Eligibility: All players must: Wear their STUSA Game Uniform. Any player without a full STUSA game uniform (Matching Jersey, shorts and socks) will not be able to play. Must wear shin guards Must wear soccer socks or tube socks that fit over the shin guards (Everyone on team must match) Must wear soccer shoes or running shoes. No flat soled shoes allowed; No Toe Cleat is allowed and no metal cleats are allowed. Sportsmanship: Good sportsmanship is to prevail at all times. Coaches will be held responsible for the conduct of themselves, their players, players parents and spectators. Age Group: Athletes age division is determined by their age as of August 6th, 2017. The age they are at that time is the age division they will play in. An athlete can request to play up in a division but an athlete cannot play down a division. Number of Players: 5v5 Format (4 Field Players and 1 Goalie). 9 is the maximum number of players on a team. Players can only play for 1 team. A team must have a minimum of 4 field players at all times. One of the field players must be a goalkeeper. Ball Size: 7&8 and 9-11 Divisions: Size 4 12-14 Division: Size 5 Field Dimensions: 7&8 Division: The Playing Field is 110 feet long by 75 feet wide. 9-11 and 12-14 Divisions: The Playing Field is 130 feet long by 90 feet wide. Size of Goals: 7&8 Division: The goals are 5 feet high and 10 feet wide. 9-11 and 12-14 Divisions: The goals are 6 feet high and 12 feet wide. The Goal Box: 7&8 Division: The Goal Box is 25 feet wide and extends 6 feet into the field of play. 9-11 and 12-14 Divisions: The Goal Box is 30 feet wide and extends 8 feet into the field of play. The Penalty Box: 7&8 Division: The penalty box is 56 feet wide and extends 20 feet into the field of play. 9-11 and 12-14 Divisions Only: The penalty box is 66 feet wide and extends 24 feet into the field of play.
No Hands: The rule for a hand ball includes using any part of the body from the tips of the fingers to the shoulder. A ball that is kicked and hits a player's hand or arm is NOT a hand ball. This means that the referee must use his or her own judgment to some extent in determining whether or not a hand ball is accidental contact or a purposeful attempt to gain an advantage. If the play is Hand to Ball then this is illegal and should be called as such. If the play is Ball to Hand, then play may continue depending on the referee s judgment. Goalies cannot always use their hands. This is sometimes called the back-pass rule. Goalkeepers cannot pick up a pass that came directly from one of their teammates in a controlled pass by their foot. In this case, the goalkeeper must use his feet to control and distribute the ball. Infraction of this soccer rule will result in an indirect kick from the point of the infraction. If a player passes the ball back to the goalie using any other part of the body other than the feet, EXAMPLE: a teammate passes the ball to the goalie using his head, then the goalie is able to use their hands in this situation. HEADERS: 7&8 and 9-11 Divisions: Headers are illegal and will be penalized the same as a handball 12-14 Divisions: Headers are legal Kick Off: A kick-off is the way a soccer game is started or restarted: at the start of a game (Home team kicks off) after a goal has been scored at the start of the second half (Away team kicks off) at the start of each period of extra time, if used The ball is placed in the center of the field. All players must be in their own half of the field and the opponents of the team taking the kick-off must be outside the center circle. Normally the referee will blow his/her whistle to indicate they are ready for the kick-off. The ball is in play when it is touched and it moves 1 revolution. Two touch rule applies. Two Touch: A player cannot touch the ball twice in a row when putting the ball in play. You will see this called many times in youth soccer. It applies everywhere. You will see it frequently on kick-offs, corner kicks, or direct and indirect kicks. If a kid barely hits the ball and decides to take another swipe at it, that is a two-touch violation. This also applies to throw-ins. A kid cannot throw the ball in and then kick it. Nope. No way. No can do. The only exception to this rule is on a drop ball restart. Slide Tackles: This is NOT allowed in recreational soccer (learning or competitive). This is a useful tool when applied correctly on the field of play but it could also be dangerous to both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Players will be warned with a yellow card immediately if they slide tackle. Our coaches are stressed to enforce this rule to their athletes.
