Alabama Soccer Association. Youth Academy Rules & Procedures

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1 Alabama Soccer Association Youth Academy Rules & Procedures

2 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION Name The Alabama Soccer Association Youth Academy (ASA YOUTH ACADEMY) is the name of the competitive travel league administered by Alabama Soccer for boys and girls ages 8U through 11U Mission The purpose of the Youth Academy is to promote holistic player development over team development through a child-centered environment during the most key developmental window. SECTION 2: GOVERNANCE Authority The ASA YOUTH ACADEMY is authorized by Alabama Soccer Board of Director s to operate as an official playing format of Alabama Soccer s 9U through 11U age groups. All policies, rules, and guidelines will be approved by the Youth Academy Advisory Committee and be consistent with Alabama Soccer, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), US Soccer, and US Youth Soccer Youth Academy Advisory Committee (YAAC) Members of the Youth Academy Advisory Committee shall include the following: ASA Executive Director ASA Technical Director ASA Assistant Technical Director Club YAD (Number TBD) Advisory Committee Youth Academy Advisory Committee Responsibilities The operation of the ASA YOUTH ACADEMY shall be managed and supervised by ASA with input from the Youth Academy Advisory Committee.

3 SECTION 3: CLUB APPLICATION AND ADMISSION 3.1- Registration Any club which is registered and be in good standing with Alabama Soccer Association may apply for entry to the ASA YOUTH ACADEMY Registration Deadlines All applications for participation in the ASA YOUTH ACADEMY must be received by the deadline established by Alabama Soccer for each playing season Fees All team fees are due by the posted deadline for each season Bond All teams playing in the ASA YOUTH ACADEMY are required to submit a performance bond. This bond will be rolled over from year-to-year The bond amount is $400 per team For any ASA sponsored competition(s) which requires the posting of a performance bond for team participation, a club may elect to post a single club bond in the amount of $5,000 in lieu of individual performance bonds. SECTION 4: ASA YOUTH ACADEMY STRUCTURE Divisions The ASA YOUTH ACADEMY will offer divisions for the following age groups: 9U, 10U, & 11U These divisions serve as a starting point for the placement of players and teams. Clubs may, when appropriate, have a team or player play up or down into the older or younger age group if it is deemed developmentally appropriate to do so. ASA may request a

4 doctor s note in the event that a players developmental age is less than their biological age Scheduling The first and last dates of league play for each season are established by the ASA Executive Director, Technical Director, Assistant Technical Director, and State Administrator Youth Academy games are scheduled based on the method established by the ASA Youth Academy Advisory Committee During the scheduling process, team representatives will work with one another to schedule their matches for the season If teams cannot agree on a time/date, ASA will handle the scheduling Schedules will be written to follow US Soccer PDI (one game per day). In the event a team has elected to play two (2) games in one day, every effort shall be made to provide for a minimum of one (1) hour between the end of the first game and the start of the next Schedule Changes Once the final schedule has been posted, games may only be changed or cancelled at no cost for the following reasons: a. Inclement weather b. Unplayable or dangerous field conditions The hosting team must contact the ASA Assistant Technical Director and visiting team immediately if the fields are closed due to weather Any schedule changes outside of noted above, will result in a rescheduling fee in accordance with the ASA fee schedule When the game has been rescheduled, the coach or manager of the hosting team must complete the Youth Academy game change request form, with the following information: a. The teams involved b. Division, age, gender c. Game Number d. Date, time, location of the rescheduled game

5 SECTION 5: POOL FORMAT & GAME PLAY Pools All players registered for the Youth Academy are not placed on official teams, but are instead entered into a Pool of players, usually divided by age group, at their respective club. From these pools, clubs select players to participate in games based on: Creating appropriate competitive matchups Number of games an individual player has participated in (clubs should attempt to get all players an equal number of games per season) Clubs should organize teams into tiers (1, 2, 3 or A, B, C, etc) based on performance of players or create parity-based teams. Clubs should communicate the method of selection for each team before a respective game is played to create competitively appropriate match-ups Players must have the ability to move up or down from one tiered team to the next throughout the course of the season. (ASA strongly recommends discussing the movement of a player with that player and their parents before the move is made) Creating Optimal Development Environments in Games Games in the Youth Academy should be designed as Optimal Development Environments for kids. These environments efficiently, effectively, and holistically develop all participating players. To do so effectively, Youth Academy players can only participate in 2 games per day or 100 minutes of play. These games ideally would be separated by at least one hour. The challenge ahead of all Academy participants to create these Environments requires the following: Both teams clearly attempting to execute soccer-specific Player Actions and and US Soccer s Key Qualities of a player Adverse opportunities to respond to and overcome. Ex: Goals scored against & referee mistakes Balanced combination of support, demand, and teaching from coaches Balanced combination of support from parents, guardians, and spectators Competitive score-lines - 4 or more goal separation in the final result reflects an inappropriate matchup.

