TOURNAMENT LAWS OF THE GAME
All Tournament games are governed by the most current edition of FIFA’s Laws of the Game with the variations listed below. A <.pdf> version is available.
U8 LAWS
1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY
Length 30 yards (approx) x Width 20 yards (approx)
No penalty area
Center circle 6 yard radius
Goal Area – yards from each goalpost and six yards into the field. Goals 6’ max width (flags are acceptable)
2 – THE BALL
Size 3 Ball
3 – THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Roster - 8
4v4 (no GK)
ALL COACHES MUST HAVE PASSES
Unlimited substitution on the fly.
4 – THE PLAYER'S EQUIPMENT
Shin guards MANADATORY.
No jewelry.
5 – THE REFEREE
Single USSF licensed referee.
6 – THE ASSISTANT REFEREES
No assistant referees
7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH
17 minutes (no halftime)
8 – START AND RESTART OF PLAY
Opposing players must be at least 6 yards from the ball on kick-offs
9 - BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
No change
10 – THE METHOD OF SCORING
No score shall be kept
11 - OFFSIDE
No offside penalties shall be called
12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Coach/facilitator shall briefly explain violation to offending player. No sliding tackles.
13 – FREE KICKS
All free kicks are indirect. Opposing players must be at least 6 yards from the ball.
14 – THE PENALTY KICK
No penalty kicks shall be awarded.
15 – THE THROW IN
One re-throw after explanation from referee shall be given.
16 – THE GOAL KICK
Opposing players must be at least 6 yards from the ball.
17 – THE CORNER KICK
Corner kicks are indirect. Players must be six yards from ball. Ball must be within one yard of the corner.
U10 LAWS
1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY
Length 59-1/2 yards x Width 40 yards
Center Circle 8 yard radius
Goal 6’ x 18’
Penalty arc 8 yards from penalty spot
Penalty mark 8 yards from goal line
2 – THE BALL
Size 4 Ball
3 – THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Roster – 12 max
6v6 (includes GK)
ALL COACHES MUST HAVE PASSES
Unlimited substitution at any stoppage with permission of the referee.
4 – THE PLAYERS EQUIPMENT
Shin guards MANADATORY.
No jewelry.
5 – THE REFREE
Single USSF licensed referee.
6 – THE ASSISTANT REFEREE
No assistant referees
7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH
25 minutes (no halftime)
8 – START AND RESTART OF PLAY
Opposing players must be at least 8 yards from the ball on kick-offs
9 - BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
No change
10 – THE METHOD OF SCORING
No score shall be kept
11 - OFFSIDE
No offside penalties shall be called
12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Conform to FIFA with the exception that an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the center spot on the halfway line if a goalkeeper punts or drop-kicks the ball in the air from his/her penalty area into the opponents penalty area.
13 – FREE KICKS
Conform to FIFA with the exception that opponents are at least eight (8) yards from the ball.
14 – THE PENALTY KICK
Opposing players must be at least 8 yards from the ball. The penalty mark is made eight (8) yards from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them.
15 – THE THROW IN
No change
16 – THE GOAL KICK
No Change
17 – THE CORNER KICK
Conform to FIFA with the exception that opponents are at least eight (8) yards from the ball.
U12 Laws
1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY
Length 75 yards x Width 50 yards
Center Circle 8 yard radius
Goal 6’ x 18’ (or 7’ x 21’)
Penalty arc 8 yards from penalty spot
Penalty mark 10 yards from goal line
2 – THE BALL
Size 4 Ball
3 – THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Roster 16 max
8v8 (includes GK)
ALL MUST HAVE PASSES
Unlimited substitution at any stoppage with permission of the referee.
4 – THE PLAYER'S EQUIPMENT
Shin guards MANADATORY.
No jewelry.
5 – THE REFEREE
USSF licensed referee.
6 – THE ASSISTANT REFEREES
USSF licensed referee assistants.
7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH
30 minutes (no halftime)
8 – START AND RESTART OF PLAY
Opposing players must be at least 8 yards from the ball on kick-offs
9 - BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
No Change
10 – THE METHOD OF SCORING
No Change
11 - OFFSIDE
No Change
12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Conform to FIFA with the exception that an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the center spot on the halfway line if a goalkeeper punts or drop-kicks the ball in the air from his/her penalty area into the opponents penalty area.
13 – FREE KICKS
Conform to FIFA with the exception that opponents are at least eight (8) yards from the ball.
14 – THE PENALTY KICK
Conform to FIFA with the exceptions that the penalty mark is at ten yards and that players other than the kicker and defending goalkeeper are at least eight (8) yards from the penalty mark.
15 – THE THROW IN
No Change
16 – THE GOAL KICK
No Change
17 – THE CORNER KICK
Conform to FIFA with the exception that opponents are at least eight (8) yards from the ball.
U14-U19 Laws
1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY
2 – THE BALL
Size 5 Ball
3 – THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Roster - 22 max
11v11 (includes GK)
ALL MUST HAVE PASSES
Unlimited substitution at any stoppage with permission of the referee.
4 – THE PLAYER'S EQUIPMENT
Shin guards MANADATORY.
No jewelry.
5 – THE REFEREE
USSF licensed referee.
6 – THE ASSISTANT REFEREES
USSF licensed referee assistants.
7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH
U14 - 35 minutes (no halftime)
U16 to U19 - 40 minutes (no halftime)
8 – START AND RESTART OF PLAY
No Change
9 - BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
No Change
10 – THE METHOD OF SCORING
No Change
11 - OFFSIDE
No Change
12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
No Change
13 – FREE KICKS
No Change
14 – THE PENALTY KICK
No Change
15 – THE THROW IN
No Change
16 – THE GOAL KICK
No Change
17 – THE CORNER KICK
No Change