MYSA Under-8 Rules

 

This is a recreational league, with the emphasis on developing soccer skills and having fun. No standings will be kept. Sportsmanship will be expected from all parents, coaches, and players.

 

Applicable FIFA rules along with MYSA modifications are provided below.

 

Text in italics is quoted directly or very closely resembles text from: �The Rules of Soccer: Simplified� by Larry Maisner and Bill Mason, Seventeenth Edition, published by Reedswain, Inc.; 612 Pughtown Road; Spring City, PA 19475; (800) 331-5191; FAX (610) 469-9588. All diagrams are from this source as well.

 

Law 1 - The Field of Play

 

�         Field shall be 25 yards by 50 yards.

�         A goal may be scored from within the goal area. Offensive players do NOT have to be outside of the goal area to make a goal.

 

Law 2 - The Ball

 

�         A size 3 soccer ball will be used.

 

Law 3 - Number of players

 

�         Each team will field 7 players.

�         There will be goalkeepers.

�         Every squad member MUST play a minimum of 2 quarters and a maximum of 3 quarters. If fewer than 9 players are present, every squad member MUST play a minimum of 3 quarters.

�         An attempt shall be made to ensure that all squad members have the opportunity to play the same number of quarters across the season. In addition, squad members shall be given the opportunity to play each position.

�         Substitutions will be allowed at each quarter, at stoppage and after a goal. Substitutions during a quarter will be allowed for injuries, after notifying the referee.

 

Law 4 - Player�s Equipment

 

�         Every player MUST wear shinguards and soccer cleats to all practices and games. Baseball cleats are acceptable with the front cleat removed. Shinguards must be completely covered by the socks.

�         Every player must wear shorts and their team shirt.

�         No jewelry of any kind will be allowed to be worn during the game.

�         No food, candy, or gum may be consumed while playing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Law 5 - The Referee

 

�         A minimum of one referee will be present except for unforeseen circumstances.

�         The referee can award a goal, if in his/her opinion a player deliberately prevents a goal being scored by the use of his/her hands.

�         The referee may change his or her decision, so long as play has not been restarted.

�         The referee enforces the Laws, but may let play continue and not call a foul if he or she thinks that it would be an advantage for the team that was fouled to allow play to continue. This is called the �advantage clause.� The referee should both say and signal �advantage, play on� when this occurs.

�         The referee is the final authority on any play or action.

 

Law 6 - Assistant Referees

 

�         If present, the assistant referee will be an apprentice to, and will support, the referee.

 

Law 7 - Duration of the Game

 

�         The game will consist of four, 10 minute quarters.

�         There will be a minimum 5 minute break at half time.

�         The referee may extend any quarter by 1 minute stoppage time if, in his/her judgment, the ball was out of play for an excessive period of time due to injury, lost ball, or interruptions (such as dog/child/other ball on field). The referee must immediately notify all coaches when he/she has decided that play shall be extended.

 

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play: Kick Off and Drop Ball

 

�         KICK OFF - A kick off is taken at the center spot for the following reasons: to start a game, restart play after a goal is scored, or start the second half of a game.

�         After a goal is made, the team scored against kicks off.

�         Players on the team not kicking off are to be at least 5 yards from the ball (that is, outside the center circle).

�         Players on both teams may move before the ball is kicked, but may not cross the center line until the ball has been put in play.

�         On a kick off, if the ball goes directly into the opposing team�s goal without touching any other player, the score does NOT count and play is restarted with a goal kick.

�         The ball must go forward into the opponents� side of the field. If the ball goes directly to the side or back into the kicking team�s side of the field, the kick off will be retaken.

�         The player kicking off must not touch the ball again until another player (either team) has touched it. If touched by the same player, the kick off is retaken.

�         DROP BALL - when the referee stops play for a reason other than a rule being broken or time running out, the referee restarts play by dropping the ball at the location where the play was stopped.

�         A drop ball is not in play until it has hit the ground. If touched by a player before it has hit the ground, the ball must be dropped again.

�         The first player playing the ball after it is dropped may touch the ball more than once in a row; therefore the player may dribble, pass, or shoot the ball.

 

Law 9 - Ball In and Out of Play

 

�         The ball is OUT OF PLAY when:

�         All of the ball is completely outside the outside edge of the touch line (side line) or goal line (end line), either on the ground or in the air.

�         The game is stopped by the referee.

�         The ball is IN PLAY:

�         At all times other than those described under OUT OF PLAY.

�         When the ball bounces off a goal post, cross bar, or corner flag and stays in the field of play.

�         When it bounces off either the referee or an assistant referee, when that official is in the field of play, and the ball stays in the field of play.

�         After an assumed breakage of the rules, until the referee stops play.

 

Law 10 - Method of Scoring

 

�         A goal can be scored only if all of the ball goes completely over the outside edge of the goal line, under the cross bar and between the goal posts, while it is legally in play.

�         Any player on a team may score goals.