6 Contingency plans must be enacted in these situations - Collaborative efforts between opposing coaches to solve non-competitive matchups. Putting an additional player onto the field for the team losing (do not take players off of the field). Reorganize the positioning of players Providing the winning team with a challenge to overcome like playing back to the goalkeeper before going forward, using the non-dominant foot only, etc Identification ASA YOUTH ACADEMY Clubs must register all players participating in Youth Academy games with Alabama Soccer Association. All players must have verification of ASA Youth Academy Registration through a player card or roster at each game. The following methods are permissible as check in for ASA YOUTH ACADEMY games: 1. Official Player Pass must have photo affixed and be laminated 2. Virtual Card via Team Connect and electronic device 3. Game Day Roster with pictures (Stack Sports) Club Pass All teams playing in the ASA YOUTH ACADEMY have the ability to allow players to move freely within their own club. Club pass players may play up in level or age, at same level or higher, and can play down where appropriate U players cannot play down into the Youth Academy Guest Players Guest players (players not registered with the respective club) are not allowed in ASA s Youth Academy Games Transfers Please refer to the ASA General Membership Rules regarding the transfer of players located under the Bylaws/Rules section of

7 SECTION 6: RULES OF PLAY Laws of the Game The rules of play shall be current Laws of the Game, as published by F.I.F.A. All contests sanctioned by the ASA YOUTH ACADEMY shall abide by the Laws of the Game. Authorized modifications to the Laws of the Game, as permitted by F.I.F.A. are noted below: Substitution Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee, at any moment the ball is out of play regardless of possession Age Divisions Game Model Field Size (yds) Build Out Line Game Length 7v7 (9U & 10U) x Must be included; equal distance from midfield line to top of the penalty box 9v9 (11U) x Optional & may be instituted during match play if both coaches agree Two, 25 minute Halves = 50 minutes of play Two, 30 minute Halves = 60 minutes of play Build Out Line OBJECTIVE: The build out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting allowing each player on the field to get experience making soccer decisions When the goalkeeper has the ball in his or her hands during play from the opponent, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punts and drop kicks are not allowed) After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal.

8 The opposing team must also move behind the build out line during a goal kick until the ball is put into play (when the ball leaves the penalty box) If a goalkeeper punts or drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred The build out line will also be used to denote where offside offenses can be called Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build out line. Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the build out line and goal line Build Out Line Practical Applications Adjustments to Build Out Line rules may be made with consent of both coaches and the referee Ideally, the goalkeeper will wait to put the ball into play once all opponents are past the build out line The goalkeeper can put the ball into play sooner but he or she does so accepting the positioning of the opponents and the consequences of how play resumes To support the intent of the development rule, coaches and referees should be mindful of any intentional delays being caused by opponents not retreating in a timely manner or encroaching over the build out line prior to the ball being put into play Coaches are responsible for addressing these types of issues with their players Referees can manage the situation with misconduct if deemed appropriate Referees should be flexible when enforcing the 6 second rule and counting the time of possession should only begin when all opponents have moved behind the build out line Heading ASA has eliminated heading for players 12U and younger. This directive is to protect players 11 years old and younger regardless of what age group they are playing in.

9 A purposeful header by these players shall result in an indirect free kick awarded to the opponent at the spot of the infraction.if the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the the infringement occurred Please refer to the ASA Concussion Policy for further information Abandonment of Game Any game that is abandoned because of inclement weather or darkness, after the completion of the first half, will be considered a completed game. If the first half has not been completed, the game will be replayed in its entirety prior to the end of the current season Delayed Game Start Any team delaying the start of a scheduled game by more than fifteen (15) minutes, without the sanction of the proper authority, shall forfeit the game to the opponent and be responsible for repaying the Bond to ASA In the event both teams do not show up for a scheduled game and the referee rules the ground playable, then both teams will be assessed with a forfeiture of their Bond to ASA Forfeits The team that forfeits shall be invoiced for their $ bond Host/Home Team Responsibilities The host team is defined as the team whose home club is the site being used for the games. The host team is defined as the team who appears first on the schedule The home team will wear a light colored jersey. The visiting team will wear dark colored jerseys. The team in the incorrect color will have to change The host team is responsible for the condition of the field and field markings The host team must ensure that all goals are properly secured, nets in good condition, and corner flags are properly placed.

10 Reporting of Scores The Youth Academy does NOT officially keep or publish scores. Therefore no scores will be reported to ASA. However, all coaches and YADs should be paying attention to scores to ensure appropriate matchups SECTION 7: DISCIPLINE The ASA Youth Academy applies the laws of the game as stated by FIFA. However, YADs, Coaches, and Referees should be aware of the developmental goal of the Youth Academy and treat disciplinary actions as opportunities to teach players the laws of the game and respect for all parties involved. ASA has final authority on all disciplinary matters pertaining to the breaking of any rules stated in this document. SECTION 8: REFEREE GAME RESPONSIBILITIES Verification The referee will verify the identity of the player/coach/staff via passes Prior to the start of the game, the referee shall make sure that each player s equipment is in accordance with the Laws of the Game Prior to the start of the game, the referee shall make sure that all goal nets and corner flags are properly installed and field has proper markings. Goals must be securely anchored Prior to the start of each game the referee should conduct a brief meeting between coaches that reviews the adapted rules for Academy play, namely: 1. The use of the build-out-line 2. Contingency plans should the score become lopsided Referee s Authority The referee s judgment with regard to physical condition of the field and its acceptance for play, to the actual happenings and occurrences related to the conduct of the game, and those prerogatives granted to him/her by the Laws of the Game as published by FIFA, will not be challenged.

11 8.3 - Ejections Referee shall communicate verify and record all send-offs a Referee report. Reports must be submitted to ASA within 48 hours of the completion of the game Referee Assigning ASA will assist in the assigning of referees for Official Academy Games (Those scheduled through ASA). All academy games may use uncertified, volunteer referees in place of certified referees as needed and as clubs see fit. SECTION 9: SPORTSMANSHIP Code of Conduct Coaches, players, parents/guardians, shall be familiar with the Alabama Soccer Association Code of Conduct. SECTION 10: MATTERS NOT PROVIDED FOR The YAAC reserve the authority to make decisions and resolve conflicts in all matters not specifically provided by in this copy of the ASA YOUTH ACADEMY Rules.

Alabama Soccer League. Rules & Procedures

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