U7

BEARCATS LIGHTNING BOLTS ROAD RUNNERS TIGERS

Belle Vernon Area Youth Soccer Club - U7 rules

(Developed based on United States Youth Soccer Association rules September 1^st 2005)

Amended on September 7, 2006 & March 2009

Law 1 – The Field of Play:

Dimensions: The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line. There are two fields per play of equal size, players and coaches are positioned in the middle of these fields.

Length: minimum 25 yards maximum 35 yards. Width: minimum 20 yards maximum 30 yards

Field Markings: Distinctive lines not more than (5) inches wide. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The center mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of four (4) yards is marked around it.

The Goal Area: None. The Penalty Area: None. Flagposts: None.

Goals: Goals must be placed on the center of each goal line. They consist of two upright posts equidistant from the corners and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The recommended distance between the posts is eighteen (18) feet and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is six (6) feet. Goals may be smaller in dimension.

Law 2 – The Ball:

Size three (3).

Law 3 – The Number of Players:

A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than four (4) players. There are NO goalkeepers.

Substitutions: The coach must request for substitutions to the referee and can be done at any stoppage and unlimited.

Playing time: Each player SHALL play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time. Teams and games may be coed.

Mix of skills: Coaches should keep a good mix of skill levels on both fields. Remember your best 4 players should not be on one field with the others rotating on the other field. No player should be directed to protect the goal or act as a goalkeeper, similarly NO player should be instructed to wait near the opposing goal to score; aka “cherry picking”.

Law 4 – The Players Equipment:

A player must not use equipment or wear anything, which is dangerous to him/herself or another player including jewelry. Non-uniform clothing is allowed based on weather conditions, but uniforms must still distinguish teams.

Compliant with FIFA regulations, the basic compulsory equipment of a player is:

· A team shirt of a yellow or green color

· Shorts of a green color

· Stockings / socks of a yellow color

· Soccer appropriate foot-wear. (no spike on the front toe portion of the shoe if he player is wearing spikes)

Law 5 – The Referee:

An OFFICIAL (A Grade 9 referee or higher) may be used, he/she must be a current BVA Youth Soccer Club rostered player. All infringements may be briefly explained to the offending player. Officials are in charge of the game NOT THE COACHES. Remember these officials / referees are our youth players from a higher age group, and the club will not tolerate any coach or parent yelling, approaching the official on the field during time of play, taunting or otherwise belittling the official. These types of actions will be immediately remanded to the rules and disciplinary board for appropriate action.

Law 6 – The Assistant Referees:

There are none.

Law 7 – The Duration of the Match:

The match shall be divided into four (4) equal, ten (10) minute quarters. There shall be a two (2) minute break between quarters one and two and another two (2) minute break between quarters three and four. There shall be a half-time interval of five (5) minutes. The referee and the coaches may change the length of the quarters due to weather conditions.

Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play:

A coin is tossed and the team, which wins the toss, decides which goal is will attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match. The teams switch halves at halftime. Each team alternates taking the kick-off at the beginning of each half. A goal may NOT be scored directly from the kick-off, it must first touch another player to be considered a goal. After a team scores a goal, the other team takes the kick-off. A kick-off is a way of starting or re-starting play:

· At the start of the match

· After a goal has been scored

· At the start of each half of play

Procedures:

· All players are in their own half of the field

· The ball is stationary and placed on the midline and directly center of the 4 yard radius circle.

· Opposing players are to be outside the circle until the ball is in play.

· The referee gives the signal to play

· The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward

· The kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player

Law 9 – The Ball In and Out of Play:

The ball is out of play ONLY when the Entire ball has passed over the touch-line, or the referee has stopped play.

The ball is in play at all other times, including when:

· It rebounds from the goalpost, crossbar and remains in the field of play

· It rebounds from the referee when they are on the field of play.

Law 10 – The Method of Scoring:

A goal is scored ONLY when the ball passes over the goal line entirely between the goal posts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the game has been committed previous by the team scoring the goal.

There is NO KEEPING OF SCORE or W0N / LOSS RECORDS.

Remember the primary goal at this age level is to teach the love of the game. (skills like dribbling, using both inside and the outside of the foot, using both feet, trapping the ball, passing, etc. can be reviewed but at this age the kids just want to kick the ball)

Law 11 – Offside:

There are NO off-sides called in this age group. However “cherry-picking” (positioning a player right outside the opponent’s goal) is not allowed.

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct:

The referee must explain ALL infringements to the offending player.

The following fouls and misconduct are penalized:

· Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

· Trips or attempts to trip an opponent

· Jumps at an opponent

· Charges an opponent

· Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

· Pushes an opponent

· Holds an opponent

· Spits at an opponent

· Handles the ball deliberately`

· Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball.

All fouls shall result in an indirect free kick. No cards shall be given for misconduct.

Law 13 – Free Kicks: All free kicks are indirect and opponents are at least four (4) yards from the ball until it is in play. The ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player. A goal can only be score from an in-direct free kick if another play touches the ball before going into the goal. If a free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Law 14 – The Penalty Kick:

There are No Penalty kicks.

Law 15 – The Throw-In

Throw-ins will take place to restart play when the ball is kicked out of play over the touchlines. One ‘do-over’ per thrower should be the normal response if the throw-in is incorrect. The coach officiating the match should explain to the child how to execute the throw-in correctly.

Law 16 – The Goal Kick: The goal kick should be taken within 2-3 yards of the goal line anywhere across the width of the field of play at the nearest point from where the ball was retrieved. Opposing players must be four (4) yards away from the ball until it is in play.

Law 17 – The Corner Kick: A corner kick is a method of restarting play. A corner kick is an indirect kick. A goal may NOT be scored directly from a corner kick unless it is touched by another player. A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last been touched by a play of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air.

Procedures:

· The ball is placed on the corner of the field nearest to where the ball went out of play

· Opponents remain at least 4 yards from the ball until it is in play

· The ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team

· The ball is in play when it is kicked and moved

· The kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

General rules:

Yelling and screaming at players will not be tolerated, positive reinforcement comments from coaches or fans (good job, way to go, nice pass, etc.) are appropriate.
Parents are to be on the designated sideline ONLY!! And not behind the goals. The area on the opposite sideline is for players and coaches. Coaches are responsible for instructing their parents regarding where they are to be sitting or standing.
Referees are instructed to stop any game and seek board supervision to have parents move to the designated sideline.
Coaches are to stop at the concession stand every Saturday to pickup any material or get information the club may have to distribute.
Coaches and Assistants are to pick-up the goals before each game, set them up (using the proper pegs to anchor them to the ground). At the end of the game the coaches are to take the goals and pegs back to the concession stand.
After the last game of the season ALL equipment (ball bag, balls, cones and other equipment) that is the property of the BVA Youth Soccer Club and is to be left at the concession stand.