SIMPLIFIED SOCCER LAWS

RULES FOR THE BASIC UNDERSTANDING AND ENJOYMENT OF YOUR CHILDS GAME.

1. The ball is out of play (in touch) unless it has passed in its entirety outside the lines of the field whether it is on the ground or in the air. If any part of the ball is touching the line, it is still in play. “In touch” means that the ball can be picked up and thrown in by a field player.

2. The ball cannot be played with the hands or arms by anyone other than the goalkeeper while the ball is in the penalty area. This means that only the keeper can pick up the ball if the ball but not necessarily the keeper is inside the penalty area or the ball is touching the vertical plane that defines the outside of the penalty area (penalty area is the larger of the small boxes just outside the goal). For the foul of handling the ball to be correctly called, the arm has to be moving towards the ball or the arm has to be in a position to deliberately play the ball. It should not be called if a child is shielding their face, groin, or possibly the chest to protect themselves.

3. Offsides: A player is in an offsides position when 1 they are in their offensive end of the field, 2 they are closer to the goal line than the next to the last defensive player, 3 when their teammate playes the ball. Being in an offsides position does not mean that they are offsides. To be offsides, they have to be involved in the play. (Only in U-10 and up.)

4. Soccer is a contact sport. Touching another player is not a foul. While tripping, holding, kicking, pushing, and playing in a dangerous manner are. In soccer, the referees try not to punish the team that was fouled so some fouls are not called because it would take away the advantage that the team that was fouled may have by maintaining possession of the ball.

5. The number of players on the field varies with age group. One of the players must be designated as the goalkeeper and that player must have on a jersey of a different color from that of the teams on the field. The keeper may play anywhere on the field at anytime, but, the keeper can only handle the ball when the ball is in the penalty area. When the keeper is out of his penalty area, he is no different from any other field player. (There is no keeper in U-6 or Muppet soccer).

6. All players are entitled to play half of each half of the game as long as they participate in practice and arrive at the game in a timely manner. This will be enforced as long as there are no more than twice the number of players present as there are playing on the field at one time. No team will start a game in a local recereation team schedule having to play down. If a player should become unable to participate and there are no substitutes then that team would play down a player.

Hopefully these few simple rules will allow you to understand and enjoy the game of soccer. Cheer for all the kids on your team. Support your coaches. Have fun.