Rules of the Game

• Each team tries to direct the ball into the opponent's goal using any part of the body except the hands or arms. If the whole ball goes over the goal line into the goal, 1 goal is awarded.



Number of Field Players

• In U19, U16, U14, U12, and U10, there are a maximum of 11 players per team on the field during play. U8 teams play with 9 players on a smaller field. Seven or more players per team are required in order to start or maintain a game.

• Properly trained referees will be present at each game. A game cannot start until a registered referee is present.

• If the whole ball goes over the touch line (sideline) the team, the ball touched last prior to its going out of bounds, loses possession of the ball. A "throw-in" is awarded to the opposition at the point where the ball went out of bounds. The throw-in is taken with both feet on the ground, the feet being on or behind the touch line, and the ball must be thrown with both hands from behind and over the top of the head in a continuous movement.
• If the ball goes over the goal line but not into the goal, and touched the defending team last, a "corner kick" is awarded to the offensive team. The ball is placed within the corner arc and kicked by an offensive player.
• If the ball was last touched by an offensive player, prior to going over the goal line but not into the goal, a goal kick is awarded to the defending team. The ball must be kicked from within the goal area out of the penalty area before the ball is considered to be back in play.

• If a penal foul is committed by the defending team inside their own penalty area, a "penalty kick" shall be awarded to the offensive team. This kick is taken from the penalty mark. The defensive goalkeeper is the only defensive player who may attempt to stop the "penalty kick". All players other than the goalkeeper and kicker must be outside the penalty area and the penalty arc until the "penalty kick" has been taken, and must also be at least 12 yards from the goal line

• An offensive player is in an offside position if he/she is: In the opponent's half of the field..Ahead of the ball (closer than the ball to the opponent's goal line) .There are fewer than two opponents even with or between the offensive player and the opponent's goal.
• If a player is called offside, Indirect Free Kick is taken by the opposing team from the position of the offside player (not the position of the ball).