YSYSL
MODIFICATIONS TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME – 2023
Pre-Game
Procedures:
All
players on YSYSL teams will play the equivalent of one-half of the
game. Players may be withheld from playing for disciplinary reasons,
illness or injury but must be identified on the game card prior to
the start of each game.
LAW
ONE – THE FIELD OF PLAY
Field
sizes and goal sizes are determined by the YSYSL Board to be within
standards set by US Soccer and CalNorth; fields for U8 & U10
shall include a Build Out Line (Halfway between the penalty area and
the half line)
Penalty
spot
U6
& U8 – No penalty spot
U10
& U12 – 10 yards
U15
– 12 yards
LAW
TWO – THE BALL
U6
& U8 – Size 3
U10
& U12 – Size 4
U15
– Size 5
LAW
THREE – THE PLAYERS
Maximum
number of players (on the field):
U6
– 4 players & NO goalie
U8
– 5 players
U10
– 7 players
U12
– 9 players
U15
– 11 players
Substitutions:
Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage of time
Play
down rule: minimum number of players
U6
& U8 – 4 players
U10
– 5 players
U12
– 6 players
U15
– 7 players
If
a team is short of players the coach can play with fewer than the
regulation number of players. The coach may keep one player in
reserve as a sub; the opposing team has to play down to the number of
players available for the game, not the number of players on the
field. Additionally, coaches are encouraged to “borrow” players
from the opposition to maximize playing time.
LAW
FOUR – THE PLAYERS EQUIPMENT
No
jewelry, casts or solid splints. NO EXCEPTIONS
LAW
FIVE – THE REFEREE
U6
& U8 – No referees; a coach from each team is on the field to
guide the players and manage the game
U12
– A two (2) person system may be used if there aren’t enough
referees available
As
soon as the Referee sees an injured player, the referee will stop
play. Play will resume by a drop ball. The only situation in which a
coach or parents are allowed on the field is to assist an injured
player, after the referee’s signal.
LAW
SIX – THE OTHER MATCH OFFICIALS
U10
– No Assistant Referee
NOTE:
Unsporting conduct or disrespect toward any game official is not
acceptable from any player, coach or spectator. Coaches are
responsible for all sideline behavior.
LAW
SEVEN – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH
U6
– 8 minute quarters
U8
– 10 minute quarters
U10
– 25 minute halves
U12
– 30 minute halves
U15
– 35 minute halves
The
halftime interval shall not exceed 5 minutes except by consent of the
Referee.
LAW
EIGHT – THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY
U8
& U10 cannot score a goal from a kick-off or goal-kick, U12 &
U15 may.
LAW
ELEVEN – OFFSIDE
U6
& U8 – Offside is not called at this age
U10
– Offside is only called between the Build-Out Line and the
endline
U12
& U15 – Offside per FIFA Laws
LAW
TWELVE – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Deliberate
heading is not allowed and punished by an Indirect Free Kick for the
opposing team
LAW
THIRTEEN – FREE KICKS
U6
& U8 – All free kicks will be taken as Indirect Free Kicks;
they may not go directly into goal
LAW
FOURTEEN – THE PENALTY KICK
U6 & U8
– No penalty kicks
U10 – Penalty kicks will be taken as direct kicks in place
of penalty kicks and will occur from the penalty mark. The defensive
team will be allowed to set up a wall on the goal line in order to
block the kick.
LAW
FIFTEEN – THE THROW IN
U6
– May opt to use a kick-in in place of a throw in
U8
& U10 – for any violation of the throw in the referee
(U10)/coach (U8) will verbally and if needed physically demonstrate
the correct procedure and will allow a second opportunity for that
player to make a correct throw in. For any further violation/
infraction of the rule, the referee will award possession of the
ball to the opposing team.