FC Belton Rules & Regulations 7v7 Division Playing Rules: 1. All games will abide by the United States Youth Soccer Association Guidelines, with FC Belton optioning to add/drop rules where needed to improve the league. The rules as set forth in this outline shall be strictly adhered to and supersede rules from all other sources in the specific areas with which they are concerned. 2. Format of play: U9 7v7 (6 Field Players and a Goal Keeper) 1 Official U10 7v7 (6 Field Players and a Goal Keeper) 1 Official For U7 and older divisions, they will be kept gender pure as long as there are adequate numbers to support the divisions being separated. If any divisions numbers do not meet the minimum amount for that division to make, we will first attempt to consolidate the gender pure divisions to make 1 division out of the 2 or possibly 3 divisions. (For example: U11 Girls and U12 Girls might be consolidated into just a U12 Girls Division.) 3. No player, parent, or coach is allowed to stand, sit, walk, or coach along the goal line of the field once the game has started, and parents should be on the opposite sidelines of the team s players and coaches. 4. Each team will have a maximum of (3) coaches/assistant coaches in the bench area during the course of a game. ALL coaches/assistant coaches must submit and pass a criminal background check prior to ANY/ALL involvement with FC Belton teams in the role of coach. This background check can be completed through our online sports management software. If a current background was performed through another entity/method that information needs to be 1
provided to FCB staff for upload into our system. Please note: To be allowed to coach on game day, Coaches/Assistant Coaches must be wearing their FC Belton coaches jersey for that team. (*This is the visible sign to indicate that you have passed a background check and are safe to coach our kids.) 5. Kick-0ff: (a) Each half begins with a kick-off. (b) Teams change ends of the field after the first half. 6. Goals: (a) In soccer, the line is part of the area that it encompasses. So, you can score directly from a kick off. 7. Penalty Kicks: (shall follow Law 14 of Laws of the Game ) (a) The ball must be placed on the penalty mark, (which is located at exactly 24 feet from the goal line.) (b) The player taking the kick must be properly identified. (c) The defending goalkeeper must remain on his/her goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked. (d) The players other than the kicker must be located inside the field of play, outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark, and at least 8 yards from the penalty mark. (e) After the players have taken positions, the referee signals for the penalty kick to be taken. (f) The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward, and must not play the ball again until it has touched another player. (g) No substitutions are allowed during this time. Thus, a player that is currently on the field has to take the kick. (a) The game clock will continue to run. If this process goes past the end of the half/end of the game, the kick still needs to be taken before the half/end of game is called. The game clock will continue to run. If this process goes past the end of the half/end of the game, the kick still needs to be taken before the half/end of game is called. 8. Slide-Tackles: (AKA: SLIDE TACKLING): NO SLIDE TACKLING IS ALLOWED (a) SLIDE TACKLE PENALTY: Slide tackling will result in a warning and/or yellow card and an indirect free kick. 2
(b) DEFINITION OF A SLIDE TACKLE: A slide tackle is defined as a player taking both feet off the ground in an attempt take the ball from an opposing player via a slide. For the slide tackle rule to be enforced, a player does not have to successfully tackle the player. (Only the Goal Keeper may slide tackle in the penalty area.) (c) SLIDING TO SAVE BALL: Sliding to save a ball that is about to go out of bounds is allowed, but only when another player is not (in the eyes of the referee) in Harm s Way of the slide. Sliding to save a ball from a goal is also permitted, however, only when another player is not (in the eyes of the referee) in Harm s Way. 9. Build Out Line: The build out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting (a) When the goalkepper has the ball, either during play (from the opponent) or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play (b) Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punting is not allowed) (c) After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal (d) The build out line will also be used to denote where offside offenses can be called (e) Player cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build out line (f) Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the build out line and goal line 10. Punting: (a) If a goalkeeper punts the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense (b) If the punt 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 were the infringement occurred 3
11. No Heading: Deliberate heading is not allowed in 7v7 games (a) If a player deliberately heads a ball in a game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense (b) If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred 12. The clock will run continuously each game, stopping only for intermission periods or serious injuries. 13. Yellow Cards & Red Cards (a) The official has great discretion in calling fouls, and may choose to ignore minor infractions that would slow the game. The official may give a yellow card and award an indirect kick to the opposing team in the event of undue harassment from coaches and spectators. If harassment continues, the referee will consider it unsportsmanlike conduct and will enforce the punishments listed in the by-laws. (b) Referees have been instructed to be lenient in the lower age groups and to make games a learning experience for the players, keeping the safety of the players in mind. (c) Yellow Card- warranted by a player by means of a violation of the laws of the game or misconduct. (d) Red Card- warranted by a player by means of a violation of the laws of the game, misconduct, or multiple infractions. Player must leave the complex before play will resume. 14. NO OT (over time) WILL BE PLAYED, during regular season and Group games. Tie games are allowed during the regular season and group games. 15. Format of schedule: 4
