Rec Laws of the Game

Formats of Play
Law 1: Field of Play
Law 2: Ball
Law 3: Players
Law 4: Player's Equipment
Law 5: Referee
Law 6: Assistant Referee
Law 7: Duration of Game
Law 8: Start of Play
Law 9: Ball In and Out of Play
Law 10: Scoring
Law 11: Offside
Law 12: Fouls & Misconduct
Law 13: Free Kicks
Law 14: Penalty Kicks
Law 15: Throw-Ins
Law 16: Goal Kicks
Law 17: Corner Kicks
Other Modified Rules

Formats of Play

The following table is intended to summarize the rules of soccer that have been modified to a particular age group.

	Age Group Playing Formats
	K	1st	2nd & 3rd	4th	5th & 6th	7th/8th	HS
Field Size (yards)	15 X 25 Split Field	20 X 30 Split Field	30 X 40	40 x 60	45 x 75	60 x 110	60 x 110
> Build Out Line	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Ball Size	3	3	4	4	4	5	5
Goal Size (feet)	6’ Pugg	6’ Pugg	6’ X 12’	7’ X 21’	7’ X 21’	8’ X 24’	8’ X 24’
Players	3 v 3	4 v 4	5 v 5	7 v 7	9 v 9	11 v 11	11 v 11
> Maximum Roster Size	10	12	9	11	13	16	18+
> Goalkeeper	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
> Substitutions	On the Fly	On the Fly	Any Stoppage	Any Stoppage	Any Stoppage	Any Stoppage	Any Stoppage
Duration	4 X 10 min.	4 X 10 min.	2 x 25 min.	2 x 25 min.	2 x 30 min.	2 x 35 min.	2 x 40 min.
> Break Period	3 min.	3 min.	5 min.	5 min.	5 min.	10 min.	10 min.
Offsides	No	No	“Soft” Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Heading	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Free Kicks	All Indirect	All Indirect	All Indirect	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA
Penalty Kicks	No	No	No	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA
Throw-Ins	None Continuous Play	None Continuous Play	Yes 2nd Chance	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA
Goal Kicks	None Continuous Play	None Continuous Play	Top of Penalty Box	Top of Penalty Box	Top of Goal Box	Top of Goal Box	Top of Goal Box
Corner Kicks	None Continuous Play	None Continuous Play	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Law 1: Field of Play
For more than a decade, MVSC has followed an age-specific, small-sided games model. Our goal is to structure all current programming so that we are in line with US Soccer’s mandated standards. Formats of play across age groups will be regulated to create the best possible environment for players to learn and enjoy the game, with a gradual progression from 4 v 4 soccer in Kindergarten up to 11 v 11 in 7th grade and up. Please see the chart below for further details.

Field must be rectangular and longer than it is wide. Fields will be appropriate in size to age of players (see Formats).

Law 2: Ball

Size 3: Kindergarten – 1st Grade
Size 4: 2nd Grade – 6th Grade
Size 5: 7th Grade - High School

Law 3: Players

Kinder: 3 v 3, no goalkeepers, split/dual field model
1st Grade: 4 v 4, no goalkeepers, split/dual field model
2nd & 3rd: 5 v 5 (includes goalkeepers)
4th Grade: 7 v 7 (includes goalkeepers)
5th & 6th Grade: 9 v 9 (includes Goalkeepers)
7/8th Grade - H.S.: 11 v 11 (includes Goalkeepers)

Law 4: Players Equipment & Substitutions

All players shall wear a team jersey, shorts, shin-guards, socks and soccer cleats. Baseball cleats (with a front toe cleat) are not allowed. Shin-guards should be worn underneath socks. No jewelry (earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.), or other equipment deemed unsafe by the referee is allowed. Goalies shall wear a jersey differing in color from either team.

Substitutions:

Kinder - 1st Grade: On the fly at any time
2nd - 3rd Grade: On any stoppage of play
4th - 7/8th Grade: On any stoppage, with permission of referee. The referee must be notified and approve of a substitution prior to a player leaving or entering the field of play.
High School: Refer to MISA Rules.

Law 5: Referee

The referee has full authority to make all decisions regarding all Laws of the Game. The referee’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal. The referee’s authority extends to the coaches and spectators.

The referee’s primary objective is ensuring the player’s safety, but s/he should permit the game to flow and not call trivial fouls, nor should s/he call fouls where stopping play for a free kick would be less beneficial to the fouled team than permitting play to continue. Especially at younger ages, a referee is encouraged to explain calls to assist players in learning.

