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How do you play soccer?
Soccer is a straightforward game. It requires a field, a ball, two teams of players and their equipment, and a referee. The field is approximately the size of a football field. Smaller fields may be used for younger players.
The game is played in two timed halves of equal length. The length of each half is determined by the age of the children playing. Physical size is not an important factor in becoming a skilled and successful soccer player. Because of the game's pace, every child participates in the action while on the field.
What equipment is needed?
All players will be given a uniform consisting of a numbered jersey, shorts, soccer socks, and a size appropriate club ball. All players must wear shin guards for all games and practices. All players must wear athletic shoes, or soccer turf shoes or cleats. No cleats with a front metal cleat will be allowed. If you have questions in regards to whether or not your players shoes are acceptable please email Coach Gin at [email protected]. Remember the final call is at the game officials discretion.
SIZE OF BALL
Ball size for each division shall be as follows:
Age Division Size Circumference Weight
U-5, U-6 & U-8 3 23.0-25.0 inches 10-12 oz.
U-10 & U-12 4 25.0-26.5 inches 12-14 oz.
U-14, U-16 & U-19 5 26.5-28.0 inches 14-16 oz.
What are basic soccer skills?
The sport involves several basic skills: passing/shooting, dribbling and controlling (or trapping) the ball. These skills can be learned at any age, and a good soccer player works continually to improve them.
Passing/Shooting
Passing is kicking, pushing or heading the ball to a teammate or to a space where a teammate can run to the ball. A player may lightly tap the ball to a teammate several feet away or kick it strongly to move it down the field. The ball may scoot along the ground or may be kicked into the air.
Most players use two types of kicks to pass to a teammate or shoot towards the goal. One is the instep drive which is a powerful kick. The other kick is called a push pass. Performed using the inside of the foot, the push pass is much more accurate than the instep drive, but is less powerful.
Dribbling
Dribbling is transporting the ball under control from one area to another. Soccer players cannot use their hands. Players dribble the ball with their feet, using light taps on the ball to move it along the ground.
Controlling
Controlling (or trapping) is stopping the ball in flight or on the ground, and then controlling it by either dribbling or passing the ball to teammates. There are many ways to trap a ball: (1) allow it to hit the chest at an angle that deflects the ball to the ground where it can be controlled; (2) allow it to hit the thigh or bent knee to deflect the ball to the ground where it can be controlled; or (3) use the foot to stop the ball.
Heading
Heading is unique to the game of soccer. When a ball is too high to kick, players "head" the ball to pass to a teammate or score a goal.
What are the soccer positions?
The goalkeeper is responsible for guarding his or her team's goal and preventing the other team from scoring. Goalkeepers are generally not used in U-8 and younger soccer.
The Defender's primary duty is to prevent the opponent from having a good shot at the goal. This player also works to gain possession of the ball and pass it to a teammate for an attack.
The Midfielder (or halfback) plays a "transitional" game from defense to offense and vice versa. Usually the midfielder is the most active player on the field and key to maintaining team continuity.
The Forward's primary responsibility is to score, and also assists the midfielder in shifting play from defense to offense.
What are the rules (Laws of the Game)?
The object of the game is for the players to get the ball into their opponent's goal using any part of their body except their hands and arms. Only goalkeepers may use their hands while inside their own penalty area.
Generally, the Laws of the Game require that referees stop the game when something has happened which is unfair or unsafe.
Kickoff
To start the game or the second half, and after each goal, a kickoff is taken from the center circle.
Throw In
After the ball has completely crossed the side lines - commonly called touch lines in soccer - a throw in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball. The throw in is taken from where the ball left the field and must be thrown with two hands from behind and over the head, while both feet are on the ground on or behind the touch line.
Goal Kick
The goal kick is taken by the defending team each time the ball crosses the goal line without a goal being scored and was last touched by an attacking player. The ball may be placed anywhere in the goal area and is not considered back in play until it has been kicked out of the penalty area.
Corner Kick
This kick is taken by the attacking team each time the ball is kicked by the defense over its own goal line without a goal being scored. The ball is placed within the three-foot arc in the corner of the field (nearest to where the ball went out of play) and kicked into play by the attacking team.
Penalty Kick
A penalty kick is awarded when a defending player commits one of the 10 major fouls within his or her own penalty area while the ball is still in play. The penalty kick is taken by a player from the offended team from a spot 12 yards from the goal. All players must remain outside the penalty area, 10 yards from the ball, and behind the penalty kick mark until the kick is taken, except for the kicker and the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the ball is kicked. Once kicked, the goalkeeper may try to stop the ball from entering the goal. The kicker, after waiting for the referee's signal, may score by kicking the ball directly into the opponent's goal.
Misconduct
There are two kinds of misconduct:
1. when an action results in a caution (yellow card) from the referee
2. when an action results in a player being sent off or ejected from the field (red card).
A referee may also warn a player to improve his or her conduct (or unsporting behavior) before a caution is issued. The referee also has the authority to suspend or terminate play because of misconduct or interference on the part of coaches or spectators.
The Team
A team has a maximum of 11 players on the field at any one time, although a game can be played with as few as seven players on a team. Regions use small-sided teams in younger age divisions. Players get more "touches" on the ball, learn skills quicker and have more fun using this method.
What is offside?
A player is offside if he or she is ahead of the ball at the moment the ball touches or is played by a member of the same team, except if that player is in his/her own half of the field or has two opponents even with or between him/her and the opponent's goal line. The referee's "moment of judgment" is the instant the ball is played, not when it is received.
A player is not offside if he/she is the first to receive the ball from a throw-in, corner kick or goal kick, or is not involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in that position.
Who are the officials?
