Youth Soccer League Rules

PLAYERS & ROSTERS 

The match is played 5v5, one of whom is the goalkeeper. 

A match may start if either team has a minimum of 3 players. 

Roster size: 12 players max can be suited to play in a game. All players must have their parents sign a waiver before each season.

Game Duration – 23-minute halves, running clock, with a 2-minute halftime.

BASIC GAME RULES

1. Substitutions – Unlimited and on the fly. Must enter and exit from the sideline in front of the substitute’s bench, AND the incoming player cannot step on the field until their teammate is off. Penalized with an indirect free kick if a substitution is not done correctly, taken from the spot where the illegal substitution was made. Goalkeeper Substitution: must be done with permission from the referee.

2. Keep a distance of 5 meters on all restarts (kick-offs, kick-ins, and corner kicks. The defending team cannot invade that space until the ball is played. Suppose a defending player within the 5-meter area attempts to play the ball. In that case, the referee may sanction an indirect free kick against the defending team. Repeated infractions of this type may also result in a yellow card. 

3. Kick Ins: the ball must be on the line or behind the line and must be stationary. They cannot score directly from a kick-in. A change of possession from the spot where the kick-in was taken occurs if not taken correctly. 

4. Corner Kicks: the ball must be on the corner area and stationary. They can score directly from a corner kick. A goal clearance is awarded to the defending team if not taken correctly. 

5. Goal kicks: A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored. The goalkeeper may place the ball anywhere in the penalty area (lines are considered inside the penalty area). A goal may not be scored directly from a goal kick. NOTE: if the ball doesn’t go out of play and is in possession of the goalkeeper, they can play the ball with their hands or feet. (Punts and drop kicks are allowed, and you can score directly by these means, you CAN NOT score directly with a throw)

6. Kick Offs: Taken at the beginning of each half and after a score. The referee must signal with the whistle for the start. CAN SCORE DIRECTLY FROM A KICK-OFF.

EQUIPMENT 

Ball – Soccer ball of the proper size for the age playing. Size 4 for U6 thru U13, and size 5 for U14 and older.

*Each team must provide a game ball.

Uniforms – Players on the same team must wear the same color uniforms — Shin guards and footwear (cleats ARE allowed). The goalkeeper’s uniform must be a distinctly different color from that of his team, the opposing team, and the referees. The home team changes color in case of clashing colors. All players must wear numbered jerseys, and no two players on the same team may have identical uniform numbers. 

• A player wearing a soft cast is permitted to play with the referee’s permission.

• Hard casts are not permitted.

GAME TIME

Two 23-minute halves, running clock, with a 2-minute halftime.

The referee’s whistle indicates the start and end of each period.

Time is extended if a penalty kick or direct free kick must be taken or retaken; the period in question is extended until the kick has been taken.

FOULS & VIOLATIONS 

Direct and indirect free and penalty kicks can only be awarded for offenses committed when the ball is in play. 

A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses against an opponent in a manner considered by the referees to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:

• charges 

• jumps at

• kicks or attempts to kick 

• pushes 

• strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt) 

• tackles or challenges

• trips or attempts to trip

“Careless” is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or acting without precaution. No disciplinary sanction is needed. 

“Reckless” is when a player disregards the danger to or consequences for an opponent and must be cautioned with a yellow card.

“Using excessive force” is when a player exceeds the necessary use of force or endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off. 

A direct free kick is also awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses: 

• a handball (except the goalkeeper within their penalty area)

• holding an opponent

• impeding an opponent with contact

• Biting or spitting at someone 

• Throwing/kicking an object at the ball, an opponent, or a match official, or making contact with the ball with a held object.

• tackles or challenges

• trips or attempts to trip

• Slide tackling 

NOTE ON SLIDE TACKLING: Sliding to block a shot or a pass is permitted as long as the referee doesn’t interpret it as dangerous to who is shooting or passing the ball.

Indirect free kick awarded when any of the following offenses is committed (kick taken from the edge of the penalty area when infringement takes place in the penalty area):

• dangerous play (e.g., attempting to kick the ball held by the goalkeeper) A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible, provided that it is not dangerous to an opponent.

• obstruction – impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made (moving into the opponent’s path to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing distance)

• charging the goalkeeper in the penalty area (i.e., goalkeeper charge)

• goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a back pass

• goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a kick­ in from a teammate

• on a goal kick, the goalkeeper touches the ball again before it touches another player.

• Illegal substitution (kick taken from the spot where illegal substitution occurred) 

• The player taking a direct or indirect free kick, a kick in, or a corner kick plays the ball a second time before another player plays the ball.

• If, when a free kick is taken, an attacking team player is less than 1m from a” wall” formed by two or more defending-team players, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team. 

• Distance infringement on restarts.

Indirect free kicks are taken from where the infraction occurred unless it occurs in the penalty area. It’s taken at the edge of the penalty area. 

MISCONDUCT 

Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered a technical foul, and technical details regarding filling the scorebook improperly. A player, manager, or coach ejected will have an automatic minimum one (1) game suspension regardless of the cause of the ejection. Depending upon the severity of the unacceptable conduct, suspensions for more games may occur. 

Yellow Cards are not accumulated from game to game. If a Straight Red Card is given to a player/coach and sent off, they must serve a one-game suspension during the next scheduled match. 

*CONTROL OF SIDELINE CONDUCT* 

Players, managers, coaches, and fans are expected to conduct themselves within the letter and spirit of the “Laws of the Game.” League Staff has the authority and the responsibility to remove any person(s) from the facility for conduct abuses. The team manager/coach will be responsible for their fans’ behavior. The referee will have the authority to warn and ultimately send off any manager/coach and the fans who behave in an abusive or disruptive manner. 

Games that end due to disruptive behavior will also result in a fine of $100

FORFEITS

A forfeit communicated within 24 hours of the scheduled game results in a $45 Forfeit Fee. No Shows result in a $60 No Show Fee. In either case, the fee must be paid within 24 hours by Venmo to @cityfutsal (Esteban Mariel – 1952).