Kinder: In general, no reffing is required at this level. Coach, or Club authorized game facilitator should provide direction from the side, not on the field of play, and should be objective and helpful to both teams. Applauding and supporting players on both teams is encouraged.
1st Grade: Parent Volunteer Referee. Some coaching allowed on field, but must be objective and helpful to both teams. Applauding and supporting players on both teams is encouraged. With a split field, two games, each team should supply a referee.
2nd Grade: Parent Volunteer Referee. Minimal coaching allowed on the field. Home team should supply the referee.
3rd Grade: Parent Volunteer Referee. No coaching allowed on field. Home team should supply the referee.
4th - 6th Grade: Solo Center Referee. Licensed referee supplied by MVSC. In event of no shows, see rules for 3rd Grade.
7th Grade - H.S.: 3-Man Crew. Licensed referees supplied by MVSC.

Referees, whether licensed or parent volunteers, must be trusted to use their best judgment with integrity and objectivity, to ensure the safety of the players at all times. Their calls should not be questioned by coaches, parents or players, but should be supported by all with thanks for their efforts on the field.

Law 6: Assistant Referees

Asst. Referees (ARs or Linesmen) assist the Referee in officiating the game; calling balls out of bounds, offsides, and other fouls as necessary. ARs are generally only scheduled for 7th/8th Grade and High School games. The Referee will grant them more or less authority based on their qualifications.

Law 7: Duration of Game

See Formats of Play for durations by Grade.

Time is continuous; the clock is not stopped for injuries or balls out of bounds. No “stoppage time” is added in recreational soccer.

Law 8: Start of Play

A coin flip (or similar random device) is used to determine choice of side or which team attacks first. Play begins with a kick-off, with each team on their respective sides, and the defending team outside the center circle. A kick-off is awarded at the start of each half, or after a goal is scored. On a kick-off, the ball may be played in any direction on the first touch, but must be played by a different player on the second touch.

Law 9: Ball In and Out of Play

The ball is out of play when the entire ball has completely crossed over the entire line (touch or end line), either on the ground or in the air, and the referee has stopped play. The position of a player touching the ball has no impact on the ball being called out of bounds (a player may be on, or even outside the lines, when he is playing a ball). The ball is deemed in play at all other times.

Law 10: Scoring - Determining a Winner

A goal is scored when the entire ball passes over the entire goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar. A ball "on the line" is not a goal.

Blow Out Rule: If one team is leading by 4 goals, then the coach of the leading team should take steps to avoid a needlessly lopsided score. Tactics to achieve a balanced game can include:

allow the opposing coach to add an additional player to the field,
rotating more skilled players out of attacking positions,
taking shots outside the penalty area,
if all else fails, stop shooting on goal!

It is incumbent on the coach of the leading team to implement such changes with good sportsmanship and discretion.

It is a violation of the Blow-Out rule if a team wins by more than 6 goals.

Violations of the Blow-Out Rule may result in the following:

1st Violation - written warning
2nd Violation - the win counts as 1 point instead of 3 points
3rd Violation - forfeit and may result in suspension from post season play

Law 11: Offsides

An attacking player is offside only if the player is

in the opponents’ half of the field,
in front of the ball,
closer to the goal line than at least two opponents, and
is involved in active play at the moment the ball is played forward by the player’s teammate.

A player is not offside if the referee deems them even with the second to last defender, even with the ball, or not involved in the attack. A player is not considered offside if he receives the ball directly from a throw-in, goal kick or corner kick, or if a defender makes an intentional play on the ball.

If an attacking player is in an offside position, and a teammate plays the ball forward to them, AND a defender makes an intentional play on the ball (not a deflection), this negates the attacking player being offside and play shall continue.

See Formats of Play for Grade specific application of the Offside rule.

Law 12: Fouls & Misconduct

A major foul occurs when a player carelessly, recklessly, or with disproportionate force does one of the following:

Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent.
Trips or attempts to trip an opponent.
Jumps at an opponent.
Charges an opponent.
Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent.
Pushes an opponent.
Tackles an opponent and makes contact with the player before touching the ball.
Tackles from behind or in a dangerous manner
Holds an opponent.
Spits on an opponent.
Deliberately handles the ball with any portion of his arm from fingers to arm pit (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area). For a “handling foul” to be called, there must be intent by the player to strike the ball with some portion of the arm or hand, or otherwise make himself bigger by extending his arm/hand outside a normal position of play. Generally, if contact is made “hand to ball” it is a foul. If it is “ball to hand,” no foul. If a player protects him/herself from being hit by a hard shot, or if the ball inadvertently strikes the hand, there is no foul.

