FIFA Laws of the Game
(U10 to U14)
Modified By Umpqua United Soccer Club for small-sided game use.
Changes to the Game
U10 Changes:
No heading
No slide tackling
No punting of the ball, GK: See "build out line" U10 section.
Build out line procedures
Players 7v7 (6 Players + GK)
U12 Changes:
No heading
No slide tackling
U14 Changes:
None
Law 8: Start and Restart Play: Kick-off: the ball can move in any direction to start play
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct: Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) will constitute a yellow card.
*Warning: FIFA laws listed have been paraphrased. LAWS 1-17 may have been modified to fit the needs of our recreational league. If you would like to view the FIFA laws, please visit the link below:
Laws of the game
This document is intended to provide the basic rules of the games.
Law 1: Field of Play (modified)
U10 - Field of Play
Build-out line: The build-out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting. When the goalkeeper has the ball in their hands during play from the opponent, the opposing team must move behind the build-out line until the ball is put into play. Once the opposing team is behind the build-out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw, or roll the ball into play (punts and drop kicks are not allowed) After the goalkeeper puts the ball into play, the opposing team can cross the build-out line, and play resumes as usual. The opposing team must also move behind the build-out line during a goal kick until the ball is played.
If a goalkeeper punts or drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.
If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point where the infringement occurred. Ideally, the goalkeeper will wait to put the ball into play once all opponents pass the build-out line. However, the goalkeeper can put the ball into play sooner, but they do so accept the opponents' positioning and the consequences of how play resumes.
Need help "CLICK HERE" to Understand the Build-out line Rule
Law 2: The Ball
U9/10: Size #4 Ball
U12: Size #4 Ball
U14: Size #5 Ball
Law 3: Number of Players
U10:
7v7 (6 field players and one goalkeeper)
The game may only start or continue if at least five players are on a team.
Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage.
Two female players must always be on the field.
U12:
9v9 (8 field players and one goalkeeper)
The game may only start or continue if six players are on a team.
Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage
The referee will give a grace period of 10 minutes after the game's start time until the game is canceled.
Two female players must always be on the field.
U14:
11v11
The game may only start or continue if six players are on a team.
Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage.
The referee will give a grace period of 10 minutes after the game's start time until the game is canceled.
Two female players must always be on the field.
All players must receive 50% or more in playing time.
Law 4: Player equipment
Shin guards worn under the socks are mandatory.
No baseball cleats with a "toe cleat" or metal spikes are allowed.
NO jewelry is permitted during play.
Tape over earrings is not permitted if the earrings are new and may not be removed. It is highly recommended that all jewelry be removed for the player's safety.
Medical Bracelets are authorized to wear during field play. Bracelets must be covered with sports tape.
No casts of any kind are allowed on the field.
Metal/Plastic braces for the ankle, wrist, or any other body part are not authorized during field play.
Law 5: The Referee: U10/12/14 games are only officiated by a Center Referee.
Law 6: Other Match Officials: Used at the discretion of the competition
Law 7: Duration of the Match
U10: (2) Halves: 25 minutes halves, 5-minute halftime.
U12: (2) Halves: 30-minute halves, 5-minute halftime.
U14: (2) Halves: 30-minute halves, 5-minute halftime.
Law 8: Start and Restart Play: Kick-offs: To start, the ball can move in any direction.
Law 9: Ball in and Out of Play
Ball out of play: The ball is out of play when:
-It has wholly passed over the goal line or touchline on the ground or in the air.
-The referee has stopped the play.
Ball in play: The ball is in space at all other times, including when it rebounds off a match official, goalpost, crossbar, or corner flag post and remains in the field of play.
Law 10: Method of Scoring: A goal is scored when the ball wholly crosses over the goal line, between the goalposts, and under the crossbar, provided that the team scoring the goal has committed no offense or infringement of the Laws of the Game (Please refer to the example listed above).
Law 11: Offside - Offside position: Being in an offside position is not an offense.
A player is in an offside position if: Any part of the head, body, or feet is in the opponent's half (excluding the halfway line) and any part of the head, body, or feet is nearer to the opponent's goal line than the ball and the second-last opponent. The hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered.
A player is not in an offside position if level with the:
- Second-last opponent or
- Last two opponents
Offside offense: A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate is only penalized on becoming involved in active play by:
Interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate or
Interfering with an opponent by preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball or attempting to play a ball that is close to him when this action Impacts an opponent making an obvious action that impacts the ability of an opponent to play the ball or gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has: rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar, or an opponent. Been deliberately saved by any opponent.
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball (except a deliberate save by any opponent) is not considered to have gained an advantage.
A 'save' is when a player stops a ball going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands (unless the goalkeeper is within the penalty area).
No offense: There is no offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick or a corner kick
Need help understanding the offsides rule "CLICK HERE."
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
The direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:
- Charges
- Jumps at kicks or attempts to kick
- Pushes strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)
- Tackles or challenges
- Trips or attempts to trip
A direct free kick or penalty kick penalizes an offense involving contact.
Careless: this is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or acts without precaution. No disciplinary sanction is needed
Reckless: is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned
Using excessive force is when a player exceeds the necessary use of force and endangers the safety of an opponent, and must be sent off
A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses:
- Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within their penalty area)
- Holds an opponent
- Impedes an opponent with contact
- Spits at an opponent
- Handling the ball
Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with the hand or arm.
- The goalkeeper has the same restrictions on handling the ball as any other player outside the penalty area.
- The goalkeeper is allowed to bring the ball from outside the penalty box to the inside of the penalty area with their feet to pick up the ball.
Understand the handball rule "CLICK HERE"
2. Indirect free kick: An indirect free kick is awarded if a player:
- It Plays in a dangerous manner
- Impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made
- It prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it
- Commits any other offense not mentioned in the Laws for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player.
An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, commits any of the following offenses:
- Controls the ball with the hands for more than six seconds before releasing it and touches the ball with the hands after:
- Releasing it before it has touched another player
- It has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate
- Receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate
A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball when:
- The ball is between the hands or between the hand and any surface (e.g., ground, own body) or by touching it with any part of the hands or arms except if the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save.
- Holding the ball in the outstretched open hand
- Bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air
An opponent cannot challenge a goalkeeper when controlling the ball with their hands. The referee will determine control.
Disciplinary action: The referee can take corrective action from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field after the match ends (including kicks from the penalty mark).
Modification: Yellow card player must exit the field for 5 min.
Law 13: Free Kicks: Modification: No direct kicks unless a foul is committed in the penalty box.
Law 14: Penalty Kick: Modification: Penalty kicks will be given only if direct kick criteria are met.
Law 15: Throw-In Kick-in: Reminder: Players from the opposite team must be at least 3 yards from the thrown-in. Obstructions will result in a yellow card.
Law 16: Goal Kick: Modification: Players from the opposite team must be behind the build-out line (u10). Once the goalkeeper has played the ball in, play resumes.
Law #17: The Corner Kick: Reminder: Players from the opposite team must be at least 10 yards away from the arc of the corner kick.