AYSA INTRAMURAL SOCCER RULES 2022
All Divisions: Game Rules
NO TOLERANCE POLICY
AYSA will not tolerate any abuse directed towards our players, coaches, referees, or spectators.
- IF a referee or AYSA board member/coordinator deems a spectator or coach to be abusive, he/she may be asked to leave the field or field complex without warning.
- IF the referee or AYSA board member/coordinator believes the game can continue safely, the game will resume.
- IF the referee or AYSA board member/coordinator believes that the situation is not safe or the abuse does not end with the ejection, the game will be abandoned and may or may not be resumed/replayed at a later date/time.
- A report outlining the event shall be sent to the AYSA board and intramural/referee coordinators for further evaluation and possible sanctions.
- Referees will handle any abusive players via yellow or red card fouls, as outlined herein.
- Further advice for coach/referee interaction is outlined herein.
REFEREES
- Referees will be provided for each game.
· AYSA Intramural Referees are area youth soccer players who are learning about and applying the rules of the game.
· Coaches can expect referees to arrive promptly, be ready to begin the match on time, and be properly dressed and equipped for his/her game.
· Referees shall be fair and consistent.
· Referees are overseen and taught by the AYSA Referee Coordinator, who is a certified referee.
- The referee shall be shown respect and will provide the same to players, coaches and parents.
- He/she is not an object for abuse.
- The referee will make the calls as he/she sees them from his/her vantage point and his/her decisions (calls) are final.
- A coach may ask WHAT a call is, if he/she did not hear the call, so as to position/prepare his/her players accordingly.
- A coach may NOT ask the ref WHY a call was made.
- If a spectator, coach or player is abusive to the referee, the referee has the power to eject that person from the game or, if necessary, from the field.
· The referee does not have to issue warnings prior to ejections.
· Any ejection from the field as a result of abuse to the referee may result in the end of the match if the referee deems the conduct to be too disruptive and/or the conduct does not end with the ejection.
o If the match is abandoned, a report shall be sent to Intramural and Referee Coordinators for further evaluation.
- No protests will be allowed.
EQUIPMENT
Equipment is important for the safety and development of the players.
- Shin guards must be worn during all games and practices. Players shall not play or practice without shin guards.
- While not mandatory, turf shoes or cleats are recommended for players.
- Open-toed shoes are not permitted.
- Metal or metal tipped studs are not permitted on shoes.
- If needed, coats and jackets shall be worn under team jerseys and any hoods must be tucked inside the jersey.
- NO player may wear jewelry (ie, rings, bracelets, earrings, metal hairclips.)
- ALL goals MUST be weighted down with two sandbags — one on each side of the net (on top of net bar on the ground). Sandbags are located in the AYSA Shed.
SUBSTITUTIONS
- An unlimited number of substitutions are permitted per game.
- Substitutions shall be made only after the referee acknowledges the substitution and signals the sub(s) onto the field.
- Substitutes shall gather at the half line and be ready to go in when the referee waves them in.
- Substitutions should be made quickly to preserve as much playing time as possible.
- The referee may deny substitutions if they occur so frequently as to reduce playing time.
- Substitutions can be made by both teams after a goal, prior to tap.
- Substitutions can be made during any throw-in or goal kick.
- Injured players may be substituted once the referee is able to stop play and signal the coach onto the field.
o The referee shall be notified ahead of time if a goalie is being substituted.
WEATHER
- All games scheduled will be played unless the fields are closed or deemed unplayable or unsafe for the players.
- The decision to cancel games shall be made by the Field Coordinator and/or the V.P. of Intramurals.
- Every attempt will be made to reschedule cancellations at the next available opportunity taking into account coaches availability when possible.
- All attempts will be made to work around conflicts.
- Division coordinators will reschedule games if they are notified of a conflict no later than one week prior to the scheduled game.
- In the event of a weather event, please check:
- TeamSnap
- Our Facebook/Instagram page
YELLOW/RED CARD FOULS
- In the event of a yellow card foul, the referee shall send the offending player off for a “cooling off” period of no less than five minutes.
- A substitute shall be brought on for the player who was sent off.
- At the end of the cooling off period, the player sent off may re-enter the game upon the approval of the referee.
- In the event of a second yellow card foul, the player will be sent off for the rest of the game.
- A substitute shall be brought on for the player who was sent off.
