Laws of the Game

U 8 (6 v 6)

Dated 09/20/2004

LAW I - The Field of Play

Dimensions

The field of play shall be rectangular its length being not more than 50 yards long and its width not more than 30 yards. 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 line shall extend 10 yds out from the goal line. The area between the 2 lines will be called the goal area. Goal kicks are taken any where within this area.

The Penalty Area

There shall be no penalty area.

Since the referee will not be calling offsides,
to discourage the tendency of teams (coaches) from stationing' a player in front of the goal, the goal area will be used as reference. No offensive player will be allowed to station himself in this area with the purpose of trying to gain an unfair advantage. Players will be allowed to play through this area as to play the ball. The referee will be the sole judge of any infraction. Abuse of this rule will subject the coach to ejection.

If used, must be at least 5' high

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 5/6 feet high and 10/13 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 ten (10) players. A match shall be played by two teams, each consisting of not more than six (6) players on the field of play.

There will be a goalkeeper. No keeper shall play more than 2 quarters of the game as a keeper. The keeper must play at least one quarter as a field player.

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 both teams will play with fewer players on the field or 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.

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:

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

Kick-Off

A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play:

A goal can be scored directly from a kick-off

Procedure

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:

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. (see penalty area)

LAW XII - Fouls and Misconduct

Recognition

The following player fouls and misconduct needs to be recognized by the coach:

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. All Free-Kicks shall be indirect free kicks.

LAW XIV - Penalty-Kick

There will be no penalty kicks. A indirect free kick shall be taken from the point of the foul

LAW XV - Throw-In

When the ball goes out of touch, the normal method will be used

A Throw-in is awarded:

Procedure

At the moment of the throwin, the thrower:

The thrower 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 throw-in is done improperly let the player have another attempt. If after the second attempt the throw-in was done incorrectly let the ball stay in play. A player should not be penalized for an improper throw-in. The attempt to do it correctly is the main focus.

LAW XVI - 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:

Procedure

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, move the ball to the top of the penalty goal area.

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:

Procedure

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.