Anson County Parks and Recreation Department Spring Youth Soccer Operations Purpose To initiate and develop a successful community youth soccer program in Anson County. To encourage fair play, good sportsmanship, and teamwork in participants, including, but not limited to, players, coaches and parents. To establish a soccer environment that welcomes community involvement, which is essential to ensuring the long-term success of the community youth soccer program. 1
I. THE FIELD A. Dimensions The field of play shall be rectangular. 1. Length: 30 yards Width: 50 yards Length Grades K 3 50 yards Width: 100 yards Length Grades 4-6 B. Markings 1. Distinctive boundary lines five (4) inches wide. 2. A halfway line shall be marked out across the field. 3. A center circle with an three (3) yard radius. 4. Four corner arcs with a two (2) foot radius. 5. Goal area: five (5) yards from each goal post and five (5) yards into the field of play, joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. 6. Penalty area: eleven (11) yards from each goal post and eleven (11) yards into the field of play, joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. 7. Penalty Kick Arc: six (6) yards from the penalty kick mark. C. Goals eight (8) feet high and twenty-four (24) feet wide. Penalty Area Center Center Circle Goal Area 2
II. THE BALL A. Grades 1. K 3 rd Size Three (3) 2. 4 th 6 th Size Five (5) III. NUMBER OF PLAYERS A. The maximum number of players from each team on the field at any one time will be: 1. K 3 rd 6 players ( One must be goalkeeper) 2. 4 th 6 th 9 players ( One must be goalkeeper) B. Substitutions 1. Prior to a throw-in a. Only team with possession of throw-in may substitute. 2. Prior to a goal kick, by either team 3. After a goal, by either team 4. After an injury, by either team, when the referee stops the play 5. At halftime C. Playing Time 1. Every player should play at least 50% of the total playing time. 2. It will be the coach s responsibility to monitor his or her own players playing time, not the referee s. 3. Coaches need to use common sense to make sure that all players have an equal opportunity to play. 4. This is recreation, every child that is present will have the opportunity to participate. D. Teams and games may be co-ed. IV. PLAYERS EQUIPMENT A. Uniforms 1. All team members must have the same color jerseys, with the exception of the goalkeeper who must wear an alternate color jersey. 2. Every jersey must also have a number on the backside for identification. 3. Players shirts must be in the pants at all times. 3
B. Footwear 1. Tennis shoe or cleated shoe 2. No metal cleated shoes are permitted. C. Shinguards: Mandatory. D. Accessories 1. No jewelry of any kind is permitted, including, but not limited to, studs, earrings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, etc. 2. Hair restraints are limited to rubber bands or similar. 3. The referee s decision on the above is final. V. DURATION OF THE GAME A. The game shall be divided into two (2) equal halves. 1) K 3 rd twenty (20) minutes each half. 2) 4 th 6 th thirty (30) minutes each half. B. Halftime break shall last five (5) minutes. C. The referee shall keep the official running game clock. VII. START OF PLAY A. Opponent must be eight (8) yards from the center mark while the kickoff is in progress. B. Referee will signal the start of play by blowing his whistle. VIII. BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY A. The entire ball must be outside of the boundary line to be out of play. B (1) A corner kick will be awarded to the attacking team if the defending team plays the ball out of bounds past the goal line their defending. B (2) A goal kick, from the appropriate corner of the goal area, will be awarded to the defending team if the attacking team plays the ball out of bounds past the defending goal line. IX. OFFSIDE A. Offside will not be called for Grades K 3 rd. B. Offside will be called for Grades 4 th 6 th for the following instances. 1. Conform to FIFA. 2. It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. 3. A player is in an offside position if: a. He is nearer to his opponents goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. 4. A player is not in an offside position if: 4
a. He is in his own half of the field of play. b. He is level with the second last opponent. c. He is level with the last two opponents. 5. A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by: a. interfering with play b. interfering with an opponent c. gaining an advantage by being in that position 6. There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from: a. goal kick b. thrown in c. a corner kick X. FOULS AND MISCONDUCT A. Free Kicks 1. Direct Free Kicks will be awarded for the following fouls: a. Handling the ball b. Pushing c. Holding d. Striking or attempting to strike (including spitting at) e. Kicking or attempting to kick f. Tripping or attempting to trip g. Jumping at an opponent h. Charging from behind i. Violent or dangerous charging 1.If any of these fouls occur within the penalty area against the defending team, a penalty kick is awarded. 2. Indirect free kicks will be awarded for the following fouls: a. Dangerous play (high kick, low head, lying on the ball) b. Obstruction (blocking) c. Non-violent charging (off the ball) d. Charging the goalkeeper e. Goalkeeper takes more than six seconds after taking control of the ball f. Offside ( 4 th 6 th Only) as stated in Rule IX. g. Goalie touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate. h. Goalie touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw in taken by a teammate. 5
