Youth Recreational League Rules
Coed U9-U12
Coaches:
All team bench personnel and players listed on the official lineup are subject to the authority and
jurisdiction of the referee. No more than 2 non-playing personnel are allowed on the team
bench. Coaches must be registered with the Athletico Center or scheduled as a substitute coach
for that day. Siblings and family members are not permitted on the field but are welcome to use
the bleachers and tables surrounding the field as a viewing area.
Age Group Determination:
Age group break-downs will be based on the AYSO age group chart available online.
Game Length:
Two, 20 minute halves with a 1 minute water break.
Rules of Play
Rule 1
Number of Players
6 v 6 (Field Size 60 x 33), Maximum roster of 12 players
If a team is short players and the opposing team has a surplus, it is asked that the opposing team
sends extra players over to even out numbers.
Extra Player:
If a team is behind by 5 goals or more, they may add an additional player until the goal differential
is less than 5.
Score:
Score will be shown on the scoreboard at the field but is not recorded. Referees have the right to
limit goals being added to the score boards during game play.
Substitutions:
Substitutions may occur on the fly. All substitutions must occur within the bench area of the team
making the substitution. Goalkeeper changes may only be made during a stoppage of the game
and after the referee has been made aware of the change.
Injured Player:
In cases where the referee must stop the time clock for an injured player and either team’s coach
is requested onto the field by the referee to attend to the injured player, that player, excluding the
goalkeeper, must be removed from the field of play. Under no circumstances can a player be
allowed to continue to play while he/she has an open wound and blood is evident.
Injured Goalkeeper:
If play is suspended more than one time as a result of a team’s coach being signaled to enter the
field of play by the referee to attend to a particular injured goalkeeper that goalkeeper must be
removed from the field of play. That goalkeeper shall not be permitted to rejoin the game until the
next stoppage of play and after being approved by the referee.
Team Coach/Manager:
The manager alone may approach the referee for any questions relating to the interpretation of the
rules which may arise during the game. In the event of a dispute or problem the referee informs
the coach of the decision and each coach advises their team.
Rule 2
Player Equipment
Compulsory equipment consists of shirt, shorts, shin guards (completely covered by socks or
stockings), and shoes. Goalkeepers must wear colors which distinguishes them from all other
players and referees.

Jerseys must be of same color with numbers assigned to each player.

Home Team wears alternate jersey in case of color conflict.
Once the game has started and the referee notices a player has come onto the field wearing no
shin guards (made of approved materials commercially available designed specifically to protect
the shins), the referees must issue the offending player a yellow card for unsportsmanlike
conduct. The opponent takes possession and the restart takes place at the spot where the ball was
when play was stopped. In the event that possession was gained in the defensive penalty area,
the restart takes place at the top of the restraining arc.
Dangerous Equipment:
 Jewelry may not be worn.
 Absolutely no hard casts of any type are allowed. Any soft cast must be approved by the
referee.
 No cleats with metal studs are allowed.
 Reading/prescription glasses (with the exception of sports glasses)
 Any equipment or item/s perceived to be dangerous by the referee
If the referees find that a player is wearing articles not permitted by the rules and/or which may
constitute a danger to him/her or other players, the referees shall order the player to remove the
dangerous articles. If the player fails to carry out the referee’s instruction, the player shall not be
permitted to participate.
Rule 3
Duration of Game
Time shall be stopped for serious injury or as otherwise determined necessary by the Referees.
Referees are instructed to not stop the clock except when there is a dangerous or serious incident
due to the need to keep the intended game schedules.
Rule 4
Start of Play
The visiting team has possession in the first half, the home team in the next half. Teams change
ends after each half.
Rule 5
Ball In and Out of Play
The ball is out of play when the whole ball passes over the perimeter lines, when it hits the ceiling,
when a goal is scored or when the referee stops play. The ball is in play at all other times,
including when it rebounds from the referee or goal post.
