Western Branch Soccer - AYSO Region 1292
Laws of the Game
U5 / U-6 (3 v 3)
Dated: 09/20/2004
LAW I - The Field of Play
Dimensions
The field of play shall be rectangular its length being not more than 37 yards long and its width not more than 20 yards (+ or - 10%). The length shall in all cases exceed the breadth.
Field Marking
The field of play is marked with lines. All lines are not more than 5" wide. The two longer boundary lines are called touchlines. The two shorter lines are called goal lines. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The center of the field of play shall be indicated by a suitable mark and a circle with a 3-4 yard radius shall be marked around it.
The Goal Area
The field will have a line 6 yds from the goal line, running from touch line to touch line. The Penalty Area
There will be no penalty area as there are no penalty kicks.
Flag Posts
For safety reasons flag posts (corner flags) will not be used.
The Corner Arc
A quarter circle with a radius of two feet will be drawn inside the field of play from each corner of the field (intersection of the touch and goal lines).
The Goals
Goals shall be placed on the center of each goal line equal distance from the goal area lines. The goals will be four feet high and six feet wide. For safety reasons goals must be anchored securely to the ground.
LAW II - The Ball
The ball shall be a size 3.
If the ball becomes defective the home team will provide a replacement ball. Play will be restarted with a drop ball.
LAW III - Number of Players
The maximum roster size will be Six (6) players. A match shall be played by two teams, each consisting of not more than three (3) players on the field of play.
There is no goalkeeper. If in the opinion of the referee, a player is station in a manner that suggest that player is acting as a keeper, than the coach shall be carded.
All players must play 50% of the game.
A player or players may not play 4 quarters, unless all players on that team will have played ¾ of the game.
Subs are to be made only between quarters and half.
If a player is injured, he/she may be replaced during the quarter, and may be re-inter when appropriate.
In the interest of fair play and good sportsmanship, both teams are to have an equal number of players. If one team is short, then the coach with the greater number of players could "lend" a player to the other coach.
LAW IV - Players' Equipment
All players must not use any equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to themselves or other players (including any kind of jewelry). Casts of any kind are strictly forbidden.
The basic compulsory equipment shall consist of a soccer shirt, shorts, stockings, shin guards and footwear.
The shin guards, which are mandatory, shall be made of a suitable material and shall provide a reasonable amount of protection. The player's socks should fully cover the shin guards.
Soccer shoes (cleats) are not mandatory; however, some field conditions may warrant the use of rubber-tipped cleats. This situation will have to be taken into consideration by the coach prior to the start of the match. Metal-tipped cleats or other sports shoes with metal cleats are strictly forbidden.
It is the coach's responsibility to ensure that their players meet the safety criteria described above or any other criteria that may be harmful to the player or other players regardless of whether the safety item in covered above.
LAW V - Referees
The game of micro soccer is played with a referee.
The main emphasis of the coach is to monitor the games and help the referee with parent control, etc.
LAW VI - The Assistant Referees (Linesmen)
There will be no Assistant Referees.
LAW VII - Duration of the Game
Periods of Play
The duration of micro soccer matches will be as follows:
U5 / U-6 will play four equal periods of eight minutes each
Intervals Between Quarters
Sufficient time will be allocated between quarters 1 and 2 and quarters 3 and 4 to get the players off the pitch and make substitutions. Additionally, players are entitled to an interval at half time.
LAW VIII - The Start of Play
Preliminaries
A coin is tossed and the team that wins the toss decides which goal to attack. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match.
In the second half of the match the teams change ends and attack the opposite goal. The home team will attack the goal not being attacked by the visiting team.
If the coaches agree prior to game time, the teams may keep the same end of the field to start the 2nd half
Kick-Off
A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play:
at the start of the match
after a goal has been scored
at the start of each quarter
A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-off
Procedure
all players are in their own half of the field
the ball is stationary on the center mark
the ball is in play when it is kicked and has moved forward
the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player
After a team scores a goal, the other team takes the kick-off.
Drop Ball
A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage which becomes necessary, while the ball is in play, for any reason not mentioned in the Laws of the Game. The ball is dropped at the place where it was located when play was stopped. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.
LAW IX - Ball In and Out of Play
The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air.
The ball is in play at all other times, including when:
it rebounds off of the goal post or cross bar
it rebounds off of a coach or other official when they are on the field of play
LAW X - Method of Scoring
Goal Scored
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the cross bar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.
LAW XI - Off-Side
There are no offsides in micro soccer. "Cherry picking," is illegal.
LAW XII - Fouls and Misconduct
Recognition
The following player fouls and misconduct needs to be recognized by the coach:
kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
trips or attempts to trip an opponent
dangerous play (e.g., high kicking)
charges an opponent
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
pushes an opponent
holds an opponent
spits at an opponent
handles the ball deliberately
impedes the progress of an opponent (obstruction)
Punishment
A indirect kick will occur at the point of the foul or misconduct rather than the more punitive direct. The coach should explain to all players involved what they did wrong and that this type of behavior will not be accepted. Don't spend a lot of time explaining the foul or misconduct in great detail. Return the ball back into play as soon as possible.
LAW XIII - Free-Kick
There will be no direct free kicks.
LAW XIV - Penalty-Kick
There will be no penalty kicks.
LAW XV - Throw-In
There will be no Throw-Ins; they will be replaced with a kick-in.
A kick-in is awarded:
when the whole of the ball passes over the touch line, either on the ground or in the air
from the point where it crossed the touch line
to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball
Procedure
At the moment of kicking the ball, the kicker:
faces the field of play
has part of the ball either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line
kicks the ball from a stationary position (no running on to the ball, no more than 4 steps).
The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player
The ball is in play immediately upon entering the field of play
Infringements
If a kick-in is done improperly let the player have another attempt. If after the second attempt the kick-in was done incorrectly let the ball stay in play. A player should not be penalized for an improper kick-in. The attempt to do it correctly is the main focus.
LAW XVI - Goal-Kick
Every attempt should be made to teach the players the proper method and reasons behind a goal kick.
A goal kick is a method of restarting play.
A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team (the kicking team can not score a goal on itself).
A goal kick is awarded when:
the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.
Procedure for restart (goal kick)
the ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player on the defending team
opponents remain outside the goal area, five yards from the ball, until the ball is in play
the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player
the ball is in play when it is kicked beyond the goal area
Infringement
If the ball does not leave the goal area under its own power or before being played a second time by the kicker or another player, the kick should be done over after the player(s) received a brief explanation on the correct procedure of a goal kick. If after a second attempt the goal kick is still done incorrectly let the ball stay in play.
LAW XVII - Corner Kick
Every attempt should be made to teach the players the proper method and reasons behind a corner kick.
A corner kick is a method of restarting play.
A goal may be scored directly (the ball doesn't have to touch another player) from the corner kick, but only against the opposing team.
A corner kick is awarded when:
the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.
Procedure
the ball is placed inside the corner arc
opponents must be five feet from the ball until it is played
the ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team
the ball is in play when it has been kicked and moves
the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player
For safety reasons corner flags will not be used
Infringements
For any infringement allow the kicker a second attempt to kick the ball correctly. As above, if after the second attempt the ball is not kick correctly let the ball stay in play.