Salem Youth Soccer Rules
Updated 2022 Rules
These rules are based on the official rules of youth soccer as set forth in the United States Youth Soccer Association Rules and are meant as a guide for players and parents unfamiliar with the game of soccer. However, the United States Youth Soccer Association Rules remain the final authority in the event of any discrepancy. The Salem Youth Soccer League hopes your child or children have a fun and learning experience in America’s fastest-growing sport. Please remember to stress good sportsmanship and work with the coaches. We hope the following information is a helpful guide to understanding soccer. The Salem Youth Soccer League is supported and sponsored by area merchants, businesses, and organizations.
SALEM YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PARENTS
Being a parent of a soccer player is unlike being the parent of any other sport in the United States. This is true for one simple reason; referees are instructed to maintain order and will not tolerate dissent from coaches, parents, or players.
THEREFORE, AS A PARENT OF A SOCCER PLAYER YOU SHOULD:
1. If your child is unable to attend a practice or a game, please have the courtesy to call the coach and inform him/her.
2. Stress good sportsmanship from your son or daughter.
3. Treat the referee with respect, regardless of the call made. Dissent from parents and other spectators will not be tolerated by the referees. Referees are instructed to stop games if dissent during the game continues. Forfeiture of the game may result. Continued dissent will result in you and your child being removed from active participation in the SALEM YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE.
4. Treat your son’s or daughter’s coach with respect. Remember he/she is a volunteer and is devoting the hours necessary to improve your child’s soccer skills.
5. Help maintain a climate of enjoyment among all participants and spectators. DO NOT harass or criticize the play of any player, especially your own, on or off the field. DO NOT harass the coaches on the field or the spectators in attendance.
6. Offer support and praise to all members of your child’s team regardless if you won or lost.
7. Profanity or vulgar language will not be tolerated by spectators or players. Remember if you remain calm after viewing the game, the players on the field will remain calm and focus on playing soccer.
8. Don’t try and “coach” the players from the sidelines during the game. Screaming directions accomplishes nothing. If you yell at all, yell encouragement to the players on the field. In actuality, most of the players hear very little of what is yelled at them during a match.
9. Exhibit exemplary conduct in both practices and games.
10. Feel free to offer feedback to your child’s coach concerning potential problems and ways to improve. If you have any questions about the coaching methods of a particular coach, talk with that individual away from the ears of the players
I. ORGANIZATION of AGE DIVISIONS, PRACTICES, and GAMES
Under 6/U-6
AGE
The player must have been born in either 2018 or 2019.
PRACTICES
Practices may begin after July 25. Coaches should encourage parents to stay and help at practices. Players are to be encouraged to have fun at practices and games.
GAMES
All games are played on weekdays and Saturdays. The field size is approximately 25-35 yards X 15-25 yards. The teams and coaches must be on one side of the field and the parents and spectators on the opposite side. Players are rotated around the field every quarter. No score is kept and there is no record of wins/losses. Coaches can help players during games. There are no direct kicks, indirect kicks, penalty kicks, corner kicks, or goal kicks. When the whole ball goes over the touchlines, or goal lines the player closest to the area where the ball went out does a throw in. Size 3 soccer balls are used and all players must wear shin guards. Headers are not allowed.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD DURING GAMES
The games are played 4 vs 4 or 6 vs 6, which means that each team has 4-6 players on the field at one time and there is no goalie. Each team may play 3 defenders and 3 forwards or any combination, with no players standing in front of the goal.
DURATION OF THE GAME
The game consists of 4 quarters, each 10 minutes in length. There is a maximum break of 2 minutes between quarters.
SUBSTITUTIONS
There are unlimited substitutions and they should be made at the end of each quarter or during a stoppage of play. Every child is guaranteed to play 1/2 of the game.
THE REFEREES
The coaches are the referees of the games and 2 coaches per team are allowed on the field during the game.
UNDER 8/U-8
AGE
The player must have been born either in 2016 or 2017.
PRACTICES
Practices may begin after July 25th. Coaches should encourage parents to stay and help at practices. Coaches can schedule scrimmages during their practice times. Players are to be encouraged to have fun at practices as well as at games.