The referee is the ultimate authority during the game. The referee's chief responsibilities are to make the game as fun, fair and safe for the players as possible. The referee enforces the rules - which, in soccer, are called "Laws" - by calling offenses and determining if goals have been scored.
Assistant referees provide vital assistance to the referee by signaling when the ball has gone out of play and which team gets possession. Assistant referees also assist with substitutions and the general control of the game.
DURATION OF GAMES
Games shall be of two equal halves, not to exceed the following maximum durations:
Division Maximum Duration of Half
U-5 10 minutes
U-6 15 minutes
U-8 20 minutes
U-10 25 minutes
U-12 30 minutes
U-14 35 minutes
U-16 40 minutes
U-19 45 minutes
How is the field set up?
The field is divided in two halves. The center circle in the middle of the field is used to start the game, to start the second half and to restart after a goal has been scored.
There is a large rectangular area and a smaller rectangular area found at each end of the field. These are vital areas for both teams, and are where penalty kicks are taken.
The four corners of the field are inscribed with three-foot arcs where corner kicks are taken.
What are fouls?
There are 10 major fouls that result in a direct free kick (DFK), and from which a goal may be directly scored against the opponents.
The 10 major fouls are divided into two groups. Six within the first group require that the foul be committed carelessly, recklessly, or with disproportionate force:
1. Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
2. Striking or attempting to strike an opponent.
3. Pushing an opponent.
4. Charging an opponent.
5. Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent.
6. Jumping at an opponent.
The other four require only that they be committed:
1. When tackling an opponent, making contact with the opponent before the ball.
2. Spitting at an opponent.
3. Holding an opponent.
4. Handling the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeepers within their own penalty areas).
Minor (Non-Penal) Foul
Minor fouls result in an indirect free kick (IFK). At least one additional player of either team must touch the ball before a goal can be scored from an IFK. Minor fouls include:
1. Playing in a dangerous manner (including high kicking near another player's head or trying to play a ball held by a goalkeeper).
2. Impeding the progress of an opponent.
3. Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his/her hands.
Goalkeeper Offenses - An IFK is also awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, within his/her own penalty area, commits any of the following offenses:
1. Takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with the hands.
2. Touches the ball again with the hands after it has been released from the keeper's possession and has not touched another player.
3. Touches the ball with the hands when the ball is deliberately kicked to the keeper by a teammate.
4. Touches the ball with the hands after receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate.
What is Good Sportsmanship?
The Meaning of Good Sportsmanship --- POSTED: 05-24-2012 | Found In The LHSAA Huddle Publication/CATEGORIES: PARENTS & STUDENTS
15-yard penalty. Technical Foul. Penalty Stroke. These are just a few examples of penalties that result from unsportsmanlike conduct such as excessive celebration during a sporting contest. For more serious instances of unsportsmanlike behavior including altercations, there are fines, suspensions and bans from tournaments or post-season play among other punishments. Why suffer through penalties or pay thousands of dollars in amends when you can just as easily be a good sport?
Good sportsmanship is the most important aspect of the game. Sometimes games will get intense, heated and personal; therefore, sportsmanship must be learned in order to be practiced in sticky situations. If athletes weren’t reprimanded for unfit behavior, there would be no guidelines for others to follow. Of course there’s talent and hard work, which are both very important parts of sports, but without sportsmanship and self-discipline, there would likely be chaos throughout various levels of play.
When athletes go “beyond the game,” they look outside of what it takes to win a game, but decide to be a good teammate, good opponent and good person. Everyone may have a tad bit different definition of good sportsmanship, but first-class sportsmanship all leads to the same goal of having clean, fun competition with the outcome of creating champions who excel both on and off the court.
The Louisiana State High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) held its first annual “Beyond the Game” Sportsmanship Essay Contest this past spring, and Louisiana high school students wrote what they uniquely held as the true meaning of sportsmanship. St. Paul’s School Freshman William Kenyon won the contest with his essay “The Field of Dreams.” William explained that not only was sportsmanship an important aspect of sports, but it was also an important aspect of everyday life.
“When thinking about sportsmanship, most people only think about the sport side of sportsmanship and not about the real everyday side. The reality is that sportsmanship is in anything and everything that we do both on and off the field. How do you respect anyone or anything without sportsmanship coming into play? The task is formidable.” – Winner, St. Paul’s School Freshman William Kenyon
For his winning essay, William will be presented with a $500 check at the Louisiana High School Coaches Association’s (LHSCA) annual Coaches Clinic in July.
A few other top essays described what it takes to be a great sportsman. These were written by: St. Paul’s High School Freshman Peyton Lacoste, Cedar Creek High School Freshman Aaron Hunt, Elton High School Senior Morgan Richard, Cedar Creek School Junior Jeff Carroll and Ursuline Senior Elissa Parker.
“Respect the team that beats you by one run, one point, or one field goal. Life is too short to hate people. Life is too good to dwell on a loss. You will always get another chance to do well in the sport or in other situations in life. Take advantage of what you have and always remember opponents are not your enemies.” -- Peyton Lacoste, St. Paul’s
“If you understand the significance of perseverance, it will provide you with the ability to overcome any obstacles placed in front of you and allow you to succeed on and off the field.” -- Aaron Hunt, Cedar Creek
“Sportsmanship is found in every level of every sport. It is the common theme that unites not only the players but the teams; and its effects are felt long after the final whistle blows.” -- Morgan Richard, Elton
“I discovered that playing sports is much more than just a competition – it is an opportunity for participants to develop as people and build character by playing fair.” –Jeff Carroll, Cedar Creek
“I am privileged to know the true meaning of sportsmanship; a word that teaches athletes the authentic meaning of their sport and enables them to conquer any goal they put their mind to.” –Elissa Parker, Ursuline
What’s your definition of good sportsmanship?