The document outlines the rules and regulations for the Valley United Soccer Club for travel players and coaches, including the laws of the game and specific modifications for youth soccer. It details the size of the field, number of players, equipment requirements, and the roles and responsibilities of referees and coaches. Additionally, it includes rules regarding fouls, misconduct, game duration, and procedures for restarts and overtime.

1. The Laws of the Game for Valley United Soccer Club Travel players and coaches

2. Laws of the Game All league and tournament games have refs FIFA Laws of the Games MYSA modifications for youth soccer Some tournaments rules differ Read the rules!

3. Law 1 – The Field of Play Full-size fields for U13 and older Smaller fields for small-sided games – U9/U10 and U11/U12

4. Law 1 – The Field of Play

5. Law 1 – The Field of Play Refs need to know: Make sure goals are anchored Make sure there is nothing dangerous on the field Walk the field when you first arrive

6. Law 2 – The Ball Size 3 for U9/U10 Size 4 for U11/U12 Size 5 for U13 and older Ball in good condition Ball properly inflated

7. Law 3 – Number of Players 11v11 for U13 and older 8v8 for U11/U12 6v6 for U9/U10 Each team must have an identified keeper

8. Law 3 – Number of Players Substitutions Only with Ref’s permission Own throw-in; Opponents throw-in if they are subbing Goal kick – either team Injury – either team After goal scored Half U9/U10/U11/U12 – sub at any stoppage

9. Law 3 – Number of Players Substitutions – New 2010 Procedure Ceremonial restart (restart with whistle) if the restart needs to be held up for the substitution to complete.

10. Law 3 – Number of Players Refs and Coaches need to know: All subbing is at Ref’s discretion Coach must ask for sub No subs on corners or free kicks There are no “time outs”! If one team is short players, the other team may elect to play short or play at full strength

11. Law 4 – Players Equipment Shin guards are only mandatory gear Uniforms must match Cleats No metal No spikes No toe-cleats Soft gloves, hats allowed Jerseys must be visible (worn over any cold weather gear Appropriate optional gear is allowed at the ref’s discretion

12. Law 5 - Referees Safety first Preserve flow of game Enforce the Laws of the Game In charge from when you arrive at the field until you leave

13. Law 5 - Referees Pre-game Check in both teams Check shin guards Check cleats Check rosters and player/coach passes Any additional instructions Coin toss Winner chooses side to defend Other team kicks off

14. Law 5 - Referees

15. Law 5 - Referees Whistle to stop play Point (signal) to place of restart No whistle needed to start play except “ceremonial restarts” (kick-off or free kick when a delay is needed)

16. Law 5 - Referees

17. Law 5 - Referees Advantage: Offending team cannot benefit from committing an offence. Ref may delay call to see if fouled team will benefit from a non-call If advantage does not develop, then make the call

18. Law 5 - Referees Injuries: Stop play for a serious injury. Stop play for a head injury. Continue play until out of play for minor injury away from play. Use your judgment… Safety First!!!!!

19. Law 5 - Referees Mistakes: Refs make mistakes! Ref may correct mistake before ball is put back in play Once the ball is in play… the call stands.

20. Law 5 - Referees Refs need to know: Loud whistles! Use your outside voice! Whistle, hand-signal and announce all calls You may briefly explain any call or situation to a player or coach Be polite to coaches and players Ask a coach if you need help with a fan or (opposing) coach

21. Law 5 - Referees Coaches need to know: Don’t loudly challenge refs Be polite to refs If ref asks for help with fan or opposing coach, please help them It’s only a game! If you have an issue with a ref, contact your age group director.

22. Law 6 – Assistant Referees In 3 ref system call: Ball in and out of play Offside Nearby fouls

23. Law 7 – Duration of Game Two equal halves U17+ – 45 min halves U15/U16 – 40 min U13/U14 – 35 min U11/U12 – 30 min U9/U10 – 25 min

24. Law 7 – Duration of Game Refs need to know: Shorten time for excessive heat (and/or give mid-half water breaks) Respond if asked for amount of time remaining

25. Law 8 – Start of Play Ball on center mark One team on each side of half-way line Non-kicking team outside of center circle Play starts with whistle Ball must move forward

26. Law 9 – Ball In and Out of Play Only D is out of play

27. Law 10 – Method of Scoring

28. Law 10 – Method of Scoring

29. Law 11 - Offside Offside position – attacking player without ball closer to goal than both the ball and 2 defensive players Not in an offside position if – In own half Even with 2 nd to last defender

30. Law 11 - Offside Offside violation – at the moment a teammate plays the ball, player in offside position becomes actively involved in play by: Receiving the ball; Interfering with play or an opponent, or; Gaining an advantage from being in the offside position

31. Law 11 - Offside Indirect free kick to other team from spot violation occurred No violation if ball received from: Throw-in Corner kick Goal kick

32. Law 11 - Offside Refs and Coaches need to know: Offside can only be judged from a position even with the 2 nd to last defender Offside position player must be materially involved in the play Correct term is “offside”. There is no “offsides” nor “onside”. A defender deliberately leaving the field to create an offside situation is considered to be on their goal line.

33. Law 11 - Offside #10 is in offside position when #11 sends pass and is materially Involved in the play by receiving, Or being the only offensive player Who can receive, the ball.

34. Law 11 - Offside

35. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct 7 Direct free kick fouls: kicks or attempts to kick, trips or attempts to trip, jumps at, charges at, strikes or attempts to strike, Pushes, or; Tackles …an opponent

36. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct But only if: Careless (foul) Reckless (caution - Yellow) with Excessive Force (send off - Red)

37. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct 3 more direct free kick fouls: holds an opponent spits at an opponent handles the ball intentionally (except keeper in own penalty area) Taken where offence occurred. Penalty kick - if any of the 10 fouls occur in the penalty area.

38. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct 4 Indirect free kick fouls - if keeper, in penalty area, commits any of four offences: holds ball (hands) more than six seconds handles ball again after releasing it, before it touched another player handles ball intentionally kicked to him by team-mate handles ball directly from teammate’s throw-in

39. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct 4 more Indirect free kick fouls for all players: dangerous play Impedes opponent’s progress Prevents keeper from releasing ball from his hands commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player

40. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct Yellow card for a caution Red card for a send-off

41. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct 7 & 7 – 7 cautions unsporting behavior dissent persistent infringement of Laws delaying the restart of play failure to respect the required distance on restart (corner kick, free kick or throw-in) entering field without referee’s permission deliberately leaving field without ref’s permission

42. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct 7 & 7 – 7 send-offs serious foul play violent conduct spitting at opponent or any other person denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling ball denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a free kick or a penalty kick offence using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures receiving a second caution in same match

43. Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct Refs need to know: 10 direct-kick, 8 indirect-kick fouls Use caution/send-off (yellow/red) sparingly, but as needed Refs and Coaches need to know: Foul calls at the discretion of ref (and caution/send-off) Foul call delayed (or not made) if fouled team maintains an advantage (Advantage Rule)

44. Law 13 – Free Kicks The kicker may score goal from a direct free kick (Major infraction). Goal may not be scored from an indirect free kick (All other infractions). Unless the ball is played or touched by another player of either team.

45. Law 14 – Penalty Kick Direct Free Kick resulting from a player inside own penalty area intentionally committing any of the ten major (direct free kick) offenses

46. Law 14 – Penalty Kick Refs and Coaches need to know: Any on-field player may kick or be keeper All players except kicker outside of penalty area and penalty arc Keeper on goal line until ball is kicked (may jump or move side-to-side) Ball is live after kick

47. Law 14 – Penalty Kick Refs and Coaches need to know: Offense infraction If score – retake kick If miss – IFK Defense infraction If score – goal If miss – retake kick

48. Law 15 – Throw-In Restart after ball has passed entirely over the touchline All or part of both feet off field Ball brought back behind head, then released in front of body Both feet on ground when released Violations: Foot lifted – throw-in to other team Thrower plays ball again – IFK to other team

49. Law 15 – Throw-In Refs and Coaches need to know: Re-take throw if ball does not enter field Coaches need to know: The thrower is always open after the throw

50. Law 16 – Goal Kick Restart after ball passed entirely over goal line, last touched by the attacking team Ball placed inside goal area Defending team outside of goal area Ball must be kicked out of penalty area Violation: Played before leaving penalty area - rekick

51. Law 16 – Goal Kick Refs and Coaches need to know: Any number of offensive players may be in the penalty area Younger players may have trouble kicking out of the PA Coaches need to know: Unless your keeper has a strong leg, keep extra players back Keepers should learn to take goal kicks

52. Law 17 – Corner Kick Restart play after ball has passed entirely over the goal line and was last touched by the defending team. Ball placed inside the corner arc, or within 1 yd of the corner

53. Law 17 – Corner Kick Refs need to know: Watch for pushing in the PA before the kick No offside violation on ball received directly from CK Coaches need to know: Practice corner kicks!

54. Laws 13-17 – Restarts Refs and Coaches need to know: Cannot score an own goal directly from any restart If ball goes in own goal, restart as if the goal was not there

55. Law 18 – Common Sense! Soccer is a GAME!

56. Rules for Overtime League games – no overtime, games tied after regulation remain a tie Districts/States: Teams tied after regulation – two 5-min periods of overtime. For darkness or weather, referee may before the overtime starts: Reduce overtime to one 5-min period, or: go directly to a Shoot-Out.

57. Rules for Overtime 2 5-min periods Both are played – not “sudden death” Start with coin toss Switch sides between periods If tied after 10 min, go to shoot-out

58. Rules for Shoot-Out Ref chooses goal to shoot on. Teams must have the same number of players on the field (if one team has more players on the field, they must remove players to equalize). Coin toss – winner takes the first kick. Each team provides 5 kickers. Teams alternate kicking. Keepers may kick.

59. Rules for Shoot-Out Only players on field at end of overtime may kick. Any player on the field may play keeper. The keeper can be changed at any time. If one team mathematically wins (other team can’t score enough goals) then the game ends. If tied after 5 kicks per team, continue in the same order until one team wins.

60. Rules for Shoot-Out Whichever team scores the most, wins. All field players except the kicker and 2 keepers must stay in the center circle during the shoot-out. If the game must be called for darkness or weather during the shoot-out, the result will be decided by coin toss.

61. Rules for Taking the Shot One shooting player at the penalty mark One keeper on the goal line Shooter places the ball at the penalty mark Ref assures both players are in place Keeper may not leave the goal line until the shooter makes contact with the ball Shooter may not shoot until the ref blows the whistle

62. Rules for Taking the Shot Center ref stands at side of penalty area even with penalty mark lead AR at the goal line (where goal area intersects goal line) 2 nd AR in the center circle with remaining shooters

63. Rules for Taking the Shot Infraction by shooter: If shot is in goal – retake shot If shot misses – next team shoots Infraction by keeper: If shot is in goal – goal counts If shot misses – retake shot

64. Rules for Shoot-Out Refs and Coaches need to know: Many playoff games go to shoot-out… be prepared! See http://www.bjb.org/soccer/coachinfo/overtime.html for more info. See http://www.bjb.org/soccer/coachinfo/ for general info.