GAMES
The field size is approximately 15-25 yards wide by 25-35 yards long. The teams and parents/spectators from the same team must be on the same sideline. No score is kept and there is no record for wins/losses. Coaches are encouraged to help players during games. The fouls to be called include handballs; striking or spitting; foul or abusive language; incorrect throw-ins (one extra try will be allowed for incorrect throw-ins); tripping an opponent; holding or pushing an opponent with hands, arms or legs. If a foul is called the team will lose possession of the ball and an indirect free kick will be awarded. There are no penalty kicks. There will be no offsides called. There will be corner kicks and goal kicks. Slide tackling and headers are not allowed. Size 3 soccer balls are used and all players must wear shin guards.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD DURING GAMES
The games are played 7 vs 7, which means that each team has 7 players including the goalie on the field at one time. Each team may play 2 defenders, 2 midfielders, 2 forwards, and 1 goalie or any other combination.
DURATION OF THE GAME
The game consists of 4 quarters, every 10 minutes in length. There is a maximum break of 2 minutes between quarters.
BUILD-OUT-LINE
Starting at the U-8 level, games will use build-out lines. A horizontal line is drawn from sideline to sideline 14-yards in front of each goal. Build-out lines will encourage possession and play out of the back. When a goalkeeper has the ball in hand or there is a goal kick the opposing team remains behind the build-out line until the ball is put into play. If the ball is put into play before the opposing team being behind the build-out-line the ball is live.
SUBSTITUTIONS
There are unlimited substitutions and they should be made at the end of each quarter or during a stoppage of play. A player can only play goalie for 2 quarters per game and every child is guaranteed to play 1/2 of the game.
THE REFEREES
The coaches are the referees of the games. Two coaches per team are allowed on the field during the game.
UNDER 10/U-10
AGE
The player must have been born in either 2014 or 2015. There will be no more than 3 carded players per team. A maximum of 3 players from a younger age bracket may play if needed however there will be no cross rostering of players in the same age bracket.
PRACTICES
Practices may begin after July 25th. Coaches can schedule scrimmages during their practice times. Players are to be encouraged to have fun at practices as well as at games.
GAMES
Field size is 35-45 yards wide by 55-65 yards long. The teams and parents/spectators from the same team must be on the same sideline. Scores and a record of wins/losses will be maintained. A scoring differential of only 5 goals will be counted per game. Coaches must remain on the sidelines. The fouls to be called include handballs; striking or spitting; foul or abusive language; incorrect throw-ins; tripping an opponent; holding or pushing an opponent with hands, arms or legs. There will be corner kicks and offsides will be called. Slide tackling is not allowed. Intentional headers are not allowed. An intentional header is at the referee’s discretion and would result in an indirect kick. If a foul is called, the referee may award an indirect kick, direct kick, or a penalty kick. Players and coaches may receive yellow or red cards during a game. If a player receives a yellow card they must leave the field. If a player or coach receives two yellow cards (soft red) they must sit the remainder of the game. If a player or coach receives a red card, they may not participate in the next two games. Size 4 soccer balls are used and all players must wear shin guards.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD DURING GAMES
The games are played 9 vs 9, which means that each team has 9 players including the goalie, on the field at one time. Each team may play 3 defenders, 3 midfielders, 2 forwards, and 1 goalie or any other combination. There must be 7 players on the field to start and end the game or the game is forfeited.
DURATION OF THE GAME
The game consists of 2 halves, each 25 minutes in length. There is a 5-minute break between halves. All games will be started promptly at the scheduled times with a 5 minute grace period. The game will be forfeited for teams with less than seven 7 players, with no coach or coach designate.
BUILD-OUT-LINE
Starting at the U-10 level, games will use build-out lines. A horizontal line is drawn from sideline to sideline 14-yards in front of each goal. Build-out lines will encourage possession and play out of the back. When a goalkeeper has the ball in hand or there is a goal kick the opposing team remains behind the build-out line until the ball is put into play. If the ball is put into play before the opposing team being behind the build-out-line the ball is live. This line also indicates where offside can be called, as teams cannot be called for off-side between the midfield and build-out-line.
SUBSTITUTIONS
There are unlimited substitutions and the referee must be notified of substitutions. Both teams may make substitutions after a goal, injury time, or goal kick. A team may also substitute on throw-ins if they have possession of the ball or if the other team substitutes on their thrown-in. A player can only play goalie for 1 half of the game and every child is guaranteed to play 1/ 2 of the game.
THE REFEREES
There will be 1 or 2 referees per game and they must be at least 12 years old.