3. Conditions of the kick a. Ball is placed where the foul occurred. b. Ball must be stationary before being kicked. c. Opponents must be eight (8) yards away in every direction. d. Referee gives the hand signal for kick. e. Ball is in play when it has moved its circumference. f. Ball may not be played twice in succession by the kicker. g. On penalty kicks, the ball is in play once kick has been taken. Kicker may not replay ball unless touched by goalie first. B. Misconduct 1. The referee will inform player, team, coach, or spectator of any infractions. 2. Continuous fouls or misconduct will result in caution. a. Player is required to leave game upon receiving caution. b. Player may return to game at next stop in play. 3. A second caution or a red card for the player, team, coach, or spectator will result in ejection and/or removal from the field area. C. Fighting 1. Fighting will not be tolerated. There will be a zero tolerance on fighting. Anyone fighting; regardless of who started it, will be suspended from the field for the entire season. This means do not retaliate. Revision 3-1-2003 XI. PROVISIONS A. Any protests must be filed with the recreation department within 72 hours of the termination of the game. B. Amendments to the above outline will be held until the completion of the first season. 6
1.0 DUES/FEES/ELIGIBILTY/REGISTRATION/TEAM SETUP 1.1 Advertisement and announcement of registration dates and deadlines will be publicized at least two (2) weeks prior to the deadline date. 1.2 No player shall practice, or play unless the following has been submitted: a) Registration form has been filled out and signed by parent or legal guardian. 1.3 Any child who meets appropriate grade requirements is eligible to participate in this program. 2.0 EQUIPMENT 2.1 Anson County Parks And Recreation shall supply soccer balls, goals, nets. and the marking of fields. 2.2 Coaches are responsible for all team equipment issued, and is to return such at end of season. 2.3 Players must furnish their own shin guards. 2.4 Parks and Recreation is not responsible for providing post season awards for players. 3.0 LEAGUE STRUCTURE: A player may play in a higher grade grouping only with approval of the recreation department. 4.0 PRACTICES: 4.01 No one shall be permitted to practice unless they have properly registered with the Recreation Department and listed on a team roster 4.02 Practice schedules will be formulated by the Recreation Department for teams. 4.03 It shall be the responsibility of the coach to inform all team members of postponed or rescheduled practices. 5.0 GAMES: 5.01 A coin toss will be held prior to the game, winner of the toss has choice of kickoff or goal. 7
5.02 Teams will switch goals at halftime, team kicking off first will have goal. 5.03 When weather or other conditions warrant, remaining half/halves may be shortened or games terminated at the discretion of the referee. 5.04 Games terminated prior to halftime will be resumed at the point at which they were interrupted at a later date. Any game terminated during or after halftime will count as a completed match. 5.05 Ties will remain as ties. No overtime or shoot-out will be played. 6.0 POSTPONEMENTS AND RESCHEDULEMENTS: 6.01 In the event of inclement weather, a decision on games will be made as soon as it is evident that games can or cannot be played. 6.02 Games are to be played as scheduled. 6.03 Postponed games will be rescheduled at the first available time. 7.0 FACILITIES: 7.01 Coaches are to arrange with parents and players to pick up and remove all litter and debris after each practice and game. VII. Players and Coaches Code of Conduct 8
1. Coaches shall conduct themselves in an exemplary manner at all times, shall act in a sportsmanlike manner, which is consistent with the purpose of our program. 2. No player or coach shall be guilty of objectionable displays of dissent at an official s decision. 3. No player or coach shall use verbal abuse upon any official, director or participant. 4. No player or coach shall be guilty of using unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game or tampering with the other teams players. 5. No one shall discuss with an official the decision reached by such official except for the head coach. 6. No smoking or profanity is allowed by coaches and players. 7. No player or coach shall refuse to abide by an official s decision. Violations of 1-7 will result in ejection from the field. Repeated violations will result in suspension for the remainder of the season. The Anson County Recreation Commission Board Members and Anson County Parks and Recreation Department have approved the player and coaches code of conduct. I have read and understood the rules and the code of conduct. I understand that not following the rules and the code of conduct shall be detrimental to recreational youth programs. I shall adhere to these program rules and the code of conduct rules. At anytime that I do not follow Anson County Parks and Recreation s program rules or code of conduct rules, I understand that my status as coach shall be relinquished at will. Signature Date 9