U10
Modified Rules (6 VS. 6)

FIFA Laws of the Game can be
found at www.ussoccer.com/referees.

Please also note the U10
addendum and appendix.

Law 1 – The Field of Play

Dimensions: The field of play
must be rectangular. The length of the touchline must be

greater than the length of the goal
line.

Length: minimum 45 yards maximum
60 yards

Width: minimum 35 yards maximum
45 yards

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

divided into two halves by a halfway 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 FIFA.

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

are drawn at right angles to the
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 the
goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line

is the penalty area. Within each
penalty area a penalty mark is made eight (8) yards from

the midpoint between the goalposts
and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a

radius of eight (8) yards from each
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 corner flag
posts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar.

The maximum distance between the
posts is eighteen (18) feet and the maximum distance

from the lower edge of the crossbar
to the ground is six (6) feet.

Safety: Goals must be anchored
securely to the ground. Portable goals may only be used

if they satisfy this requirement.

Law 2 – The Ball: Size four (4).

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

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

team consists of fewer than five
players.

Substitutions: At any stoppage
and unlimited.

Revised May 27,
2005

US
Youth Soccer 46

Playing time: Each player SHALL
play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.

Teams and matches may be coed.

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: Registered
referee, especially Grade 9 or parent/coach or assistant

coach. All rule infringements shall be
briefly explained to the offending player.

Law 6 –The Assistant Referees:
Not required. May use club linesmen if desired.

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-time interval of five (5) minutes.

Law 8 – The Start and Restart of
Play: Conform to FIFA with the exception of the

opponents of the team taking the kick-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 – The Method of Scoring:
Conform to FIFA.

Law 11 – Offside: None.

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: Conform to
FIFA with the exception that an indirect

free kick is awarded to the opposing
team at the center spot on the halfway line if a

goalkeeper punts or drop-kicks the ball in
the air from his/her penalty area into the

opponents penalty area.

Law 13 – Free Kicks: Conform to
FIFA with the exception that all opponents are at least

eight (8) yards from the ball.

Law 14 – The Penalty Kick: Conform
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 – The Throw-In: Conform to
FIFA.

Law 16 – The Goal Kick: Conform to
FIFA.

Law 17 – The Corner Kick: Conform
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

MODIFIED
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GAME FOR U10

Law 1 The Field of Play:
dimensions are smaller to accommodate the six-versus-six

game and are
appropriate for the movement capabilities of eight- and nine-year-old children.

These adjusted
dimensions provide more practical space allowing players to be successful.

Field Markings:
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 marking.

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.

Law 2 The Ball: must be a
size four. The smaller ball is lighter and more easily kicked,

received, dribbled and
passed.

Law 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 actual
playing time. Additionally the players will be required to make more decisions

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

players will be more
consistent. While learning both offense and defense, players will become

well rounded and
will understand more readily the roles and importance of teammates. The need

for the players to
make the mental and physical transition from offense to defense and vice-versa

will be enhanced 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 for

U10 the minimum
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 then
PLAY.

Law 5 The Referee: per
FIFA. Clubs are urged to use this age group as a field
training

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

to the offending
player.

Law 6 The Assistant
Referees: use club linesmen. Implement here the referee-intraining

program.

Law 7 The Duration of the
Match: per FIFA with the exception of the halves being 25

minutes each.

Law 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.

Law 10 Goal Scored:
shall conform to FIFA and the sections concerning Winning Team

and Competition
Rules shall conform to US Youth Soccer guidelines.

Law 11 Offside: there
shall be no offside called during these games.

Law 12 The rule on the
goalkeeper’s distribution still allows for the ball to be punted the

entire length of the
field; it just can not go directly into the opponents’ penalty area.

Law 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

Law 14 The Penalty Kick:
conform to FIFA with the exceptions that the penalty mark is

ten yards from the
center of the goal line and that players other than the kicker and defending

goalkeeper are at least
eight yards from the penalty mark. The distance of eight yards conforms

to the radius of
the center circle. The distance of ten yards from the center of the goalmouth
for

the penalty mark
fits within the reduced dimensions of the penalty area and is a reasonable

distance for the kick.

Law 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 players
and the maximum roster size is eleven players. Under the

dual field method
the recommended minimum roster size is fourteen players and

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

a club to use
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

Energetic workouts due to playing both
offense and defense

More efficient use of field space

Matches can be played simultaneously
across a full size field

Children are physically more efficient
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 activity
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 this
age group.

Coaches of U10 teams should
attend the U10/U12 Youth Module coaching course and the Grade 9 referee
course.