Rules For DYAA Recreational Soccer Teams
These rules apply to all age-levels:
1) Parents and fans can cheer positively…no negatives…no coaching from parents on the sidelines
2) Coaches can cheer positively…coaches may correct, but not by yelling and screaming negatives at a player.
3) Neither parents, fans, players or coaches are permitted to ridicule or intimidate the refs…the refs control the game…the coaches facilitate the play…the players play the game…the fans enjoy the game…and EVERYONE supports the players, the teams, coaches and the refs.
4) Parents and fans must observe the game on the sidelines opposite from the players and coaches.
5) Parents, fans, players and coaches are not permitted to observe the game from an end-line.
6) Players, coaches, parents, fans and refs must comply with the DYAA Code Of Conduct.
7) Coaches must give equal playing time to every player on their roster.
These rules apply to the 4th/5th/6th Grade League:
1) Distribute a copy of these rules to every parent on your team AND review every rule at your parent/player meeting before the season begins.
2) Teams in the 4th/5th/6th grade league should have at least 3 or 4 practice sessions before the season opens. After the season begins, teams in this league will typically practice once each week plus they play twice each week as scheduled…but coaches can schedule more practices if they want.
3) Objectives: have fun…become familiar with the ball…develop a desire to play with the ball…motivate the kids to play and learn more about soccer, teamwork and good sportsmanship…further develop basic technique with throw-ins, stopping the ball with feet, thigh, chest…develop dribbling skills, changing directions, using both feet to dribble…teach passing…develop sense of field and team play…develop understanding of the rules…develop understanding of three lines of play…develop offensive and defensive strategies…develop set plays.
4) Games will be on the junior fields at Mingo Park. Use a size 4 ball. The game consists of two 25 minute halves and a 5 minute half-time break.
5) Games will consist of 7-10 field players and a goalie. The opposing coaches decide how many players will be in the field during a game based on the number of players on the roster and how many players show up for the game.
6) Coaches can make substitutions on a) any corner kick, b) your team’s throw-in, c) Your opponent’s throw-in if they are sending in a sub (but not if your opponent isn’t subbing on their throw-in), d) goal kicks, e) kick-offs from mid field (following a goal) and f) 1:1 following an injury if the injured player leaves the field.
7) Tennis shoes or soft-cleated soccer shoes are recommended. Shin guards are required AND MUST BE UNDER THE SOCKS—not w/ socks folded down.
8) Coaches are NOT on the field during the games. The coach must instruct and direct their players from the sidelines in a ‘technical area’ that runs 10 yards on each half from the midline.
9) To begin play, opponents must be a) on their own half of the field and b) outside the center circle and may not cross either until the ball is kicked. Kicking team must be on their own half, but may be anywhere on the field in their half. The ball can be kicked off forward or backward but can’t be touched a 2nd time by the initial kicker until touched by another player. Re-start if necessary. Multiple infractions may result in an indirect kick being awarded to the opponents.
10) To score, the ball must completely cross the line in the goal…do NOT run up the score against your opponent.
11) If one team goes ahead by 4 goals, they must pull one player off the field. If that team scores again (ie now up by 5 goals) they must pull a second player off the field. If they’re scored on (ie now up by 4 goals) they can put one player back on the field. If they’re scored on again (ie now up by 3 goals) they can put the other player back on the field so that both teams are again at full strength. This same process will continue back and forth if one team goes up by 4 again. If a team is more than 5 goals ahead, they do not need to pull any more players off the field, but they must introduce some internal team procedures such as: players must score with their weak foot, etc.
12) All flagrant fouls will be called by the referee unless the referee chooses to apply ‘advantage’ in situations where the team fouled maintains possession, a promising attack may ensue, and the player fouled is not seriously injured.
13) Free kicks, penalty kicks, goal kicks and corner kicks will be taken at this level
14) Although not required, it is recommended that the coach designate three lines of players – front line (strikers), middle (half backs) and back (full backs). It is further recommended that all players be given opportunities to play in each of the lines throughout the season, thus helping each player develop a sense of the entire field and the responsibilities of the various positions. Players should not be restricted from going to the ball UNLESS that player has been deliberately placed in a position because he/she had been dominating play and/or scoring too many goals at-will. For example, even though your team is playing three lines, this does not, however, mean that the defense is supposed to stay back by the goal while the forwards advance and try to score. It is perfectly acceptable (and strategic) to advance your team’s fullbacks up to midfield to apply defensive pressure on the opponent when your team is controlling the ball.