- IF the player remains hostile on the sideline, that player will be asked to leave the field complex.
- In the event a player commits a red card foul, the player will be sent off for the rest of the game.
- A substitute shall be brought on for the player who was sent off.
- IF the player remains hostile on the sideline, that player will be asked to leave the field complex.
- The restart for any yellow or red card foul shall be a direct kick for the other team.
- In the event of a yellow or red card foul in the penalty area, the restart shall include a penalty kick for the opposing team.
- U8 — PK shall be taken from just inside the top of the penalty area line, center to the goal.
- U10/12/15 — PK shall be taken from 12 yards from the goal line, center to the goal.
U8 Division: Training and Specific Friendly Game Rules
FIFA rules apply except for the following modifications.
PRE GAME TRAINING
- Training will be performed by Challenger Sports (CS), and will work primarily on technical ball skill, ie. Dribbling, passing, trapping, and other ball control skills
- Weeks 1 thru 3 all players will be training with CS for the full session, and will be evaluated by CS for placement on teams.
- Each week after 9/16, all players will have a mandatory 30 minute training session before being broken into team friendlies
FRIENDLY GAME SPECIFICS
- Emphasis is on development.
- 5v5 (4 field players + a goalie)
- Size 3 ball.
- Field markings — touch lines, goal lines, midfield line, penalty area.
- Game — two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime.
- There shall be no clock stoppage or added time to the game.
- ANY/ALL foul calls for this age group will restart with a direct kick at the point of the foul.
- The opposing team shall be at least 10 yards from the ball.
- If the foul occurs within 10 yards of the goal line, the opposing team can line up on the goal line.
- No offsides: except in OBVIOUS cases and if it happens repeatedly by a team or player.
- Goal Kicks: On all Goal Kicks during the game the "defending" team will be required to have all players at the mid line before the ball is put into play.
- Penalty kicks only for yellow/red card fouls.
- PK shall be taken from just inside the top of the penalty area line, center to the goal.
- If a non-YC/RC foul happens in the box, a kick will be taken from the place of the foul.
- Throw-ins from the touch lines.
- If the throw is a foul, referee shall allow one second attempt per player.
- If the second attempt is also a foul, the other team shall be awarded the throw at the same spot.
- Goal kicks shall be taken from the 6 yard box.
- NO INTENTIONAL HEADING THE BALL for this age group (key word is “intentional”). Any INTENTIONAL heading shall result in a direct free kick for the opposing team at the spot of the foul, except when within the penalty area, in which case the ball will be placed on the penalty area line closest to the point of infraction.
STANDINGS AND FORFEITS
- Games scores and standings will NOT kept or be made public in U8.
- We will hold a season ending Play Day Festival, where all teams will play in a tournament style event.
- No forfeits for U8.
- If a team does not have enough players, the other team is asked to lend players to make even teams (numbers) and play the game.
U10/U12 Divisions: Specific Game Rules
FIFA rules apply except for the following modifications.
GAME SPECIFICS
- Emphasis is on development.
- Size 4 ball.
- Field markings — touch lines, goal lines, midfield line, 6-yard box, penalty area.
- U10 & U12— 7v7 (6 field players + a goalie).
- Game — two, 25-minute halves (no clock stoppage or added time).
- Goal kicks shall be taken from the top of the 6-yard box, located inside the penalty area.
- Opposing players shall be behind the “Build-Out Line”
- NO INTENTIONAL HEADING THE BALL for U10 & U12 BOYS/GIRLS (key word is “intentional”). Any INTENTIONAL heading shall result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team at the spot of the foul, except when within the 6-yard box, in which case the ball will be placed on the 6-yard box line closest to the point of infraction.
STANDINGS AND FORFEITS
- There will be no regular season standings.
- In the event that one side does not have enough players to field a team, the opposing team should play “a man down” OR players may be divided into two teams and a game should be played.
U15 Division: Specific Game Rules
FIFA rules apply except for the following modifications.
GAME SPECIFICS
- Emphasis is on a solid game of soccer.
- Size 5 ball.
- Field markings — touch lines, goal lines, midfield line, penalty area, goal area.
- COED U15 — 7v7 (8 field players + a goalie).
- If fewer players are available, shorten the field and play less on each side.
- Game — two, 25-minute halves (no clock stoppage or added time).
- All available players will split into two even teams