U12
Modified Rules (8 VS. 8)

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

Please note the U12
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 70 yards maximum
80 yards

Width: minimum 45 yards maximum
55 yards

Field Markings: Distinctive lines
not more than (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, fourteen (14) yards from the inside of each

goalpost. These lines extend into the
field of play for a distance of fourteen (14) 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 ten (10) 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: Conform to FIFA with
exception that 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.

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

team consists of fewer than seven
players.

Substitutions: At any stoppage
and unlimited.

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.

Revised May 27,
2005

US
Youth Soccer 51

Law 6 – The Assistant Referee: Use U.S.S.F. registered referees
or club

linesmen/women.

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

being divided into two (2) halves of
thirty (30) 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 that

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: Conform to FIFA.

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 opponents are at least

eight (8) yards from the ball.

Law 14 – The Penalty Kick: Conform to FIFA
with the exceptions that the penalty mark

is at ten yards and that players
other than the kicker and defending goalkeeper are at least

eight (8) yards from the penalty mark.

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 away from
the ball until it is in play.

Revised May 27,
2005

US
Youth Soccer 52

U12
ADDENDUM

MODIFIED
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GAME FOR U12

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

game and are
appropriate for the movement capabilities of ten- and eleven-year-old children.

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

Field Markings:
per FIFA with the exception of the center circle, penalty area,

penalty mark and
penalty arc.

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, headed,
dribbled, caught, thrown and passed.

Law 3 The Number of
Players: The eight-a-side game 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 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 smaller

field dimensions and
number of players on the field of play will require more concentration on

transition, which a
vitally important tactical concept for the players to learn.

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 6 The Assistant
Referees: per FIFA. Use registered referees or club

linesmen/women.

Law 7 The Duration of the
Match: per FIFA with the exception of the halves being 30

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 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.

Law 14 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.

Revised May 27,
2005

US
Youth Soccer 53

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: The recommended minimum
roster size is eleven and the maximum

recommended roster size is
thirteen.

Playing Time: refer to the Effective
Playing Time chart.

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.

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