Arlington Soccer Association – YOUTH REFEREES
Rules Summary Sheet for 2nd through 4th grade Recreational Play
FIFA Laws of the Game except as modified below
KEEP COPY WITH YOU AND SHARE WITH COACH IF NEEDED.
Age Group
Law 1: The Field of
Play
2nd Grade
Small fields. Goal 2yds wide, 2
yard on each side of goal, 3yds
forward. No penalty area.
Law 2: Ball Size
Law 3: Number of
Players
3
4 per side – no goalie, min 3
players start - Substitutions:
Unlimited on any stoppage in
play. IMPORTANT—If you
see or suspect head injury,
call coach onto field for
player and he must substitute
that player – no exceptions.
Player checked by coach off
field may re-enter game. Other
team may sub one player also.
ASA Youth Referee
No coaches, parents on field
except by invitation
If desired, ask each coach to
appoint line person using flags.
4 x 12 min. quarters, with 3min. breaks after 1st and 3rd
quarters. 5-min. half time.
Opponent 5 yards from the ball,
no score from kickoff, kickoff
any direction; no score from
inside own half
No offside called – no
‘goaltending’ or ‘cherry
picking’ allowed, warn players/
coach before calling 5sec.
Law 5: Referee
Law 6: Asst. Referee
Law 7: Duration of
the Match
Law 8: Start and
Restart of Play
Law 11: Offside
Law 12: Fouls and
Misconduct
All fouls are indirect kicks –
players back 5 yards. Ref
should explain infringement to
player. NEW RULE – NO
HEADING!
Law 13: Free Kick
Opponents at least 5 yards from
the ball All are indirect!!!
3rd grade
4th grade
Modified, larger fields. Goal area and
penalty area marked smaller than full
field. Penalty 10 yards, center circle 8
yards. Buildup line at 1/3 of field.
4
7 one of whom is the goalkeeper; min.
5 players Substitutions: Unlimited
on the following: goal kick; kick off;
corner kicks; team in possession on
throw-in, also on opposing teams throwin if they sub. 1 for 1 on injury.
IMPORTANT—If you see or suspect
head injury, call coach onto field for
player and he must substitute that
player – no exceptions.
ASA or USSF Referee; USSF 8 or 9
preferred for 4th grade Division 1!
If desired, ask each coach to appoint line
person using flags in referee kit.
2 equal halves of 25 min. each, with 5
min. break at half time
Opponents at least 8 yards from the ball
Can score from kickoff, kickoff any
direction.
3rd: Blatant
4th: NO offside
offense called
behind build-up
but NO offside
line. Conform to
behind build-up FIFA, and instruct
line. Discuss
player for learning
with player
purposes
Conform to FIFA with direct and
indirect kicks (8yds). Explain
infringement to player. Protect keepers-only deliberate backpasses are called –
indirect from point goalie gets ball!
NEW RULE- NO HEADING!
All players at least 8 yards from the ball
until it is in play
Law 14: Penalty Kick
Law 15: Throw-In
Law 16: Goal Kick
Law 17: Corner Kick
None – indirect kicks
For throw-in, repeat to correct.
Teach as necessary – feet on
ground, ball behind head, both
hands, release ball over head
Opponents must return to
midfield line
Conform to FIFA
For Throw-in, repeat to correct to one
rethrow in lower divisions. Rarely allow
re-throw in 4th grade, then change
possession.
Opponents: NEW RULE -- Must retreat
behind build-up line. Conform to FIFA
- ball must leave penalty area to be in
play – redo!
Opponents at least 5 yards away Opponents at least 8 yards away
TEAMS WILL SET UP ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE FIELD, SEPARATED BY
THE HALFWAY LINE, WHILE THE PARENTS/SPECTATORS WILL BE ON
THE OPPOSITE SIDELINE FROM THE TEAMS. UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES WILL TEAMS OR SPECTATORS BE ALLOWED TO BE
ON THE SIDELINES IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE PENALTY
BOX TO THE ENDLINE, AS WELL AS BEHIND THE GOALS.
ALL INSTRUCTIONS FROM TEAM COACHES MUST BE DONE FROM
INSIDE THE TEAM’S AREA, WHICH EXTENDS FROM THE HALFWAY
LINE, TO THE TOP OF THE PENALTY BOX.
REMIND ALL COACHES TO TELL THEIR TEAMS AND PARENTS FOR
SAFETY AND CLEAR VIEW OF REFEREE, ALL SIDELINE PLAYERS,
PARENTS, EQUIPMENT MUST BE 2 FULL YARDS BACK FROM THE
SIDELINE—BEFORE THE GAME – YOU MUST REMIND THEM.
IMPORTANT – IF YOU SEE OR SUSPECT ANY TYPE OF HEAD INJURYCOLLISION, HARD SHOT OF BALL TO HEAD OR NECK, HEAD CONTACT
WITH GROUND – STOP THE GAME, SPEAK TO THE PLAYER, CALL THE
COACH IF INJURY SUSPECTED OR INDICATED AND THE COACH MUST
SUBSTITUTE THAT PLAYER AND OBSERVE THEM ON SIDELINE BEFORE
PLAYER CAN RE-ENTER AS SUBSTIITUTE. OTHER TEAM MAY ALSO
SUBSTITUTE ONE PLAYER AT THE SAME TIME. RESTART GAME AS
APPROPRIATE (DROP-BALL IF YOU STOPPED THE GAME). THIS IS
MANDATORY SAFETY RULE AND ENFORCE IT. TELL COACHES IF THEY
DO NOT KNOW THAT THIS WAS NEW RULE FOR FALL 2013.
FOR 2ND GRADE ONLY! --- “5-Second Rule”
No player can remain in goal area for longer than 5 continuous seconds EXCEPT:
1)
during corner kicks, or
2)
defensive players during an attacking free kick in defensive half of the field, or
3)
If the ball has also been in or adjacent to the goal area for the same period of time.
Referees should apply this rule as necessary but warn players and coach first, and
the proper restart will be an indirect free kick for the attacking team at the location
of the ball when the play was stopped (on goal area line if the ball is in goal area) or
goal area line (like a goal kick) if the violation is called on an attacking player.