Official Playing Rules (7v7)

U10 Girls plays  rec soccer against other Glendale Girls Soccer Teams.  All games are held at Wyandotte School fields.  Mostly Sunday afternoon games, with some Saturdays to make up for any holidays.  Typically 8 games in 6-8 weeks.  Spring season is April / May, Fall season is September / October.  Practices typically start 2-3 weeks before season.  Coaches will contact you after coaches meeting.

General Rules:

Canceling a game or practice:  The head coach is responsible for canceling a game or practice due to inclement weather conditions (always for lightning, at the coach's discretion for rain) and scheduling conflicts (school breaks, etc.).  Parents/guardians are asked to NOT leave the field area in case they are needed due to weather or physical emergencies.  If a coach cancels a game prior to game day, the coach should reschedule the game in conjunction with the coach from the opposing team and must inform the referee coordinator ASAP of the cancellation and date/time of the rescheduled game.

Game Time:  (2) 25 minute halves.  With (1) 10 minute halftime break between.

The ball: size four (4)

Number of Players:  7v7 - The game will be played with 7 players of each team on the field.  The maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed 14, with a recommendation of 12.  A minimum of 5 players are needed, per team, to start a game.  If a game is started with 5 players and a team loses a player, the game will be terminated.  Team and games are co-ed.  No team roster shall have less than 2 of either gender. 

Player Positions:  1 forward, 2 mid-fielders, 3 defenders and 1 goalie.  The coach should make every effort so that every player SHALL play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.

Equipment:  Footwear must conform to FIFA Laws; plastic cleats with no toe cleat.  Shinguards are MANDATORY.  The goalkeepers must wear a jersey or pinnie differentiating them from the field players.  For insurance purposes and player safety, all teams shall follow FIFA Law 4 - Equipment Safety - "A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to him/herself or another player, including any kind of jewelry." (including post earrings)

Referee:  The league will provide one referee.  We often use young referees in order to give them a chance to learn at our recreational level.  Please be respectful to the referee.  Coaches are to remain on the sidelines at all times unless called onto the field in the case of an injury.  

Substitutions:  Unlimited substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee, on any dead ball.  Substitutions will be made by having the player(s) wait at the center line until the referee blows the whistle and admits them to the game.

Spectators:  Spectators are asked to occupy the side of the field opposite the coach and players.

Playing the Game:

Kickoff:  A kickoff is taken from the center circle at the beginning of the game, beginning of the second half and after each goal.  The first kick must touch an offensive player before the defense may touch the ball.

Ball in and out of play:  The ball must completely cross the line to be out of play.

Throw-In:  After the ball has completely crossed the side boundary lines ("touchlines"), a throw-in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball.  The throw-in is taken from where the ball left the field and must be thrown with two hands from behind and over the head, while both feet are on the ground and on or behind the touchline.  Referees may allow players to retake throw-ins.

Offside:  There are no offsides but teams are encourageS not to poach.  Referees should address with the coach if they see this happen persistently.

Goalkeeper Distribution:  The goalkeeper may not punt the ball past the halfway line.  Restart back to goalkeepers hands.  Remind of the rule and encourage to pass out of the back to teammates.  

Goal Kick:  The goal kick is taken by the defending team each time the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by an attacking player.  The ball may be placed anywhere in the goal area and is not considered back in play until it has been kicked out of the penalty area.

Corner Kick:  The corner kick is taken by the attacking team each time the ball is kicked by the defense over its own goal line.  The ball is placed within the three-foot arc in the corner of the field (nearest to where the ball went out of play) and kicked into play by the attacking team.

Free Kicks:  All opponents must stand at least 8 yards from the ball until it is put into play.

Penalty Kick:  The penalty kick is awarded when a defending player commits one of the 10 penal (major) fouls within their own penalty area while the ball is still in play.  The penalty kick is taken by a player from the offended team from a spot 12 yards from the goal.  All players must remain outside the penalty area, 10 yards from the ball, and behind the penalty-kick mark until the kick is taken, except for the kicker and the goalkeeper.  The goalkeeper's feet must remain stationary on the goal line until the ball is kicked.  At the referee's signal, the kicker attempts to kick the ball into the opponent's goal and the goalkeeper tries to stop the ball from scoring.

Misconduct:  There are two kinds of misconduct: (1) actions resulting in a caution (yellow card) from the referee; (2) actions resulting in a player being sent off or ejected from the field (red card).  A referee may also warn a player to improve his or her conduct (or unsportsmanlike behavior) before a caution is issued.  Glendale is a recreational league.  Unsportsmanlike behavior by a player or spectator will not be tolerated.

Penal Fouls:  There are 10 major fouls that result in a direct free kick ("DFK") and from which a goal may be directly scored against the opponents.  To be a major foul, the offense must be, in the referee's judgment, intentionally committed.  The 10 fouls are divided into two groups:

These 6 require that the foul be committed carelessly, recklessly or with disproportionate force:

Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent;

Striking or attempting to strike an opponent;

Pushing an opponent;

Charging an opponent;

Tripping an opponent;

Jumping into an opponent.

These 4 require only that they be committed:

When tackling an opponent, making contact with the opponent before the ball;

Spitting at an opponent;

Holding an opponent;

Handling the ball deliberately.

Non-Penal Fouls:  There are 5 minor fouls that result in an individual free kick ("IFK").  At least one additional player of either team must touch the ball before a goal can be scored from an IFK. 

Dangerous Play:  including high kicking near another player's head or trying to play a ball held by a goalkeeper;

Fair Charge Away From the Ball:  fairly charging when the ball is not within playing distance;

Impeding Progress of an Opponent:  getting between an opponent and the ball when not playing the ball;

Charging the Goalkeeper:  shoulder-to-shoulder contact within the penalty area;

Goalkeeper Infringements:  (1) taking more than four steps while controlling the ball with their hands or otherwise intentionally disrupting the flow of the game; (2) playing ball with hands when the ball is kicked by a teammate.