Throw-ins: There are NO throw-ins. To start play when ball is kicked out of bounds, the players will kick the ball in from behind the out of bounds line. The opponent has to be at least 5 yards back from the out of bounds line to allow the player to kick the ball into play. Opponents who do not give this space will be given a yellow card for impeding the play. All kick-ins are indirect kicks. Corner Kicks & Goal Kicks: A corner kick or goal kick is taken when the ball leaves the field across a goal line at either end of the field behind either goal. If the offensive team kicks it out, play is restarted with a goal kick. If the defensive team kicks it out, play is restarted with a corner kick. The goal kick is taken from anywhere inside the "goalie box". It can be taken by any player, not just the goalkeeper. Goal kicks cannot be propelled in the air beyond the half way line. Goal kicks must touch the ground at least once before crossing the half way line or else the other team will be awarded an indirect kick where the ball crossed the line. The corner kick is taken from the corner nearest to where the ball left the field. You may be confused at times in youth soccer games to see a goal kick retaken. This is because the FIFA soccer rules state that the ball is not back "in play" until it leaves the penalty area, the large box outside of the "goalie box". If either team touches the ball before it leaves the penalty area the kick must be retaken, and if the ball is not kicked well enough to leave the area, the kick must be retaken. Goalkeeper throws, punts, and drop kicks: If the goalie makes a stop using his hands, he can not throw, punt or drop kick the ball in the air beyond the half way line. The throw, punt or drop kick must touch the ground at least once before crossing the half way line or else the other team will be awarded an indirect kick where the ball crossed the line. Violation will be an indirect free kick where the ball crossed the line. The goal keeper may kick the ball, in the air beyond the half way line if he stopped or received the ball with any other part of his body. Direct and Indirect Free Kicks: Direct and indirect kicks are two primary ways that play is restarted after the referee stops play for an infraction. For both of these the ball must be stationary before it is kicked and the opposing players should be a minimum of 5 yards away. The simple difference between the two is this: On a direct kick you can score by kicking the ball directly into the goal. On an indirect kick you cannot score on the first touch to the ball. An indirect kick must be touched by another player before it can go into the goal -that is the kicker and a second person. There are many soccer rules around what causes a direct or indirect kick. In general, a direct kick comes from a contact foul or hand ball. Everything else is indirect.
Penalty Kick: A penalty kick results from a contact foul or hand ball by the defending team within the penalty area - the large box on either end of the field. So it's a type of direct kick also. The ball is placed on the penalty spot or mark, 10 yards in front of the center of the goal. All players must remain behind the center field line. The team defending the kick must be inside the center field circle and the attacking team must be outside the center field circle until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must have both feet on the goal line until the ball is kicked. If after the ball is kicked, if it rebounds off of the goal or the goalkeeper and stays on the field, the ball is "live" and anyone can play it. Fouls & Punishments: The common rule of thumb on fouls is "If it looks like a foul, it probably is." A player cannot kick, trip, jump at, charge, strike, push, hold, or spit at an opponent. Soccer can be a physical, contact sport when two opposing players both want the soccer ball and no parent or grandparent likes it when their little athlete loses the ball and ends up on the ground! Bumping or going shoulder-to-shoulder while competing for a ball is not a foul until the hands or elbows come up. This is a bit of a judgment call and not all referees will call it the same way. Some soccer rules are actually not blackand-white. ** Remember, the referee is ALWAYS right. ** The normal consequence of a foul is a direct kick for the opposing team. However, depending on the type of foul and severity, the player that committed the foul may be punished. Punishment is given in soccer with yellow and red cards. The FIFA soccer rules give the guidelines for when to give a yellow card to a player and when to give a red card. I'm not going to get into the specifics here. If a player is given two yellow cards in the same game, that is equal to a red card. A red card can be given at any time without the player first receiving a yellow card. When a player gets a red card, they must leave the game and their team must play short. An ejected player cannot be replaced (unless they are ejected prior to the start of the game). If a player receives a Red Card they are not allowed to play the following game regardless of the time frame in the schedule. Flopping: Any player caught flopping (fake dive) on the field will receive a Yellow Card. Fighting: If 2 or more players are Red Carded because of fighting, they will be ejected from the league. (NO Exceptions) 5 Yard Rule: In all Dead Ball situations, defending players must stand 5 yards behind the marked ball. If Defending player(s) does not stand more than 5 yards away, a Yellow Card will be issued for impeding the play.
