Pre-Game
Teams and coaches from both teams meet at midfield for the Uniform and Equipment Check, a Rules Review, and The Coin Toss.
Uniform and Equipment Check
Each player must have a numbered jersey.
Players must all have matching black shorts.
Players must wear shin guards.
Socks must be worn up and over the shin guards.
No metal cleats.
No jewelry.
No hats. Winter caps are allowed.
Rules Review
State the game duration and halftime duration.
Review offsides and slide tackling.
Discuss parent sideline behavior.
Discuss coaches sideline behavior.
Pushing and shoving is not permitted.
Taunting or bad language will not be tolerated.
The Coin Toss
The Away Team Captain chooses heads or tails.
The winner of the coin toss chooses offense or defense.
The loser of the coin toss chooses direction.
Rule 1 Field of Play
Field Sizes vary by age group.
Goal Sizes vary by age group and are age appropriate.
Interior markings include a halfway line, a center circle, a goal area, a penalty area and corner arcs.
Teams, Parents and spectators set up on opposite sidelines from each other.
Players, coaches and spectators are not allowed behind the goal lines during the game.
Rule 2 The Ball
An age appropriate ball size will be used for all games.
Rule 3 The Players
All games are played Five-A-Side with four fielders and a goalkeeper.
A minimum of five players are required to start and continue a game.
Substitutions may be made “on the fly”. There’s no need to wait for play to stop. It’s more like substitutions in Hockey.
Each player shall receive 50% of the total playing time, unless they are not able to play due to illness or injury. The coach is responsible for enforcing this rule.
Rule 4 Player Equipment
A uniform consists of a jersey with a number, black shorts, and socks.
Shin guards are mandatory. Socks must be worn up and over the shin guards.
A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player. This includes any kind of jewelry or earrings.
Rule 5 The Referee
In the event that a referee is a no-show, a parent or coach from the Home team will referee the first half and a parent or coach from the Away team will referee the second half. The parent or coach must refrain from cheering or coaching while refereeing.
Rule 7 Duration of the game
2 Twenty minute halves and a five minute half time break.
Rule 8 Start and Restart of Play
Restarting play after a temporary delay, there will be a drop ball for the team that last touched the ball at the spot where play was stopped. The opponents must be 5 yards back.
Rule 9 Ball in and Out of play
The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed a goal line or wholly crossed a touchline, whether it is on the ground or in the air.
Rule 10 Method of Scoring
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball has crossed the whole of the goal line on the ground or in the air between the goal posts and under the crossbar.
Rule 11 Offside
There are no offsides in Summer League.
Rule 12 Fouls
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the spot of any offense.
No punting. Goalkeepers may not punt or drop kick the ball.
No heading.
No slide tackling.
No contact will be made with the goalkeeper who has possession of the ball. A goalkeeper with one finger on the ball is considered to have possession.
Rule 13 Free Kicks
All free kicks are Indirect. The opponents must be at least 5 yards back until it is in play.
The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.
Rule 14 Penalty Kicks
Penalty kicks are awarded for any fouls in the Penalty Area.
Rule 15 Throw In
The ball is out of play when it wholly crosses the whole touchline, whether it is on the ground or in the air.
The throw in shall be taken from the point where it crossed the touch line by a player of the opposing team.
The thrower must face the field of play and must keep both feet on the ground while releasing the ball. The player shall use both hands on both sides of the ball to deliver the ball from behind and over their head.
If an incorrect throw occurs, a throw in shall be awarded to the opposing team.
A goal cannot be scored directly from the throw-in.
Rule 16 Goal Kick
When the whole of the ball passes over the whole of the goal line, excluding the portion between the goal posts and under the crossbar, either in the air or on the ground, having last been played by one of the players on the attacking team, a goal kick will be awarded.
A goal kick may be taken from anywhere inside the goal area by any member of the defending team.
The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.
The opposing team must move outside the penalty area during a goal kick before the ball is kicked.
Rule 17 Corner Kick
When the whole of the ball passes over the whole of the goal line, excluding the portion between the goal posts and under the crossbar, either in the air or on the ground, having last been played by one of the players on the defending team, a corner kick will be awarded.
Opposing players must be at least five 5 yards back until it is kicked.
A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.
The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.
Miscellaneous Rules
All teams are responsible for the cleanup of the fields after each game. Please do not leave garbage on the sidelines.
Parents and Spectators should enjoy and encourage the activity of the players and refrain from coaching during the game. Please cheer and acknowledge players that exhibit good sportsmanship.
The coach or designated adult should attend every practice and every game. All coaches, team managers, and assistants must comply with all Risk Management requirements. There must be an approved adult at all functions.
Coaches, their assistants or spectators are not allowed on the field of play during the game unless permission is given by the referee (in case of emergencies or unusual situations).
The coach is responsible for his own behavior as well as that of his players, parents and spectators.
Coaching from the sidelines is permitted but not recommended. Coaching must be done in a civil manner and the tone of voice will be informational and encouraging, not demanding or critical.
