The Younger Division Laws can be described as the full Laws with offside, direct free kicks, etc., "left out" (and a list of these differences is included for the more experienced reader). However, it is much more useful to have these Laws described as a self-contained whole, rather than having to sift through lots of material that does not apply. This document lays out the Laws for Younger Division play in U7 and U8 in AYSO Region 109, fully yet concisely, including relevant Regional, Area, AYSO and FIFA rulings.
Although this document focuses on Younger Division play, it should also serve to introduce the structure of the full Laws, and prepare you to move up to them later. We hope you will look at them also, to see how the same principles and spirit are expressed in the complete game.
When reading and applying these Laws, remember always, above everything else, that Laws are laws, but Under 8 AYSO players are, in every sense, children playing. At this level, the Laws exist to structure their physical activity in a fair way, and that should be the message to the children. Almost all violations of the rules are inadvertent, so "penalties" are assessed to "make it fair" to a team which has been hurt by some action, not to "punish" the offender. Make it absolutely clear when you make a call, not just what is being called but why, in terms that young children can understand. Also remember that, since virtually all violations of technical rules (e.g., the "double touch", or throw-in rules) reflect ignorance and enthusiasm, not deliberate attempts to gain advantage, they should almost always be met with explanation and a chance to do it again, not the "penalty" that the Laws allow you to impose if you feel that the player really did know better.
The Laws don't require you to be a kind and gentle teacher. In fact, they give you the authority to be a stern disciplinarian, for the occasional time when you might feel that it is necessary. However, don't let their formality become your only point of view, or you'll miss much of the joy of being part of young children's first soccer.
The field of play shall be rectangular with a
length of 30-35 yards and a width of 20-25 yards. It should be marked with
distinctive lines, no more than 5 inches in width (ideally not by a V-shaped
rut). The longer boundary lines are called the touch lines; the shorter, the
goal lines. The lines that mark the areas on the field are considered to be part
of the areas that they mark.
A halfway line shall be marked out across the field. The center of the field shall be indicated by a mark and a circle shall be marked round it with a radius of 6 to 7 yards.
At each end of the field of play, a goal area line extending the entire width of the field shall be marked parallel to the goal line. For U7, the goal area line shall be marked 6 yards from the goal line; for U8, the goal area line shall be marked 7 yards from the goal line. The area enclosed by the goal area line, the goal line, and the touch lines is called the "goal area".
A goal shall be placed, centered, on each goal line, so that its front (open) edge is on the goal line. The two goals shall be identically sized: 3 feet high and 5 feet wide for U7; and 5 feet high and 10feet wide for U8. Nets should be attached to the posts, cross bars, and ground behind the goals. They should be placed and secured so as not to impede the goalkeeper.
At each corner, a flag shall be placed on a post not less than 5 ft. high and having a non-pointed top. From each corner, a quarter circle, with a radius of 1 yard, shall be drawn inside the field of play.
The ball should be a FIFA approved size #3 ball. The ball should be inflated to a reasonable pressure (gives about 1/4" when pressed with the thumbs). The ball shall be approved by the referee before the match and may not be changed during the match without the referee's permission.
Each team shall divide their roster into two "mini-teams". A match shall be played by opposing mini-teams consisting of 4 players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper for the U8. A match may not start if one mini-team consists of less than 3 players.
Every player who is present should play at least half the match. To facilitate this, at roughly the midpoint of each half, the referee suspends play to permit substitutions. (The referee chooses a convenient stoppage if at all possible.) If a player leaves the field through injury, he or she may be substituted for, but in that case may not return until the next substitution break. The "quarter" in which a player is injured and leaves the field counts towards that player's half game (and not to that of the substitute, if any).
Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided both (a) that the referee is informed before the change is made, and (b) that the change is made during a stoppage of the match.
Every player shall wear the shirt, shorts, and socks of his/her team's uniform, shinguards, and footwear. Shinguards must be covered entirely by the socks and should provide a reasonable degree of protection. The goalkeepers must wear colors which distinguish them from the other players and from the referee.