Coach/Parent Ejection: Referees or STUSA Staff have the right to eject a coach or parent from any game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants ejection. Coaches or parents who are ejected by the referee or STUSA Staff must leave the field and the area around the field before play will continue. The ejected party will have 3 minutes from the time they were ejected to the time they leave the fields to gather their personal belongings and leave the fields. Play clock will continue to run but play of the game will not continue until the ejected party has left the field. For the first 3 minutes that the ejected party has not left the field, the opposing team will receive 1 free Penalty Kick. Each minute after that will result in an additional Penalty Kick. EXAMPLE: If it took the parent 5 minutes to leave the field, there will be 3 Penalty Kicks awarded for the opposing team; 1 for the first 3 minutes and 2 for each minute after that. Offside/Pass Violations: There are no Off sides in the 5v5 format. CHERRY PICKING: The following explains the Cherry Picking rule (replaces Offside in 5v5) The ball cannot be kicked directly from a player on a team s defensive half of the field, to a teammate that was previously standing within the goal box of the opposing team. Passes may be received within the opponent s goal box, only if the player that receives that pass was not already in the goal box when the pass was kicked. Substitutions: To replace a player by a substitute, the following conditions must be observed: The referee is informed before any substitution is made A substitute only enters the field of play after the player being replaced has left the field of play and after receiving a signal from referee to enter the field of play. A substitute only enters the field of play at the half way line. Players entering and leaving the field of play should do so at the half way line. Substitutions are done during a stoppage, from the team that requested the substitution, in the match such as a throw-in, goal kicks, kick- off or injuries. Substitutions are to be made by the team with possession of the ball during a stoppage event. If the team with possession of the ball decides to substitute, then the other team can request a substitution as well only at that time. Score Cards: All Team Coaches or Team Captains will be responsible for reviewing, correcting and initialing the score cards at the end of the game. Once the score cards are turned in, no changes can be made. Duration of Game: 7&8: 20 minute halves (5 minutes for half time) 9-11 Division: 25 minute halves (5 minutes for half time) 12-14 Divisions: 25 minute halves (5 minutes for half time) There is no stoppage time. Play clock is a running clock. Each team has a 5 minute grace period to field at least 4 players on the team with at least 1 player being the goalkeeper. If one team cannot produce 4 players, they will turn over a Forfeit and the other team will get a 3 point win with a 3-0 score differential. In Playoffs/Tournament Play: If there is a tie at the end of regular time, there will not be overtime. There will be a shootout.
Shootout: Only for playoffs/tournaments a shootout will be used to determine a winner after a tie during regulation time. Each team will produce 4 of the 5 players on the field when the game comes to an end. Players on the field when the game ends in a tie may not leave the field of play. Players off the field when the game ends in a tie may not come onto the field of play. Coach will submit to the referee the names and numbers of the 4 players that will participate in the shootout. The team who scores the most points after all 4 attempts or mathematically defended, that team will be considered the winner. In the event of a tie after all 4 players take their shot, the referee will determine a sudden death shootout utilizing the 4th player on the field for each team. At that point players will continue to participate in the shootout in the order they took their shot at goal until a winner is determined. Spot Shot: The spot where the ball will be placed from the goal line. Players can only take 1 step when attempting their shot at goal. If a player takes more than 1 step before making contact with the ball, the goal will not count. The spot will be marked at: 7&8 = 8 Yards 9-11 = 10 Yards 12-14 = 12 Yards Determination of Winner: There will be no overtime games. Group Standings will be determined by game points as follows: 3 points for a win 1 point for a tie 0 points for a loss 3 Points for a Forfeit and a 3-0 score differential Maximum Goal Differential per game: This rule is provided to discourage running up the score. At the end of the game, the referee will record the winner of the game, (or if it was a tie) and the score. When the score is entered into the standings, only the win/loss, goals allowed, and the point differential will be noted (per team). No matter what the games final score was, the maximum point differential a team will be credited with (each game) will be 6 points. End of season playoff seeding: Should there be a tie in standings; the manner in which the team will be placed will be resolved by the point system noted below: 1. Goal Differential (Cumulative for all games) 2. Head to Head Results 3. Number of Goals Allowed 4. Coin Toss Weather Related Issues: We will make every attempt to reschedule rain outs. We may require you to play a double header at the next scheduled game day event.