Set Up & Take Down
Set Up: Both teams who play the first game of the day are responsible for field set up. GOALPOSTS MUST ALWAYS BE ANCHORED. Failure to do so represents a serious safety hazard. Goals must be anchored in place with the stakes provided prior to the start of the game.
If your team uses the goals, YOU are responsible for seeing that they are returned to their place and locked up. Every year, goals are left out and injuries occur from children playing on them after the team has left. Fines levied against Mustang Soccer for goals left unsecured to their storage area will be transferred to the team responsible.
Take Down: Both teams who play the last game of the day are responsible for take down. The HOME TEAM COACH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSURING THE GOALS ARE LOCKED UP. As always, whether you are responsible for the field or not, be helpful and do what needs to be done.
Always put away corner flags and goals at the end of every day.
If there are no teams warming up and waiting to take the field after your game, assume you have the last game of the day and take down the goals! Remember, the last teams playing with the goals are responsible for putting them away. When in doubt, take them down! Please pick up all trash.
Game Procedures
The home team will select the side of the field they want to occupy during the game. The visiting team will occupy the other side. Home teams will wear the red jersey.If there is a conflict in jersey color for teams wearing 2-piece (non-reversible) jerseys, the home teams shall change or wear pinnies.
All players and team personnel will remain inside the team’s bench area. The bench area is defined as the area 10 yards each side of the halfway line and must be a minimum of 1 yard behind the touch area and is usually marked on the sidelines. Coaches (or parents/spectators) giving instructions will not be allowed outside this area. Team personnel will not enter the field without the referee or parent official’s permission.
A team unable to field less than the minimum number of players as called for by the Laws of the Game within 15 minutes of the scheduled game start time shall forfeit the game and the opponent shall be awarded with a 1-0 win. If both teams are unable to field the minimum number, then both teams will be assessed a 0-1 loss.
If during the course of a game a team is unable to field less than the minimum number of players as called for by the Laws of the Game that team will forfeit the game and the opponent will be awarded the game as a win, with the result standing if the opponent is leading at the time the game is terminated, or with a score of 1-0 if not. If incident(s) during the game cause both teams to be unable to field the minimum number of players and the game to be terminated prematurely, then both teams will be assessed a 0-1 loss.
Coaching (giving directions to one’s own team on points of strategy and position) is permitted, but only can be given by one coach at a time. Coaching must occur from within the team’s bench area, and the tone of voice used must be positive. There is never, under any circumstance, any reason to use profanity or verbally abuse players on or off the field by any coach, parent or player. No coaching is permitted on the field during an injury stoppage. Mechanical noisemakers, such as bullhorns and air horns, may not be used on any Mustang Soccer field at any time.
All other parents and spectators must remain behind the team area and between the penalty boxes (forward of the 18 yard line). No one is ever to be behind the goal line. Coaches are responsible for the behavior of spectators supporting their team. If there is a problem with a spectator, the coach must take care of it.
In the event of a disruptive player, coach, or spectator, referees and parent officials may suspend game play, and, if necessary, terminate a match. The Honor the Game Committee will determine the penalty to be served by the person(s) involved and the outcome of the match. The Honor the Game Committee will also determine the penalty to be served by any player or team official who is sent off (red card) prior to, during, or after a game.
Any coach asked to leave the field may be suspended from his team’s next game, and may receive an extra suspension depending on the severity of the offence reported by the Referee and the decision of the Honor the Game Committee.
The use and/or consumption of tobacco products or any alcoholic beverage immediately before, during, or immediately after play of any youth soccer game is expressly prohibited. Disciplinary action will be taken by the League for violation of this rule.
Modifications to Laws of the Game: U6
Law #1: The Field
The size of the field will be approximately 30 x 40 yards, or as determined by the league. The goals shall be 4x7 feet, or as determined by the league. There will be no other markings within the marked area
Law #2: The Ball
The ball will be a size #3, 23-24 inch circumference, 11-12 ounces. The Home team will provide the game ball. If the Home team does not have a suitable ball, the Visiting team will provide it.
Law #3: Number of Players
The maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed 12 players. The maximum number of players on the field will be 4. The minimum number of players required to play a game will be 3. All players are field players (there are no goal keepers).
An unlimited number of substitutions may be made at any time during the run of play.
An injured player may be substituted for at any time. The exceptions to this rule are: 1) the team is playing short, or 2) another player is injured and the previously injured player is the only available substitute. If the injured player is bleeding, they must be substituted. The injured player may re-enter the game whne able to do so.