A player shall not wear anything which, in the referee's opinion, is dangerous to other players, or himself. AYSO provides detailed guidance on specific articles that are considered dangerous (e.g., jewelry, medical casts, etc.). .
Prior to the start of the match, the referee shall inspect the players' equipment. Any player whose equipment does not comply with these requirements shall not play until it does.
One referee shall be appointed to officiate in each match.
The referee's authority commences as soon as he enters the field of play and continues when play has been temporarily suspended, and when the ball is out of play. The referee's decision on points of fact connected with the play shall be final.
The referee:
If two offences occur in rapid succession (e.g., a push followed by a push back), the referee can penalize only the first, since the second one occurred when the ball was out of play (see Law 9) and the referee had already decided to stop play for the first one, whether or not he had yet signaled this to the players. Since only the most serious misconduct is separately sanctioned when the ball is out of play, the referee has no convenient way to penalize the second offence. However, he should clearly warn the second offender.
If a player commits two infringements at the same time, the referee shall punish the more serious offense.
The referee can base his decisions only on facts observed directly by him or by another official appointed for the same match. The referee may reverse any decision he has made, until the match has been restarted.
Assistant referees (linespersons) are not used in Under 8 games. If volunteers are used to help a solo referee, their only responsibility is to indicate to the referee when the ball is out of bounds.
The match consists of two periods, each of 10 minutes, with allowance for time lost through substitution, the treatment of injured players, time wasting or other cause. The amount of the allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.
The half-time interval shall be 2 minutes. Teams will play two "mini-games" simultaneously on adjacent small-sided fields. Each mini-team shall play a match against both of the opposing mini-teams. The interval between mini-games shall be 5 minutes. During the interval, the visiting team's mini-teams swap fields while the home team's mini-teams and the referees remain on the fields where the first mini-games were played.
Kickoff
At the beginning of the match, a coin is tossed and the team which wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match. The team which wins the toss takes the kick-off to start the second half of the match. In the second half of the match the teams change ends and attack the opposite goals.
A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play at the start of each half of the match and after a goal has been scored. The procedure is as follows. All players are in their own half of the field. The opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 6 yards from the ball until it is in play. The ball is stationary at the center of the field. The referee gives a signal. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward.
After a team scores a goal, the kick-off is taken by the other team.
Dropped ball
To restart the match after a temporary suspension of play for any reason for which no other specific restart is specified (e.g., if the referee stops play for injury), the referee restarts play by dropping the ball at the place where it was when play was suspended. If the location of any drop ball would be inside the goal area, the ball shall be dropped at the point on the goal area (ten yard) line nearest to the original location for the drop ball. The ball is in play when it has touched the ground, before which no player shall play it, else the referee shall drop the ball again.
General rules for all restarts
The ball is out of play:
Since lines belong to the areas of which they are the boundaries, the touch lines and the goal lines belong to the field of play, so the ball is in play if any part of it is on or over one of these lines.
The ball is in play at all other times, from the start of the match to the finish, including when:
If an outside agent (e.g., a dog, spectator, loose ball, etc.) enters the field and interferes with play, the referee shall stop the match and restart it with a drop ball at the place where the contact or interference occurred (subject to Law 8), even if the interruption of play severely disadvantages one team (e.g., if the ball is about to enter the goal).
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball, while directly in play, has passed over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar. This is the only condition under which a goal may be awarded.
The team scoring the greater number of goals during a match shall be the winner; if no goals or an equal number of goals are scored, the match shall be termed a "draw". This the only method by which a match may be won or drawn.
The offside rule is not applied in Under 8 games.
A player who commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless, or involving disproportionate force:
or who commits any of the following four offences:
or who commits any of the following three offences:
or who, when playing as a goalkeeper within his own goal area, commits any of the following three offenses:
may be penalized by the award of a free kick to the opposing team at the place where the infringement occurred.
Once a goalkeeper acquires possession of the ball, he may punt the ball, throw, roll, or kick the ball on the ground to a teammate. A violation of this provision is not penalized, but play shall be stopped and the ball shall be put into play with a goal kick by the offending team.