(a) Playoffs - When there are too many teams in a division to allow all teams to play every opponent, FCB will automatically utilize a playoff bracket system. This means teams will be split into groups of teams randomly. The teams in these groups will play each other for the purpose of seeding teams for the playoff games. (If there are any games played against teams from a different group that game will not count toward the seeding. It was scheduled to keep teams from having a bye.) (b) Regular When there are too few of teams to allow the use of a playoff bracket, (7 or fewer teams in the division.) This means that each team will play all other teams in their division, (possibly multiple times). *Before the first games of the season, at the Coaches Meeting, coaches will be informed as to the format of that season s schedule, (whether they will include playoffs, filler games outside of their own bracket/group and thus do not count toward the seeding process, or if the standings will be based on a straight head to head season. 16. Tie Games: (a) During regular season or group games, ties will be allowed to occur since there are multiple games that are used to identify standings before proceeding to awards or playoffs. (b) Once teams are in the playoffs there needs to be a winner in each game. So, due to the time limitations for each game, ties will be decided by Penalty Shots. (See the rules & instructions for Tie Breakers/Penalty Shots for more information.) 17. Depending on the number of teams in a division, some divisions might have a pre-season game(s) at the beginning of their schedule. Preseason games will not count toward rankings/standings. They are equivalent to a scrimmage/practice game. This information will be communicated to the coaches and posted on the standings page of the FC Belton website. 18. Scores and standings will be kept in U9 and U10 divisions. If there are 6 teams or less in a division, only 1 st and 2 nd place teams will receive trophies. When divisions have more than 6 teams the 1 st. 2 nd. and 3 rd place teams in each division will receive trophies. 5
U9/U10 RULES: 1. If a coach enters the field of play due to a player injury, the injured player must come off the field. A replacement player may be substituted in to take their place. The next time the ball leaves the field of play, (resulting in a throw-in, corner kick, or goal kick), the previously injured player may be substituted back in if the Referee deems that it is safe for him/her to return to play. 2. 7v7 (6 Field Players and a Goal Keeper) 3. A team must have a minimum of 5 players, (that are game ready and on the field), at the scheduled game time in order to not forfeit the game. (A forfeited game will be scored as a 0-3 loss.) 4. Ball size: 4 5. 1 official 6. Off side will be enforced, penalty kicks, free kicks, and goal kicks are all played. 7. Free substitutions by either team when the ball leaves the field of play, regardless of possession. 8. All other FIFA laws of the game shall apply PLAYING TIME: 1. An official game shall consist of: U9/U10 Two (2) twenty (20) minute halves/ 5 Minute halftime 2. The clock will run continuously each game, stopping only for intermission periods or serious injuries. 3. The pre-game warm-up and any intermission periods may be cut short by the league official present if games are running behind posted schedule. 6
PARTICIPATION RULE: The following applies to each player that has made half (1/2) of all scheduled team practices within the last seven (7) days and who is on the field in uniform five (5) minutes prior to the start of the game for referee check-in. Non-compliance to the players participation rule could result in forfeiture of the game up to dismissal of the coach from the league, etc. 1. Each player is required to be given playing time equal to half of the game. 2. Exception: Before the start of the game the coach is required to notify the center referee and opposing team coach, with player s name and number, any player that is not going to be playing at least 50% of the game due to illness, injury, discipline or any other issue. If an issue (as stated above) arises during the course of the game, a member of the coaching staff, (as stated above), must immediately notify the opposing coach and referee of a player s inability to continue/finish the game. The Referee should document this on the back of the game card. The Coach must send their Division Coordinator an email or text message describing the exception within 24 hours of the game conclusion. 3. If a player is playing up a division per parent request, the coach is only required to provide the player with playing time equal to ¼ of the game time. EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS: 1. All players and coaches on each team must wear the uniforms provided by FC Belton to games. 2. Shoes with rubber or plastic cleats are recommended. NO shoes having metal cleats or a toe cleat will be permitted. (Toe cleats must be cut off before the player can participate in that day s game.) 3. Shin guards are required for all practices and games to prevent lower leg injuries. Players who wear any type of glasses on the field must have a retainer strap. 4. No jewelry may be worn at any time during the game, unless medical alerts, which shall be taped down. Special rules will apply to CSN participants and will be determined by the referee for any safety issues. 5. Referees may ban any equipment that they deem as unsafe or illegal. PLAYER/TEAM/SPECTATOR GAME GUIDELINES: All divisions, players and coaches (both teams) will be on one side of the field with all spectators on the opposite side. Parents, players and coaches will be respectful at all times. There will be no cursing. Positive gestures are highly encouraged. THERE IS ABSOLUTY NO SMOKING, ACOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND/OR ILLEGAL DRUGS AT ANY TIME. Please refrain from vaping also. 7
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