Any player receiving a serious injury during a practice or scheduled game (requiring a doctor’s attention) must have a written release from a doctor before returning to practice or game play.
Each player will play as close to an equal amount of time as is possible and in no case less than 50% of total playing time (see exceptions under Disciplinary Procedures for Players).
Law #4: Equipment
Shinguards are required for all practices and games. Shinguards must cover a minimum of ¾ of the shin, except they do not have to be longer than 10”. The shin runs from the ankle to the knee. Players wearing shinguards that are too short will not be allowed to play.
Players who must wear eyeglasses are encouraged to wear sports goggles. Players must wear glasses that are safe. Lenses must be unbreakable and frames must be unbreakable plastic or sturdy metal.
Absolutely no jewelry may be worn while participating in any game, practice, tryout, or training session. Only medical alert bracelets may be worn; they may be taped as necessary. Earrings and other piercings cannot be taped.
All players, parents, coaches, and referees are required to act as a reasonable person concerning player safety, including protecting players from wearing any equipment or device that is dangerous to the player wearing the equipment or device or to any other player. Dangerous equipment and devices include but are not limited to orthopedic casts, air-splints, or metal splints. Players wearing any dangerous equipment or device including orthopedic casts, air-splints, or metal splints, shall not be eligible to participate in any game, practice, tryout or training session.
Laws #5 & 6: Referee and Assistant Referee
All games will be officiated by Coaches as the players play the game. Coaches are there to make sure players do not get hurt while keeping the game moving at all times. Coaches can reserve the right to ask a player to sit out for a few minutes should that player become agitated through the run of play
One coach per team shall be allowed on the field of play intermittently during the game to provide instruction to their team. Coaches are encouraged to minimize their time on the field.
Law #7: Duration of the Match
The game will consist of four 8-minute quarters, with a 2-minute break between the 1st and 2nd quarters, and the 3rd and 4th quarters. There will also be a 5-minute break between the 2nd and 3rd quarters (half-time).
Teams switch ends at the end of the 2nd quarter only. The team that kicks off to start the game will kick off to start the 3rd quarter. The other team will kick off to start the 2nd and 4th quarters.
All games will end on time. Any game that does not start on time will be shortened as required.
Law #8: Start of Play
A goal may be scored directly from a kick-off.
Law #10: Scoring
No score will be kept.
Law #11: Offside
There will be no offside violations. However, a team cannot station a player in front of an opponent’s goal. Players who stand in front of their opponent’s goal will be instructed by the parent officials to move. A free kick to the defending team will be awarded if a player who has been instructed away does not move, and subsequently participates in play.
Law #12: Fouls and Misconduct
There are no free kicks. Misconduct or fouling by players should be dealt with by parent referees. Players who continue should be removed for a cooling off period for a short time.
Parent officials will not show yellow or red cards. However, parent officials may warn (caution) and, if necessary, send off players. In severe cases, the parent official may prevent players from returning to play for the remainder of the game. A player sent off by a parent official may be replaced by a substitute.
No slide tackling (even if otherwise permitted within the Laws) is permitted in U6.
Laws #13 & 14: Free Kicks and Penalty Kicks
There are no free kicks or penalties taken at this age.
Law #15: Throw-Ins
There are no throw ins. If a ball goes out of bounds, it is restarted immediately by the coach in charge of the balls on the sideline.
Law #17: Corner Kicks
There are no corner kicks.
On the ball explanation – This format is a continuous play format that does not allow for stoppages, free kicks, penalties or throw ins. Any ball that goes over the end line or sideline is restarted by a coach at midline. The intent is to keep players playing and interacting with the ball. Players may be substituted at any time. It is a requirement that all players play a minimum of 50% of the game so it is important that coaches track playing time through the game. In this format, kids will tire quickly since there is no stoppage. Note: The management of a game is in the hands of a coach. If one team is dominating the other team, a coach can restart a ball in the offensive half of the team being dominated. This will help to give the dominated team a chance to score and to balance out the flow of play for the kids.
Modifications to Laws of the Game: U7-U8
Law #1: The Field
The size of the field will be approximately 35 x 40 yards, or as determined by the league. The goals shall be 4x7 feet, or as determined by the league. There will be no other markings within the marked area
Law #2: The Ball
The ball will be a size #3, 23-24 inch circumference, 11-12 ounces. The Home team will provide the game ball. If the Home team does not have a suitable ball, the Visiting team will provide it.
Law #3: Number of Players
The maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed 12 players. The maximum number of players on the field will be 5. The minimum number of players required to play a game will be 3. All players are 4 field players plus 1 goalkeeper.
