take any number of steps within the penalty.
• Offside is called
• Direct Free Kicks, Indirect Free Kicks, and Penalty Kicks are awarded as usual
• Opponents must stand at least 8 yards away
• All other regular rules apply
• Referees explain infractions if asked

U-12/14 Rules

U12 - For players 10 and 11 years of age by Aug. 31
U14 - For players 12 and 13, those who are 14 but still in 8th grade are eligible to play

Game

• Ball: Size 5
• Maximum number of players on field: 11
• Goalkeepers
• 30 minutes for each half
• Offsde is called
• Headers allowed
• Referee explains calls at his/her discretion

All Divisions

Penal Fouls Direct Free Kick (DFK)

If a player in a careless or reckless manner, or with excessive force:

• kicks or attempts to kick opponent
• trips or attempts to trip opponent
• jumps at an opponent
• charges an opponent
• strikes or attempts to strike opponent
• pushes an opponent

Or if a player:

• tackles an opponent to gain possession of ball and makes contact w/ opponent before touching ball
• holds an opponent (including extended arm(s) that impede)
• spits at opponent
• handles the ball deliberately (other than goalkeeper within his/her penalty area

**A foul is only commited against an opponent on the field, while the ball is in play**

Non-Penal Fouls Indirect Kick (IFK)

If goalkeeper in his/her penalty area:

• takes > 6 seconds when controlling ball w/ hands to release from possession
• handles ball after releasing from possession
• handles ball after teammate deliberately kicks it to him/her
• handles ball after receiving it directly from teammate throw-in

Or if any player (in opinion of referee):

• plays in a dangerous manner (ie: high kick or play from ground when others in playing distance)
• impedes an opponent (except “shielding” when playing ball)
• prevents goalkeeper from releasing ball from hands
• commits any other cautionable or sending off offense for which play is stopped
  

Cautionable Offenses
(Yellow Card)

• unsporting behavior
• dissent by word or action
• persistent infringement of Laws
• delays restart of play
• failure to respect required distance at a restart
• enters or re-enters field of play without referee’s permission
• deliberately leaves field of play without referee’s permission

Sending-Off Offenses
(Red Card)

• serious foul play
• violent conduct
• spits at opponent or any other person
• denies an opponent an obvious goal scoring opportunity by handling the ball
• denies an opponent moving toward goal an obvious goal scoring opportunity by committing a penal or non-penal foul
  offensive, insulting, or abusive language
• receives 2nd caution (yellow card) in same game
  

General/Clarification

Quater Break: at break in play just prior to mid-way through half. Clock does not stop. Break only for water, substitutions, and to rotate positions; not for team coaching

• Substitutions: made only at quarter breaks, half, or for injury.
• Everyone Plays: No player to play third period until all have played two; no player to play fourth period until all have played three
• Rotation: within each game coaches shall rotate players thru offense, mid-field, defense & goalkeeper (in any order)
• Hand Ball: called only if deliberate attempt to move or control ball with hand, arm, or shoulder
• Headers: not allowed in U6 or U8. Call only if deliberate attempt to move or control ball. Call as dangerous play (IFK)
• Slide Tackling: not allowed. Warn 1st offense, IFK 2nd offense (dangerous play), Yellow card 3rd offense.
• Charging: a fair (permitted) charge is staccato contact shoulder to shoulder while playing the ball unless careless or reckless
• Shielding: shielding or “screening” an opponent while playing the ball is allowed.
• Remember “flow & control” do not stop play for trifling offenses; but if necessary, do whistle early and often to maintain a safe, fun, and fair environment.
• Coaches, Parents, and Spectators shall only offer positive, instructional, & encouraging comments. Remind coaches if necessary, and ask them to remind parents & spectators.
  

During the Game Referees Will—

• check roster cards at end of each quarter. Require coach to make any adjustments for equal playing time or rotation prior to beginning play.

Print Version of Field Diagram

Basics of the Game

AYSO explains the basics about the game, the teams, the skills, the officials, the equipment, the rules and the fouls—and how they apply to our program.

FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the final authority.

Offside

Players from the attacking team are offside if they are “ahead of the ball,” except if:

• they are in their own half of the field
• they have two opposing players between them and their goal line
• they are the first to receive the ball from a throw in, corner kick or goal kick
• they are not active in the play

What is meant by "ahead of the ball"?

Draw an imaginary line through the ball. Any attacking players who are between the imaginary line and the goal line are in an “offside position.” In the diagram at the right, the attacking team is blue and the defending team is red. Since none of the attacking players is ahead of the yellow ball, no one is offside.

A player may be in an offside position without being offside. The player must be active in the play—such as receiving a pass—before an offside penalty may be called. In U10, a referee may warn a player who is in an offside position without calling a penalty—for educational purposes only, because no penalty is warranted if the player is not part of the play. The offside rule is not used at all in U6 or U8.

At least two defending players are required

It is not enough to be ahead of the ball. The attacking player who is ahead of the ball must ALSO be past the second-to-last defending player. Here the blue player receiving the pass has only one defender between him and the goal line. He is offside. The offside rule is meant to prevent exactly this situation.

Offside is not called if players are in their own half of the field

This diagram shows the same arrangement of players as in the previous diagram: one red defender stands between the blue pass receiver and the goal line. The only difference is that the blue players are in the other half of the field. Offside is not called in this half of the field. There is no penalty.

Players

Little Glossary

cleat

a piece of rubber or metal attached to the bottom of a shoe for better traction

defense

working to prevent goals, by blocking shots, stealing the ball, and other means

dribble

moving the ball forward with you feet

foul

doing something against the rules

goal

the net or other space a ball must go into for a point to be scored

offense

working to score goals, by taking shots, passing the ball, and other means

pass

kicking the ball to a teammate

penalty kick

after a major foul has been committed in teh penalty area, the team that has been fouled chooses one player to take a kick at the goal.

sportsmanship

playing fairly and enjoying a game, no matter who wins or loses

teamwork

playing together as a team, encouraging and supporting all of your teammates