U6
Modified Rules (3 VS. 3)

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

Please also note the U6
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 20 yards maximum
30 yards

Width: minimum 15 yards maximum
25 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 four (4) yards is marked around it.

The Goal Area: None.

The Penalty Area: None.

Flag posts: None.

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 corners and joined at
the top by a horizontal crossbar. The

recommended distance between the posts is eighteen (18)
feet and the distance from the

lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is six
(6) feet. Goals may be smaller in

dimension.

Law 2 – The Ball: Size three (3).

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

more than three players. There are NO
goalkeepers.

Substitutions: At any stoppage and unlimited.

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

Teams and games 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: An OFFICIAL (Game
Manager or Coordinator or Parent or Coach

or Grade 9 referee) may be used. All
infringements shall be briefly explained to the offending player.

Law 6 – The Assistant Referees: None.

Law 7 – The Duration of the Match: The match
shall be divided into four (4) equal, eight

(8) minute quarters.
There shall be two (2) minute break between quarters one and two and another two (2) minute break between quarters three and
four. There shall be a halftime 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 four (4) 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 all fouls shall

result in a direct free kick. The
referee/coach/parent must explain ALL infringements to

the offending player. No cards shown for
misconduct.

Law 13 – Free Kicks: Conform to FIFA with the
exceptions that all free kicks are direct

and opponents are at least four (4) yards from
the ball until it is in play.

Law 14 – The Penalty Kick: None.

Law 15 – The
Throw-In: Conform to FIFA with the exception that an improperly

performed throw-in can be retaken once.

Law 16 – The Goal Kick: The goal kick should
be taken within 2-3 yards of the goal line

anywhere across the width of the field of play at the
nearest point from where the ball

was retrieved. Opposing players must be four (4)
yards away from the ball until it is in

play.

Law 17 – The Corner Kick: Conform to FIFA with
the exception that opponents remain

at least four (4) yards from the ball until it
is in play.

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

game and are appropriate for the
movement capabilities of four- and five-year-old children.

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

Field Markings: the center
circle gives the players a concrete marking on where to be for the

kick-off. The corner arc gives the
young player a concrete place to put the ball to kick it back

onto the field of play. While
kids this young will not execute corner kick plays taking a kick

from the corner is a reasonable
way for them to put the ball into play and provides continuity with

all other age groups. However,
the center circle and the corner arc for U6 Small Sided Games are

not mandatory field markings.
Cones may be used in lieu of corner flag posts if desired. Neither

cones nor corner flag posts to
mark the corners of the field are mandatory for this age group.

Goals: the goal, 6 x 18 feet
or smaller, is the same for the U6 to U8 age groups.

By using the same size goal
for these age groups clubs will have to buy fewer goals and there will

be greater flexibility in the
use of fields. A big goal without a goalkeeper should mean a few

more goals for kids whose shooting
technique is primitive along with their eye-foot coordination.

Let’s give them the
broad side of the barn at which to shoot, the more goals the merrier. Finally

the shooting odds for the U6
age group are one versus five, so let’s give them a chance by having

a larger target. However,
manufactured goals are not mandatory for U6 Small Sided Games.

Clubs are free to use cones,
pop-up goals or other items to designate the goal for this age group.

Indeed, even the entire goal
line could be considered the ‘goal’ and a ball kicked over the goal

line is considered a goal. Any
goal must be properly anchored to the ground.

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

received, dribbled and passed.

Law 3 The Number of Players: there
are no goalkeepers in the U6 age group so that all

of the players may chase the
ball around the field. The kids want to be where the action is and at

this age it is around the ball.
This will provide the opportunity for the children to further develop

their running, jumping and
kicking coordination. These are valuable traits for all soccer players

to develop. The smaller number
of players takes into account the egocentrism of this age group

and therefore allows each child
more opportunities for kicking and dribbling the ball. 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.

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: a referee is not
really needed for this age group. Instead a parent or

a coach should supervise the
game for safety sake. All rule infringements shall be briefly

explained to the offending player.
‘Do-overs’ should be a regular occurrence
allowed by the

adult(s) supervising the U6 game. It
is strongly recommended that the adult officiating the U6

game attend the Grade 9 referee
course.

Law 6 The Assistant Referees: none
are needed.

Law 7 The Duration of the Match: the
game is divided into four quarters. Clubs may

make the quarters shorter in
duration if necessary. Quarters are played in the U6 age group to

accommodate the attention span and
physical limitations of the children.

Law 10 Goal Scored: shall conform
to FIFA.

Revised May 27, 2005

US Youth Soccer
38

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

Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct: no
caution or send off shall be issued to players. If a

child is being too rambunctious
then the game official will ask the coach to make a substitution of

that player to give the child a
chance to calm down before returning to play.

Law 13 Free Kicks: all free kicks
shall be direct. This should keep the game flowing and

keep the attention of the kids.

Law 14 The Penalty Kick: for this age
group there will not be any penalty kicks called.

Law 15 The Throw-In:
some U6 players do not yet have the eye-hand coordination to

execute a throw-in to
the letter of the law. However, some U6 players have sufficient eye-hand

coordination to attempt
the throw-in. One ‘do-over’ per thrower should be the normal
response if

the throw-in is
incorrect. The adult officiating the match should explain to the child how to

execute the throw-in
correctly.

Law 16 The Goal Kick: the kick should
be allowed to be taken from anywhere along the

goal line over which the ball
traveled. This is so the ball can be put back into play quickly. The

ball should be placed two or
three yards into the field of play to make it easier for the child taking

the goal kick to get the ball
well into the field of play once it is kicked. The defending players

must stand at least four yards
away from the ball until it is in play.

Law 17 The Corner Kick: per FIFA.
The defending players must stand at least four yards

away from the ball until it is
in play.

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

size is four players and the
maximum roster size is six players. Under the dual

field method the recommended
minimum roster size is eight players and the

maximum roster size is ten players.
This range of roster sizes allows for a club to

use either the single field or
dual field set up.

Playing Time: A minimum of at least 50%
playing time is required. The goal of the U6 facilitator is to achieve
100% playing time for each child.

Split-Field Model: See appendix for
options.

No score or standings should be kept.

ADVANTAGES OF PLAYING SMALL SIDED GAMES

More time with the coach/facilitator

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.

No slide tackles to be allowed in this
age group.

Coaches of U6 teams should attend the
U6/U8 Youth Module coaching course and the Grade 9 referee course.