A major foul results in a direct free-kick. (See note on Free Kicks and Penalty Kicks.)

A minor foul occurs if a player:

NO HEADING: There is no deliberate heading allowed in Kindergarten - 6th Grade. If a player deliberately heads the ball, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. If the ball hits a players head (not deliberate), play should continue.
Plays in a dangerous manner (ex: high kick, or playing a ball on the ground in the vicinity of an opposing player).
Impedes the progress of an opponent.
Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands.
Charges the goalkeeper.

A goalkeeper can commit a minor foul if he:

Touches the ball with his hands after releasing it into play before it is touched by another player.
Touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a teammate.
Touches the ball with his hands after receiving the ball directly from a teammate’s throw-in.

A minor foul results in an indirect free-kick, even if the foul occurs in the defending team’s penalty box.

YELLOW CARDS & RED CARDS: The Referee may determine that certain fouls or behavior warrant a significant caution (yellow card) or ejection from the game (red card). An ejected player may not be replaced by a substitute.

COACHING INFRACTION: A coach (or parent) may not step on the field at any time, unless invited by the referee to attend to an injured player. The first infraction will receive a verbal warning. The second incident is an automatic Yellow card. The third infraction is an automatic Red card. In the event that a coach is ejected, and no other volunteer coach is available to continue, the game will be suspended at the discretion of the referee, and no result will be posted for the game.

Law 13: Free Kicks

Direct free kicks: a goal may be scored directly from the kick.

Indirect free kicks: a goal cannot be scored until the ball is touched by a player other than the kicker.

In Kindergarten through 3rd grade, all fouls result in an indirect free kick.

Law 14: Penalty Kicks

A penalty kick is awarded when a major foul is committed by a defender within his own penalty area. The kick is taken on the penalty mark (approx. 11 meters directly in front of the goal) with no defense except the goalie, who must remain on the goal line until the ball is kicked.

No penalty kicks are given in Kinder through 3rd Grade.

Law 15: Throw-Ins

When the ball is played out of play over a touch line (side line), play is restarted in the following manner:

Kinder and 1st Grade: Continuous Play model. A parent helper will roll a new ball into the field the moment the ball in play goes out of bounds. The newly introduced ball is “live” the moment it enters the field. Any player can attempt to take possession of the ball.
2nd Grade & 3rd Grade: Throw-ins. Play resumes with a throw in for the team that didn’t touch the ball out of play. A legal throw-in requires the player face the field with both feet on the ground and behind or on the touch line, and uses both hands to throw the ball from behind and over his head. An illegal throw-in results when the player lifts one or both feet, uses only one hand to throw, or fails to bring the ball from behind and over his head. In 2nd & 3rd Grade, an illegal throw should result in a second attempt, with the ball going to the opposing team on a second illegal throw.
4th Grade - HS: Legal throw-ins required. An illegal throw-in results in a throw in for the other team.

Law 16: Goal Kick

When the ball is played out of bounds over the goal line by the attacking team, play is restarted with a goal kick for the defending team.

Kinder & 1st: No Goal Kicks, continuous play.
2nd - 4th Grade: The ball is placed at the top of the penalty box and restarted with a kick. Defending players must stand at least 10 yards from the ball.
5th Grade - HS: The ball is placed anywhere within the goal area and then kicked. Attacking players must be outside the penalty area prior to the kick. The ball does not need to leave the penalty area before it is played by a teammate of the kicker, but is "in-play" as soon as the kick is taken.

Law 17: Corner Kick

When the ball is played out of play over the goal line by the defending team, play is restarted with a corner kick for the attacking team. The ball is placed within the corner arc on the side the ball went over the goal line. Defenders must be at least 10 yards away.

No Corner Kicks for Kindergarten or 1st Grade.

Other Modified Rules

Playing Time: Each player shall play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time (unless there is an issue with attendance, attitude or behavior).
Spectators: Parents and spectators must occupy the opposite side of the field from the players – NO EXCEPTIONS. Both teams should occupy one side. Coaches are not permitted to walk past the midway line into the area occupied by the other team.
No Fly Zone: For Kinder & 1st Grades, the fields will be lined with a semi-circular crease, or “no fly zone”, which will be drawn directly in front of the Pop-Up Goals on each end of the field. Attacking and defending players are not permitted to touch the ball inside these areas. It’s not necessary to call a foul should this happen, but coaches should constantly remind the players not to enter these no fly zones. Goals scored from within the "no fly zone" should not be allowed.