U6 Modified Rules

= ;

U10 Modified Rules (6 VS. 6)

FIFA Laws of the Game can be found at www.us= soccer.com/referees.

Please also note th= e U10 addendum and appendix.

Law 1 – The Field of Play

Dimensions: The field of pl= ay must be rectangular. The length of the touchline must be<= /p>

greater= than the length of the goal line.

Length: minimum 45 yards ma= ximum 60 yards

Width: minimum 35 yards max= imum 45 yards

Field Markings: Distinctive= lines not more than five (5) inches wide. The field of play is<= /p>

divided= into two halves by a halfw= ay line. The center mark is indicated at the midpoint

of the halfway line. A circle= with a radius of eight (8) yards is marked around it.

The Goal Area: Conform to F= IFA.

The Penalty Area: A penalty= area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines=

are drawn at right angles to t= he goal line, ten (10) yards from the inside of each goalpost.

These lines extend into the= field of play for a distance of ten (10) yards and are joined by

a line drawn parallel with t= he goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line

is the penalty area. Within e= ach penalty area a penalty mark is made eight (8) yards from<= /p>

the midpoint between the goalp= osts and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a

radius<= /span> of eight (8) yards from ea= ch penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.

Flag posts: Conform to FIFA= .

The Corner Arc: Conform to = FIFA.

Goals: Goals must be placed= on the center of each goal line. They consist of two upright=

posts equidistant from the corne= r flag posts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar.

The maximum distance betwee= n the posts is eighteen (18) feet and the maximum distance

from the lower edge of the cros= sbar to the ground is six (6) feet.

Safety: Goals must be ancho= red securely to the ground. Portable goals may only be used

if they satisfy this requirem= ent.

Law 2 – The Ball: Size four= (4).

Law 3 – The Number of Playe= rs: A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not

more than six players, one of w= hom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either

team consists of fewer than five players.

Substitutions: At any stopp= age and unlimited.

Revised May= 27, 2005

US Youth Soccer 46

Playing time: Each player S= HALL play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.

Teams and matches may be co= ed.

Law 4 – The Players’ Equipment: Conform to FIFA. Non-uniform clothing is allowed

based on weather conditions, but uniforms must still distinguish teams.

Law 5 – The Referee: Regist= ered referee, especially Grade 9 or parent/coach or assistant<= /p>

coach. All rule infringements sh= all be briefly explained to the offending player.

Law 6 –The Assistant Refere= es: Not required. May use club linesmen if desired.<= o:p>

Law 7 – The Duration of the Match: Conform to FIFA with the exception of the match

being divided into two (2) equal halves of twenty-five (25) minutes each. There shall be a=

half-ti= me interval of five (5) minut= es.

Law 8 – The Start and Resta= rt of Play: Conform to FIFA with the exception of the

opponen= ts of the team taking the kic= k-off are at least eight (8) yards from the ball until it

is in play.=

Law 9 – The Ball In and Out= of Play: Conform to FIFA.

Law 10 <= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Method of Scori= ng: Conform to FIFA.

Law 11 <= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– Offside: None.=

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: Confo= rm to FIFA with the exception that an indirect

free kick is awarded to the opp= osing team at the center spot on the halfway line if a

goalkee= per punts or drop-kicks the ba= ll in the air from his/her penalty area into the

opponen= ts penalty area.

Law 13 <= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– Free Kicks: Conform= to FIFA with the exception that all opponents are at least

eight (8) yards from the ball.

Law 14 <= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Penalty Kick: C= onform to FIFA with the exception that the penalty mark is

made eight (8) yards from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them.

Law 15 <= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Throw-In: Confo= rm to FIFA.

Law 16 <= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Goal Kick: Conf= orm to FIFA.

Law 17 <= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Corner Kick: Co= nform to FIFA with the exception that opponents remain

at least eight (8) yards from= the ball until it is in play.

Revised May= 27, 2005

US Youth Soccer 47

U10 ADDENDUM

MO= DIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GAME FOR U10

La= w 1 The Field of = Play: dimensions are smaller to accommodate the six-versus-six<= /p>

game and are appropriate for the movement capabilities of eight- and nine-year-old child= ren.

These adju= sted dimensions provide more practical space allowing players to be successful.<= o:p>

Field Mark= ings: the penalty area is marked, but is smaller than the adult field size

penalty area. The center circle is two yards smaller in radius than the adult size field mark= ing.

All other markings are per FIFA.

