U6 Modified Rules

U6 Modified Rules (3 VS. 3)

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

Please also note th= e U6 addendum and appendix.

Law 1 – The Field of Play:<= o:p>

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 20 yards ma= ximum 30 yards

Width: minimum 15 yards max= imum 25 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 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 cent= er of each goal line. They consist of two upright

posts= equidistant from the corners and joine= d at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The

recommended<= /span> 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).<= /o:p>

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

more<= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman'> than three players. There are NO goalkeepers.

Substitutions: At any stoppage and unli= mited.

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 mu= st 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 q= uarters. There shall be two (2) minute break between quarters one and two and another two (2) minute break between quarters thre= e 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: Co= nform to FIFA.

Law 10 – The Method of Scoring: Conform = to FIFA.

Law 11 – Offside: None.

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: Conform t= o 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 wit= h 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.<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRoman\,Bold"'>

Law 15 – T= he Throw-In: Conform to FIFA with the exception that an improperly<= /span>

perfo= rmed throw-in can be retaken = once.

Law 16 – The Goal Kick: The goal kick sh= ould 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 fo= ur (4) yards away from the ball until it is in

play<= span style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman'>.

Law 17 – The Corner Kick: Conform to FIF= A with the exception that opponents remain

at least four (4) yards from the ball unt= il it is in play.

Law 1 <= /b>Th= e Field of Play: the dimensions are smaller to accommodate the three-versus three

ga= me and are appropriate f= or the movement capabilities of four- and five-year-old children.

These adjusted dimensi= ons provide more practical space allowing players to be successful.<= /span>

Field Markings: the ce= nter circle gives the players a concrete marking on where to be for the

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

on= to the field of play. Wh= ile kids this young will not execute corner kick plays taking a kick=

fr= om the corner is a reaso= nable way for them to put the ball into play and provides continuity with

al= l other age groups. How= ever, the center circle and the corner arc for U6 Small Sided Games are

no= t mandatory field marki= ngs. Cones may be used in lieu of corner flag posts if desired. Neither

co= nes nor corner flag posts= to mark the corners of the field are mandatory for this age group.<= /span>

Goals: the goal, 6 x 1= 8 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 i= n the use of fields. A big goal without a goalkeeper should mean a few=

mo= re 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. Final= ly

th= e shooting odds for the= U6 age group are one versus five, so let’s give them a chance by having<= o:p>

a<= /span> larger target. Howeve= r, 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.<= /o:p>

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

li= ne is considered a goal.= Any goal must be properly anchored to the ground.

Law 2 <= /b>Th= e Ball: must be a size = three. The smaller ball is lighter and more easily kicked,

re= ceived, dribbled and passed.=

Law 3 <= /b>Th= e Number of Players: th= ere 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<= /o:p>

th= is age it is around the = ball. This will provide the opportunity for the children to further develop<= /o:p>

th= eir 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<= /span>

an= d therefore allows each= child more opportunities for kicking and dribbling the ball. With fewer

pl= ayers on the field each chi= ld has an increased number of contacts with the ball and has more

ac= tual playing time. Additio= nally the players will be required to make more decisions and
ex= perience repeating game situat= ions frequently. The work rate and involvement of players will=

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

an= d 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<= /o:p>

sh= ould be encouraged to allow players from the team with sufficient numbers to ‘loan’ a playe= r or

tw= o to the team that is s= hort players and then PLAY.

Law 5 <= /b>Th= e Referee: a referee is= not really needed for this age group. Instead a parent or

a<= /span> coach should supervis= e the game for safety sake. All rule infringements shall be briefly

ex= plained to the offending play= er. ‘Do-overs’ should be a regular occu= rrence allowed by the

ad= ult(s) supervising the U6 ga= me. It is strongly recommended that the adult officiating the U6=

ga= me attend the Grade 9 re= feree course.

Law 6 <= /b>Th= e Assistant Referees: n= one are needed.

Law 7 <= /b>Th= e Duration of the Match= : the game is divided into four quarters. Clubs may

ma= ke the quarters shorter = in duration if necessary. Quarters are played in the U6 age group to

ac= commodate the attention span and physical limitations of the children.

Law 10 = Goal Scored: shall con= form to FIFA.

Revised May 27, 2005

US Youth = Soccer 3= 8

Law 11 = Offside: there shall b= e no offside called during these games.

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

ch= ild is being too rambunct= ious then the game official will ask the coach to make a substitution of

th= at player to give the ch= ild a chance to calm down before returning to play.

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

ke= ep the attention of the = kids.

Law 14 = Th= e Penalty Kick: for thi= s age group there will not be any penalty kicks called.

Law 15 = The Throw-I= n: 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 atte= mpt the throw-in. One ‘do-over’ per thrower should be the normal response if

the throw-i= n is incorrect. The adult officiating the match should explain to the child how = to

execute the thr= ow-in correctly.

Law 16 = Th= e Goal Kick: the kick s= hould be allowed to be taken from anywhere along the

go= al line over which the b= all traveled. This is so the ball can be put back into play quickly. The

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

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

mu= st stand at least four y= ards away from the ball until it is in play.

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

aw= ay from the ball until i= t is in play.

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

si= ze is four players and t= he maximum roster size is six players. Under the dual

fi= eld method the recommended minimum roster size is eight players and the

ma= ximum roster size is ten pl= ayers. This range of roster sizes allows for a club to

us= e either the single fie= ld 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 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.=

No slide tackles to be allowed in th= is age group.

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