U8
Modified Rules (6 VS. 6)
FIFA Laws of the Game can be
found at www.us=
soccer.com/referees.
Please note the U8
addendum and appendix.
Law 1
Dimensions: The field of pl=
ay
must be rectangular. The length of the touchline must be
greater=
than the length of the goal
line.
Length: minimum 25 yards ma=
ximum
35 yards
Width: minimum 20 yards max=
imum
30 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. The cent=
er
mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle<=
/span> with a radius of four (4) =
yards
is marked around it. The Goal Area: A goal area =
is
defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goa=
l line
three (3) yards from the inside of =
each
goalpost. These lines extend into the=
field
of play for a distance of three (3) yards and are joined by a line drawn parallel with t=
he
goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the goal area. 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 corne=
rs and
joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The recomme=
nded 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 dimensi=
on. Law 2
Law 3
more than four players. There a=
re NO
goalkeepers.
Substitutions: At any stopp=
age of
play and unlimited.
Playing time: Each player S=
HALL
play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.
Teams and matches may be co=
ed.
Law 4
based on weather conditions, but
uniforms must still distinguish teams.
Revised May=
27,
2005
US
Youth Soccer 41
Law 5
or Grade 9 referee) may be us=
ed.
All infringements shall be briefly explained to the
offendi=
ng player.
Law 6
Law 7
twelve<=
/span> (12) minute quarters. There
shall be a two (2) minute break between quarters one
and two and another two (2) mi=
nute
break between quarters three and four. There shall
be a half-time interval of fi=
ve (5)
minutes.
Law 8
opponen=
ts of the team taking the kic=
k-off
are at least four (4) yards from the ball until it
is in play.
Law 9
Law 10 <=
span
style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Method of Scori=
ng:
Conform to FIFA.
Law 11 <=
span
style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– Offside: None.
Law 12 <=
span
style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– Fouls and Misconduc=
t:
Conform to FIFA with the exception that all fouls shall
result<=
/span> in a direct free kick. The
referee/coach/parent must explain ALL infringements to
the offending player. No cards=
shown
for misconduct.
Law 13 <=
span
style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– Free Kicks: Conform=
to
FIFA with the exceptions that all kicks are direct and
all opponents are at least fou=
r (4)
yards from the ball until it is in play.
Law 14 <=
span
style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Penalty Kick: N=
one.
Law 15 <=
span
style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Throw-In: Confo=
rm to
FIFA with the exception that an improperly
perform=
ed throw-in can be retaken on=
ce.
Law 16 <=
span
style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Goal Kick: Conf=
orm to
FIFA with the exception that opponents must
remain<=
/span> outside the goal area and =
at
least four (4) yards from the ball until it is in play. Law 17 <=
span
style=3D'font-family:TimesNewRoman;color:black'>– The Corner Kick: Co=
nform
to FIFA with the exception that opponents remain
at least four (4) yards from =
the
ball until it is in play.
Revised May=
27,
2005
US
Youth Soccer 42
U8
ADDENDUM
MO=
DIFIED
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GAME FOR U8
La=
w 1 The Field of =
Play:
dimensions are smaller to accommodate the four-versus-four
game and are
appropriate for the movement capabilities of six- and seven-year-old childr=
en.
These adju= sted dimensions provide more practical space allowing players to be successful.<= o:p>
Field Mark=
ings:
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 o=
nto
the field of play. While kids this young will execute corner kick plays to =
a
modest degree ta=
king 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 co=
rner
arc
for U8 Small =
Sided
Games are not mandatory field markings.
Goals: the=
goal,
6 x 18 feet or smaller, is the same for the U6 to U8 age groups.
By using t=
he
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 me=
an a
few
more goals for=
kids
whose shooting technique is primitive along with their eye-foot coordinatio=
n.
Let’=
s give
them the broad side of the barn at which to shoot, the more goals the merri=
er.
Finally
the shooting =
odds
for the U8 age group are one versus seven, so let’s give them a chanc=
e by
having a larger
target. However, manufactured goals are not mandatory for U8 Small Sided
Games. Clubs are=
free
to use cones, Pug goals or other items to designate the goal for this age
group. Any goal=
must
be properly anchored to the ground.
La=
w 2 The Ball: mus=
t be a
size three. The smaller ball is lighter and more easily kicked,
received, dribbled=
and
passed.
La=
w 3 The Number of
Players: there are no goalkeepers in the U8 age group so that all
of the playe=
rs may
chase the ball around the field. The kids want to be where the action is an=
d at
this age it is
around the ball. This will provide the opportunity for the children to furt=
her
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 gr=
oup
and therefore
allows each child more opportunities for shooting, passing and dribbling the
ball.
With fewer=
players
on the field each child has an increased number of contacts with the ball a=
nd
has more actu=
al
playing time. Additionally the players will be required to make more decisi=
ons
and experience
repeated game situations frequently. The involvement of players will be mor=
e
consistent. While le=
arning
both offense and defense, players will become we=
ll
rounded and will
understand more read=
ily
the roles and importance of teammates. Children in the U8 age group
will intention=
ally
play in pairs. The smaller number of players on the field will make it easi=
er
and
more likely th=
at
passing and receiving will occur.
There shou=
ld not
be a minimum number of players for U8 and U6 and clubs, administrators,
coaches and refer=
ees
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 5 The Referee: a
referee is not really needed for this age group. Instead a parent or
a coach sho=
uld
officiate the game. All rule infringements shall be briefly explained to th=
e
offending player. I=
t is
strongly recommended that the adult officiating the U8 game attend the
Grade
9 referee course.
La=
w 6 The Assistant
Referees: none are needed.
La=
w 7 The Duration =
of the
Match: the game is divided into four quarters. Clubs may
make the quart=
ers
shorter in duration if necessary. Quarters are played in the U8 age group t=
o
accommodate the atten=
tion
span and physical limitations of the children.
La=
w 10 Goal Score=
d:
shall conform to FIFA.
Revised May=
27,
2005
US
Youth Soccer 43
La=
w 11 Offside: t=
here
shall be no offside called during these games.
La=
w 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 substituti=
on
of
that player to=
give
the child a chance to calm down before returning to play.
La=
w 13 Free Kicks=
: all
free kicks shall be direct. This will keep the game flowing and
keep the atten=
tion
of the kids.
La=
w 14 The Penalty K=
ick:
there will not be any penalty kicks called.
La=
w 15 The Throw-In:=
some
U8 players do not yet have the eye-hand coordination to
execute a throw-i=
n to
the letter of the law. However, some U8 players have sufficient eye-hand
coordination to attemp=
t the
throw-in. One ‘do-over’ per thrower should be the normal respon=
se
if
the throw-in =
is
incorrect. The adult officiating the match should explain to the child how =
to
execute the throw=
-in
correctly.
La=
w 16 The Goal K=
ick:
per FIFA. The defending players must stand at least four yards
away from the =
ball
until it is in play. The ball is in play once it has left the goal area.
La=
w 17 The Corner=
Kick:
per FIFA. The defending players must stand at least four yards
away from the =
ball
until it is in play.
size is six pl=
ayers
and the maximum roster size is eight players. Under the dual
field method the
recommended minimum roster size is ten players and the
maximum roster si=
ze is
twelve players. This range of roster sizes allows for a
club to use ei=
ther
the single field or dual field set up.
ADVANTAGES OF PLAYING SMALL=
SIDED
GAMES
US Youth Soccer
Recommendations