An unlimited number of substitutions may be made at any time during the run of play.
An injured player may be substituted for at any time. The exceptions to this rule are: 1) the team is playing short, or 2) another player is injured and the previously injured player is the only available substitute. If the injured player is bleeding, they must be substituted. The injured player may re-enter the game whne able to do so.
Any player receiving a serious injury during a practice or scheduled game (requiring a doctor’s attention) must have a written release from a doctor before returning to practice or game play.
Each player will play as close to an equal amount of time as is possible and in no case less than 50% of total playing time (see exceptions under Disciplinary Procedures for Players).
Law #4: Equipment
Shinguards are required for all practices and games. Shinguards must cover a minimum of ¾ of the shin, except they do not have to be longer than 10”. The shin runs from the ankle to the knee. Players wearing shinguards that are too short will not be allowed to play.
Players who must wear eyeglasses are encouraged to wear sports goggles. Players must wear glasses that are safe. Lenses must be unbreakable and frames must be unbreakable plastic or sturdy metal.
Absolutely no jewelry may be worn while participating in any game, practice, tryout, or training session. Only medical alert bracelets may be worn; they may be taped as necessary. Earrings and other piercings cannot be taped.
All players, parents, coaches, and referees are required to act as a reasonable person concerning player safety, including protecting players from wearing any equipment or device that is dangerous to the player wearing the equipment or device or to any other player. Dangerous equipment and devices include but are not limited to orthopedic casts, air-splints, or metal splints. Players wearing any dangerous equipment or device including orthopedic casts, air-splints, or metal splints, shall not be eligible to participate in any game, practice, tryout or training session.
Laws #5 & 6: Referee and Assistant Referee
All games will be officiated by Coaches as the players play the game. Coaches are there to make sure players do not get hurt while keeping the game moving at all times. Coaches can reserve the right to ask a player to sit out for a few minutes should that player become agitated through the run of play
One coach per team shall be allowed on the field of play intermittently during the game to provide instruction to their team. Coaches are encouraged to minimize their time on the field.
One coach per team shall be allowed on the field of play intermittently during the game to provide instruction to their team. Coaches are encouraged to minimize their time on the field.
Law #7: Duration of the Match
The game will consist of four 10-minute quarters, with a 2-minute break between the 1st and 2nd quarters, and the 3rd and 4th quarters. There will also be a 5-minute break between the 2nd and 3rd quarters (half-time).
Teams switch ends at the end of the 2nd quarter only. The team that kicks off to start the game will kick off to start the 3rd quarter. The other team will kick off to start the 2nd and 4th quarters.
All games will end on time. Any game that does not start on time will be shortened as required.
Law #8: Start of Play
A goal may be scored directly from a kick-off.
Law #10: Scoring
No score will be kept.
Law #11: Offside
There will be no offside violations. However, a team cannot station a player in front of an opponent’s goal. Players who stand in front of their opponent’s goal will be instructed by the parent officials to move. A free kick to the defending team will be awarded if a player who has been instructed away does not move, and subsequently participates in play.
Law #12: Fouls and Misconduct
There are no free kicks. Misconduct or fouling by players should be dealt with by parent referees. Players who continue should be removed for a cooling off period for a short time.
Parent officials will not show yellow or red cards. However, parent officials may warn (caution) and, if necessary, send off players. In severe cases, the parent official may prevent players from returning to play for the remainder of the game. A player sent off by a parent official may be replaced by a substitute.
No slide tackling (even if otherwise permitted within the Laws) is permitted in U6.
Laws #13 & 14: Free Kicks and Penalty Kicks
There are no free kicks or penalties taken at this age.
Law #15: Throw-Ins
There are no throw ins. If a ball goes out of bounds, it is restarted immediately by the coach in charge of the balls on the sideline.
Law #17: Corner Kicks
There are no corner kicks. Balls that go our over the endline are restarted by the goalkeeper. THERE ARE NO GOALKEEPER PUNTS All balls are to be played with the hands or feet to teammates to start the ball.
New ball explanation – This format is a continuous play format that does not allow for stoppages, free kicks, penalties or throw ins. Any ball that goes over the end line or sideline is restarted by a coach at midline. The intent is to keep players playing and interacting with the ball. Players may be substituted at any time. It is a requirement that all players play a minimum of 50% of the game so it is important that coaches track playing time through the game. In this format, kids will tire quickly since there is no stoppage. Note: The management of a game is in the hands of a coach. If one team is dominating the other team, a coach can restart a ball in the offensive half of the team being dominated. This will help to give the dominated team a chance to score and to balance out the flow of play for the kids.