�         Except when taking a free kick, throw-in, goal kick, or kick off, a ball played by a player directly into his or her own goal is a score for the opposing team.

 

Law 11 - Offside

 

�         There are no Offsides in U8 soccer.

 

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

 

�         Slide Tackles are not allowed. After a first offense the player will be warned. If the same player repeats the offense, he/she will be removed from the field of play for the remainder of the quarter.

�         The following actions can be considered a foul, and may be called as such by the referee:

�         Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.

�         Tripping an opponent (whether or not the opponent falls down).

�         Jumping at an opponent (whether or not contact is made).

�         Charging an opponent.

�         Hitting or attempting to hit an opponent.

�         Pushing an opponent.

�         Making contact with the opponent before contacting the ball during a tackle.

�         Spitting at an opponent.

�         Holding an opponent.

�         Deliberately handling the ball. Hand ball is a foul when a player touches the ball with any part of the hand or arm while intending to control the ball. See also Law 5. NOTE: If a player is not trying to control the ball, or is instinctively protecting himself or herself from injury, the referee should not call the hand ball as a foul.

�         Dangerous play, such as high kicking near another player�s head.

�         Fair charging (shoulder-to-shoulder contact without danger to either player) but with the ball out of playing distance.

�         Impeding the progress of an opponent when the ball is not within playing distance.

�         Poor sportsmanship, if severe enough, can be considered as misconduct, and may result in the player being sent off for the rest of the quarter.

 

Law 13 - Free Kicks

 

�         All free kicks will be indirect.

�         The ball must be stationary when it is kicked.

�         Indirect free kicks must touch another player (either team) before entering the goal. If the ball goes into the opposing team�s goal without touching another player, the score will not count and play will be resumed with a goal kick. If it goes into the kicking team�s goal without touching another player, the score will not count and play will be resumed with a corner kick by the opposing team.

�         The team taking the free kick may require all opponents to be at least 5 yards from the ball. However, the player may kick the ball when the opponents are less than 5 yards away if the player so desires. The kicker may ask the referee to move the players to the minimum distance, then must wait for the referee�s whistle before taking the kick.

�         The player performing the free kick may not touch the ball again until another player (either team) has touched it.

 

Law 14 - Penalty Kick

 

�         There are no penalty kicks in U8 soccer.

 

Law 15 - Throw-In

 

�         A throw-in is taken to restart the game after the ball goes out of play along the touch lines (side lines).

�         Improper throw-ins will result in the throw-in being retaken by the same player.

�         The opposing player(s) must be at least 5 yards from the ball.

�         The player may make a throw-in as quickly as desired. The player does not have to wait for players on either team to be in position.

�         The player may be moving prior to the throw-in, however when the ball leaves the player�s hands, some part of both feet must be on the touch line or outside the field of play. One or both feet may NOT be in the field of play during a throw-in.

�         The ball must be thrown with both hands in a continuous motion that starts behind the head and continues over the top of the head.

�         The throw-in must be made with equal strength in both hands. Twisting of the ball during the throw-in is not allowed.

�         The player performing the throw-in may not touch the ball again until another player (either team) has touched it.

�         A goal can not be scored on a throw-in. If the ball goes into the opposing team�s goal without touching another player, the score will not count and play will be resumed with a goal kick. If it goes into the kicking team�s goal without touching another player, the score will not count and play will be resumed with a corner kick by the opposing team.

 

Law 16 - Goal Kick

 

�         A goal kick is taken by any defending player to restart the game after the ball goes out of play past the goal line (end line) when it was last played or touched by an attacking player.

�         The ball must be stationary when it is kicked.

�         All players should be outside of the penalty box when a goal kick is taken. Under no circumstances, however, shall any player touch the ball before the ball has crossed the line out of the penalty area. If a player touches the ball before the ball has crossed the line, the goal kick will be retaken.

�         The goal kick may be performed from anywhere in the goal area, to include on the line around the goal area. The ball may be in the field of play as long as some part of the ball is on the line.

�         The player performing the goal kick may not touch the ball again until another player (either team) has touched it.

�         A goal can not be scored on a goal kick. If the ball goes into the opposing team�s goal without touching another player, the score will not count and play will be resumed with a goal kick. If it goes into the kicking team�s goal without touching another player, the score will not count and the kick will be retaken.

 

Law 17 - Corner Kick

 

�         A corner kick is taken by any attacking player to restart the game after the ball goes out of play past the goal line (end line) when last played or touched by a defending player.

�         The ball must be stationary when it is kicked.

�         The opposing player(s) must be at least 5 yards from the ball.

�         Corner flags may not be moved to perform a corner kick.

�         The ball must be placed completely within the corner arc on the side of the field where the ball went out of play.

�         The player performing the corner kick may not touch the ball until another player (either team) has touched it.

�         A goal can not be scored on a corner kick. If the ball goes into the opposing team�s goal without touching another player, the score will not count and play will be resumed with a goal kick. If it goes into the kicking team�s goal without touching another player, the score will not count and the kick will be retaken.