In short, all three lines can and should advance up and down the field…and move back as their opponent re-gains control of the ball. That’s where the “players should not be restricted from going to the ball” comes in. It’s hard thing to teach… but we want 4th/5th/6th graders to avoid ending up in a mass of players all bunched up and kicking at the ball together. That’s why we begin to introduce the lines as early as in 1st grade. In this age group, you can make great progress teaching them to pass side to side, front to back, back to front…the 3 lines helps the player realize that soccer is a game of space…and passing…and teamwork.
15) The time indicated on your schedule is the time when your GAME STARTS on the junior fields. Please be ready to begin your game promptly at that time. Arrive at least 30 minutes before game time, allowing plenty of time for warm-ups.
16) Coaches will designate when your practice sessions will be.
The most commonly invoked rules in soccer:
1) If the defending team plays the ball over its own end line, the attacking team puts the ball back in play with a “corner kick.”
2) If the attacking team plays the ball over the defending team’s end line, a “goal kick” is awarded. A goal kick is taken from anywhere inside the goal area (small box) by any player on the defending team. The goal kick is ‘in play’ once it is kicked and clearly moves. No opponents are allowed inside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
3) No field player may deliberately touch the ball with their hands. If the ball inadvertently touches a player’s hands it may not be a foul—at the sole discretion of the referee. When a “hand ball” is called, the opposing team is awarded a “direct kick” (ie. the team can score directly from the kick, without the ball having to be touched by another player) at the point of the infraction.
4) In the event of an inadvertent (in the opinion of the referee) handball in the penalty area, play may continue. A deliberate hand ball in the box results in a “penalty kick” which is a free kick taken from the penalty spot. In DYAA, GENERALLY only a flagrant foul or handball in the penalty area will result in a penalty kick, at the sole discretion of the referee.
5) When a player is taking a penalty kick, all other players must be outside the penalty area and behind the penalty mark. For all other awarded free kicks, defending players must be at least 10 yards away from the where the ball is being kicked. The team taking the any non-penalty kick can be as close to the ball as they want to be.
6) A player is in an offside position if, while in the attacking half of the field, he/she is a) not in possession of the ball, and b) closer to the opposing goal line than both the ball and the 2nd last opponent when a teammate last touches the ball. Offside is only called when the offside player then a) plays or attempts to play the ball, b) interferes w/ an opponent or c) if the offside player gains any advantage from his offside position in the sole opinion of the referee. An “indirect kick” (ie. the team can’t score without the ball having first been touched by another player) is awarded where the player is called for an offside violation.
7) Remember that a player EVEN with the 2nd last opponent is Onside
8) “Direct kicks” are awarded at the site of the infraction for handballs, tripping, kicking, pushing, holding, violently charging, or impeding an opponent with contact. A player kicking the ball while he/she is on the ground if other players are near the ball is considered to be creating a “dangerous play,” as is a player high-kicking in proximity of—but not making contact with--any other player. Restart is an indirect kick.
9) Flagrant and/or intentional ‘personal’ or handling fouls shall result in direct kicks…flagrant and/or intentional fouls inside the penalty area shall result in a penalty kick. Non-flagrant and/or unintentional fouls inside or outside the penalty area may not be called—at the discretion of the referee. All fouls should be explained clearly.
10) A “dropped ball” is awarded at the spot of last touch whenever the ref is uncertain of possession, after an injury stoppage, or when the ball strikes a ref—remains in play—and either changes possession, a goal is scored, or a goal scoring opportunity is created. The dropped ball is awarded at the spot it touched the ref to the team that last touched it before it struck the ref. If, when play was stopped, the ball was in the penalty area—or was last touched in the penalty area—the dropped ball goes to the defending goalkeeper.
11) Slide tackling is not permitted.
12) Intentionally heading the ball is NOT permitted, and the restart is an ‘indirect kick’ .
13) The keeper may NOT handle the ball with his/her hands if it was intentionally kicked back to him by a teammate. If so, the opposing team receives an indirect kick from the spot where the keeper handled the ball. If the ball ricochets back to the keeper off a teammate, then he may pick up the ball with his/her hands