Goals: the= goal, 6 x 18 feet, is the same for the U10 and U12 age groups. By

using the same = size goal for both age groups clubs will have to buy fewer goals.

La= w 2 The Ball: mus= t be a size four. The smaller ball is lighter and more easily kicked,

received, dribbled= and passed.

La= w 3 The Number of Players: the six-a-side game now includes the goalkeeper. The

smaller number of= field players will provide the opportunity for the children to further develop

their physical = and technical abilities. These are valuable traits for all soccer players to develop.

With fewer players on the field each child has an increased number of contacts with the ball and

has more actu= al playing time. Additionally the players will be required to make more decisi= ons

and experience repeating game situations more frequently. The work rate and involvement of=

players will be m= ore consistent. While learning both offense and defense, players will become

well rounded a= nd will understand more readily the roles and importance of teammates. The nee= d

for the playe= rs to make the mental and physical transition from offense to defense and vice-ve= rsa

will be enhanc= ed in this playing environment.

The minimum number of players to begin a match for preteen players in SSG should be one= (1)

less than the = number required on the field. That is for U12 the minimum will be seven (7) and fo= r

U10 the mi= nimum will be five (5). There should not be a minimum for U8 and U6 and clubs,

administrators, coaches = and referees should be encouraged to allow players from the team with

sufficient numbers to ‘loan’ a player or two to the team that is short players and th= en PLAY.

La= w 5 The Referee: = per FIFA. Clubs are urged to use this age group as a field<= /span> training

opportunity for Grade= 9 Recreational Referees. All rule infringements shall be briefly explained

to the offen= ding player.

La= w 6 The Assistant Referees: use club linesmen. Implement here the referee-intraining

program.

La= w 7 The Duration = of the Match: per FIFA with the exception of the halves being 25=

minutes each.

La= w 8 The Start and Restart of Play: per FIFA. The distance the defending players must

be away from= the ball until it is kicked is the same as the radius of the center circle.

La= w 10 Goal Score= d: shall conform to FIFA and the sections concerning Winning Team

and Competiti= on Rules shall conform to US Youth Soccer guidelines.

La= w 11 Offside: t= here shall be no offside called during these games.

La= w 12 The rule o= n the goalkeeper’s distribution still allows for the ball to be punted the<= o:p>

entire length of= the field; it just can not go directly into the opponents’ penalty area.<= o:p>

La= w 13 Free Kicks= : per FIFA. The distance the defending players must be away from the

ball until it = is kicked is the same as the radius of the center circle.

Revised May= 27, 2005

US Youth Soccer 48

La= w 14 The Penalty K= ick: conform to FIFA with the exceptions that the penalty mark is

ten yards fro= m the center of the goal line and that players other than the kicker and defendin= g

goalkeeper are at le= ast eight yards from the penalty mark. The distance of eight yards conforms

to the radiu= s of the center circle. The distance of ten yards from the center of the goalmou= th for

the penalty m= ark fits within the reduced dimensions of the penalty area and is a reasonable<= o:p>

distance for the k= ick.

La= w 17 The Corner= Kick: per FIFA. The distance the defending players must be away=

from the ball = until it is kicked is the same as the radius of the center circle.

Roster Size: Under the single field method the recommended minimum roster

size is nine p= layers and the maximum roster size is eleven players. Under the<= /p>

dual field met= hod the recommended minimum roster size is fourteen players and

the maximum r= oster size is sixteen players. This range of roster sizes allows for

a club to u= se either the single field or dual field set up.

Split-Field Model: See appendix for options.
Playing Time: A minimum of at least = 50% playing time is required.
No score or standings should be kept= .

ADVANTAGES OF PLAYING SMALL= SIDED GAMES

More time with the coach<= /span>
Energetic workouts due to playing bo= th offense and defense
More efficient use of field space
Matches can be played simultaneously across a full size field
Children are physically more efficie= nt in smaller space
Children are actively involved for a longer period of time
It takes less time to score a goal or advance to goal
Greater success rate for the players=

US Youth Soccer Recommendations

Opposing coaches, players and parents should shake hands after each match.
Parent/coaches, non-participating players and spectators should be there to enjoy and encourage the acti= vity of the youngsters.

Spectator and team benches should be= on opposite sides of the field.
No alcoholic beverages or tobacco products will be consumed or allowed near the playing area. Opposing parent/coaches and players should shake hands after each match.
No slide tackles to be allowed in th= is age group.
Coaches of U10 teams sho= uld attend the U10/U12 Youth Module coaching course and the Grade 9 referee course.