MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/C35C3D13/U12_Modified_Rules.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" U6 Modified Rules

U12 Modified Rules (8 VS. 8)

 

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

Please note the U12 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 70 yards ma= ximum 80 yards

Width: minimum 45 yards max= imum 55 yards

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

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, fourteen (14) yards from the inside of each

goalpos= t. These lines extend into t= he 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 p= enalty area. Within each penalty area a penalty mark is

made ten (10) yards from the mi= dpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them.

An arc of a circle with a r= adius 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<= /p>

eightee= n (18) feet and the maximum distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the

ground<= /span> is six (6) feet.

Law 2 – The Ball: Size four (4).

Law 3 – The Number of Players: A ma= tch 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 sev= en players.

Substitutions: At any stopp= age and unlimited.

Law 4 – The Players Equipment: Conf= orm to FIFA. Non-uniform clothing is allowed

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

Law 5 – The Referee: Registered ref= eree.

Revised May= 27, 2005

US Youth Soccer 51

Law 6 – The Assistant Referee: Use U.S.S.F. registered ref= erees or club

linesme= n/women.

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

being divided into two (2) halve= s of thirty (30) minutes each. There shall be a half-time

interva= l of five (5) minutes.<= /o:p>

Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Pl= ay: Conform to FIFA with the exception that

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 – The Method of Scoring: Conf= orm to FIFA.

Law 11 – Offside: Conform to FIFA.=

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 – 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 t= o FIFA with the exceptions that the penalty mark

is at ten yards and that play= ers other than the kicker and defending goalkeeper are at least

eight (8) yards from the penalty= mark.

Law 15 – The Throw-In: Conform to FI= FA.

Law 16 – The Goal Kick: Conform to F= IFA.

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

MO= DIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GAME FOR U12

La= w 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 child= ren.

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

Field Mark= ings: per FIFA with the exception of the center circle, penalty area,<= /span>

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.

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

received, headed, dribbled, caught, thrown and passed.

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

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

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

rounded and will understand more readily the roles and importance of teammates. The smaller<= o:p>

field dimension= s 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 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 6 The Assist= ant Referees: per FIFA. Use registered referees or club

linesmen/women.

La= w 7 The Duration = of the Match: per FIFA with the exception of the halves being 30=

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 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.

La= w 14 Conform to= FIFA with the exceptions that the penalty mark is ten yards from the<= /span>

center of the go= al line and that players other than the kicker and defending goalkeeper are at least

eight yards fro= m the penalty mark. The distance of eight yards conforms to the radius of the

center circle. T= he distance of ten yards from the center of the goalmouth for the penalty mark fits

within the reduc= ed dimensions of the penalty area and is a reasonable distance for the kick.

Revised May= 27, 2005

US Youth Soccer 53

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.

recommended roster si= ze is thirteen.

ADVANTAGES OF PLAYING SMALL= SIDED GAMES

US Youth Soccer Recommendations