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8u & 11u Soccer Rules

Current U.S. Soccer rules will be the govern body of play with the following exceptions and modifications.

Law 1: FIELDS:   (U11 80x40) (U8 50x35)

 Law 2: THE BALL: Size #4

 Law 3: PLAYERS:

  1. Maximum number of players on the field at any one time; (9) nine. 8U
  2. Maximum number of players on the field at one time; (11) eleven. 11U
  3. Substitution: Shall be unlimited on your possession of the ball.
  4. PLAYERS MUST ATTEND 50% OF PRACTICES PER WEEK TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY 50% OF THE TIME OF SCHEDULED GAMES.

Law 4: PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT:

  1. Footwear: Tennis shoes or soft-cleated soccer shoes.
  2. SHINGUARDS MANDATORY.
  3. NO JEWELRY- Necklace, earrings, bobby pens, or sharp objects.

Law 5: REFEREE:

  1. Referee’s decision final.
  2. All rule infractions briefly explained to the offending player at referee discretion.

Law 6: DURATION OF THE GAME:

  1. Two 25 minute half’s (U11).
  2. Two 20 minute half’s (U8)
  3. A 2-minute break between half’s. Players will not step off the field during water breaks.
  4. Half-time break (5) five minutes.
  5. One timeout per half
    1. Time out will consist of one minute

Law 7: THE START OF PLAY:

Must be (2) two touched. Opponents must be eight yards from the center mark while kickoff is in progress.

Law 8: OFFSIDES:

Offensive player behind last defensive player Goalie is not considered last defensive player. Player receiving ball must be in line with last defender until the ball is kicked. Team offside penalty lose possession and other team will receive an indirect kick where offside was called by referee.

Law 9: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT:

Conform to U.S. Soccer

Law 10: FREE KICKS:

Conform to U.S. Soccer, opponent must be 8 yards away from the ball.

Law 11: PENALTY KICKS:

Conform to U.S. Soccer

 Law 12: THROW-IN

From behind the line and behind the head with both feet in contact with the ground.

Law 13: Headers

No headers allowed. When a player intentionally heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be given to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the intentional header occurs in the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where infringement occurred.  

Law 14: GOAL KICK

  1. Must be taken from any point inside the goal area line preferably top corner of goal area. (small box only)
  2. Ball must be kicked outside the large penalty area opponent or team of possession cannot recover ball inside penalty area.

Law 15: CORNER KICK

No change from regular play except; opponent must be 8 yards away from the ball.

Law 16: Tie-Standings

In the event of a tie in the standing it will be determine by:

  1. head to head
  2. points scored

Law 17: Championship Game

In the event of a tie game there will be overtime of 10 minutes. If still a tie game then coaches will select 5 eligible players for penalty kicks. If still a tie then coach will pick 3 more eligible players but not the same 5 that had just kicked.