A player may be cautioned (i.e., formally, severely warned by the referee) if he
Under very unusual circumstances, a player may be sent from the field of play by the referee for extreme violations of any of the above. In this case, the dismissed player may not be replaced, i.e. his team will play short for the rest of the match.
Any player on the team awarded a free kick may take the kick. The ball must be stationary at the place where the kick was awarded when a free kick is taken.
When a player is taking a free kick, all of the opposing players shall be at least six yards from the ball, until it is in play. The opposing players shall not dance about, shout or gesticulate in a way calculated to distract their opponents. If necessary, the referee shall delay the taking of the kick, until these conditions are complied with.
Any free kick awarded to the attacking team within its opponent's goal area shall be taken from the point on the goal area (6 or 7 yard) line nearest to the point where the offence was committed.
A free kick awarded to the defending team within its own goal area is completely equivalent to a goal kick (see Law 16).
Penalty kicks are not awarded in Under 8 games.
A throw-in is a method of restarting play. A throw-in is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the touch line, either on the ground or in the air. The ball is thrown in from the point where it crossed the touch line by a player of the team opposite to that of the player who last touched the ball.
The thrower at the moment of delivering the ball must face the field of play and part of each foot shall be either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line. The thrower shall use both hands and shall deliver the ball from behind and over his head. The ball is in play immediately it enters the field of play.
When a throw in is being taken, the opposing players shall not dance about or gesticulate in a way calculated to distract or impede the thrower.
If the ball is improperly thrown in, the throw can be awarded to the opposing team or the referee may allow the throw-in to be retaken.
When the ball goes out of play over the goal line, and a goal is not awarded, and it was last touched by one of the attacking team, a goal kick shall be awarded to the defending team.
The goal kick may be taken with the ball stationary on the ground anywhere within the goal area. All of the opposing players shall remain outside the goal area and at least six yards from where the kick is taken from until the ball is in play. The ball is not in play until it leaves the goal area.
When the ball goes out of play over the goal line, and a goal is not awarded, and it was last touched by one of the defending team, a corner kick shall be awarded to the attacking team.
The ball is placed within the quarter circle at the nearest corner flag post, which must not be moved, and the ball is kicked from that position. Players of the defending team shall not approach within six yards of the ball until it is in play.
This section is designed to help those with experience with the Full Laws by summarizing the differences between those Laws and the Under 8 Laws. It is for convenience only -- if this summary in any way conflicts with the preceding full statement of the Under 8 Laws, that statement shall prevail.
Law 1: The field and goals are smaller (see diagram). The center circle is 6 or 7 yards, rather than 10, in radius. The goal area is enlarged.
Law 2: A size #3 ball is used.
Law 3: Each team is divided into 2 mini-teams with 4 players, rather than eleven.
Law 4, 5: No changes.
Law 6: Assistant referees are not used.
Law 7: Each half is 10 minutes long; mini-teams play 2 consecutive 20 minute games.
Law 8: All restarts involving kicks are direct.
Law 9, 10: No changes.
Law 11: The offside law is not applied.
Law 12: All fouls result in an direct free kick. Goalkeepers may handle the ball only within their own goal area. The goalkeeper "parry" and "backpass" rules are not applied. (The "6 Second Rule", however, is enforced, although usually by the referee encouraging the goalkeeper to put the ball into play.) Formal cautions and dismissals of players from the match, although technically within the referee's power, are only to be used in very extreme cases. Cards are not to be shown.
Law 13: All free kicks are direct. Opponents are required to be 6 yards away from the ball when it is kicked, rather than 10.
Law 14: Penalty kicks are not awarded.
Law 15: No changes.
Law 16: Goal kicks are taken, as in the full Laws, from anywhere in the goal area. Opposing players are simply required to be 6 yards from the ball and outside the goal area when it is kicked. The ball is in play when it leaves the goal area.
Law 17: Corner kicks are direct. Opponents are required to be 6 yards away from the ball when it is kicked, rather than 10.
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