UNDER 12/U-12
AGE
Players must be born in 2012 or 2013. There will be no more than 3 carded players per team. A maximum of 3 players from a younger age bracket may play if needed however there will be no cross rostering of players in the same age bracket.
PRACTICES
Practices may begin after July 25th. Coaches can schedule scrimmages during their practice times. Players are to be encouraged to have fun at practices as well as at games.
GAMES
The field size is 45-55 yards wide by 70-80 yards long. The teams and parents/spectators from the same team must be on the same sideline. Scores and a record of wins/losses will be maintained. A scoring differential of only 5 goals will be counted per game. Coaches must remain on the sidelines. The fouls to be called include handballs; striking or spitting; foul or abusive language; incorrect throw-ins; tripping an opponent; holding or pushing the opponent with hands, arms or legs. Slide tackling is allowed but not recommended at this age. Headers are allowed but not recommended at this age. There will be corner kicks and offsides will be called. If a foul is called, the referee may award an indirect kick, direct kick, or a penalty kick. Players and coaches may receive yellow or red cards during a game. If a player receives a yellow card they must leave the field. If a player or coach receives two yellow cards (soft red) they must sit the remainder of the game. If a player or coach receives a red card, they may not participate in the next two games. Size 4 soccer balls are used and all players must wear shin guards.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD DURING GAMES
The games are played 9 vs 9, which means that each team has 9 players including the goalie, on the field at one time. Each team may play 2 defenders, 3 midfielders, 2 forwards, and 1 goalie or any other combination. There must be 7 players on the field to start and end the game or the game is forfeited.
DURATION OF THE GAME
The game consists of 2 halves, each 30 minutes in length. There is a 5-minute break between halves. All games will be started promptly at the scheduled times with a 5 minute grace period. The game will be forfeited for teams with less than 7 players, with no coach or coach designate.
SUBSTITUTIONS
There are unlimited substitutions and the referee must be notified of substitutions. Both teams may make substitutions after a goal, injury time, or goal kick. A team may also substitute on throw-ins if they have possession of the ball or if the other team substitutes on they’re thrown in. A player may play the entire game as a goalie. Every child is guaranteed to play 1/2 of the game.
THE REFEREES
There will be 1 or 2 referees per game and they must be at least 14 years old.
UNDER 15/U-15
AGE
The player must be born in 2009-2011 or not yet in high school. There will be no more than 3 carded players per team. A maximum of 3 players from a younger age bracket may play if needed however there will be no cross rostering of players in the same age bracket.
PRACTICES
Practices may begin after July 25th. Coaches can schedule scrimmages during their practice times. Players are to be encouraged to have fun at practices as well as at games.
GAMES
The teams and parents/spectators from the same team must be on the same sideline. Scores and a record of wins/losses will be maintained. A scoring differential of only 5 goals will be counted per game. Coaches must remain on the sidelines. The fouls to be called include handballs; striking or spitting; foul or abusive language; incorrect throw-ins; tripping an opponent; holding or pushing an opponent with hands, arms or legs. Slide tackling is allowed. There will be corner kicks and offsides will be called. If a foul is called, the referee may award an indirect kick, direct kick, or a penalty kick. Players and coaches may receive yellow or red cards during a game. If a player receives a yellow card they must leave the field. If a player or coach receives two yellow cards (soft red) they must sit the remainder of the game. If a player or coach receives a red card, they may not participate in the next two games. Size 5 soccer balls are used and all players must wear shin guards.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD DURING GAMES
The games are played 11 vs 11, which means that each team has 11 players including the goalie, on the field at one time. Each team may play 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, 2 forwards, and 1 goalie or any other combination. There must be 7 players on the field to start and end the game or the game is forfeited.
DURATION OF THE GAME
The game consists of 2 halves, each 35 minutes in length. There is a 5-minute break between halves. All games will be started promptly at the scheduled times with a 5 minute grace period. The game will be forfeited for teams with less than 7 players, with no coach or coach designate.
SUBSTITUTIONS
There are unlimited substitutions and the referee must be notified of substitutions. Both teams may make substitutions after a goal, injury time, or goal kick. A team may also substitute on throw-ins if they have possession of the ball or if the other team substitutes on they’re thrown in. A player may play the entire game as a goalie. Every child is guaranteed to play 1/ 2 of the game.
THE REFEREES
There will be 1 or 2 referees per game and they must be at least 16 years old.