Out of Bounds
Perimeter (Throw-in): A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched
the ball when the whole ball crosses the touch line, either on the ground or in the air. A goal
cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
Corner Kick: A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either
on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team.
Ceiling: A direct free-kick is awarded against the team that hits a ball that makes contact with the
ceiling. This free kick takes place based on where the ball hit the ceiling. If the ball was cleared
from the defending team’s penalty area or the ball hit the ceiling over the penalty area the restart
will be taken at the top of the restraining arc.
Goal kick: When the ball crosses over the goal line between corner markings after being touched
by a member of the offensive team, play shall be restarted with a goal kick. The goalkeeper has 5
seconds to restart play. A goal may be scored directly form a goal kick.
Rule 6
Method of Scoring
A goal is scored when the whole ball passes completely over the goal line, within framework of the
goal, providing no infraction has been committed by the attacking team.
Rule 7
Fouls and Misconduct
Direct Free Kick
All kicks are direct free kicks with no exceptions. A minor foul (indirect outdoors) that occurs in the
defensive penalty area will result in a direct free kick to be taken from the top of the restraining
arc. Opposing teams must yield 15 feet. Teams have 5 seconds to get the ball in play after the
referee prompts for the kick.
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven
offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
• Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• Jumps at an opponent
• Charges an opponent
• Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• Pushes an opponent
• Tackles an opponent
Procedure
A direct free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred. Players have the right to take
a quick kick, or they may ask the referee to move the defending team 15 feet away from the
location of the foul.
Ball Enters the Goal
• If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded
• If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the
opposing team
Slide Tackle Rules
There will be no sliding in the facility to an opponent when challenging for the ball. If no other
players are present, a slide tackle is allowed to save or reach the ball.
Penalty Kick
A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above ten offences is committed by a player inside his own
penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play. The referee has the right
to extend the length of the game to allow for the taking of the kick.
Disciplinary Sanctions
 The yellow card is used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has
been cautioned.
 The red card is used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has
been sent off.
A player, substituted player, or coach may be shown the red or yellow card.
The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions from the moment he enters the field of
play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle. A player or coach who commits a
cautionable or sending-off offence, either on or off the field of play, whether directed towards an
opponent, a team-mate, the referee, an assistant referee or any other person, is disciplined
according to the nature of the offence committed.
Cautionable Offences
A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences:
• Unsportsmanlike behavior
• Dissent by word or action
• Persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game
• Delaying the restart of play
• Failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick
or throw-in
• Entering re-entering, or leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission unless
during an on the fly substitution
Soft Red-Card Offenses:
If a player denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s
goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick and will be shown a “soft” red-card
and will result in the player being suspended from the match for 5 minutes. The team will not be
permitted to replace that player on the field, and will play short during this 5-minutes unless the
other team scores a goal.
If a player receives a soft red-card and receives a yellow card later in the game, it will equate to a
red card.
Sending Off Offenses
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the following seven
offences:
• Fighting
 Serious foul play
• Violent conduct
• Spitting at an opponent or any other person
• Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures against players, coaches,
referees, staff, or spectators
 Challenging an opponent with excessive force
• Receiving a second caution in the same match
• Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s
goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
• Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures against players, coaches,
referees, staff, or spectators
• Receiving a second caution in the same match
Consequences for send-off offenses:
1. Fighting results in an automatic red card expulsion from the current game.
2. A report is filed with the management of the complex immediately after the game.
3. No refunds are given if a player is suspended from the indoor soccer leagues.
4. Any red card offenders are automatically suspended from all teams and leagues for a
minimum of one week.
5. Management has the right to implement further suspension time up to and including a life
time ban in the facility depending on the incident.
Any player who is involved in fighting must leave the Accelerated Center, possibly for
life. This is under the discretion of the referee and Accelerated Center management.
Rule 8
Off-sides
There are no off-sides in the U6 through U14 age groups.
Rule 9
Goal Keeper
A goalkeeper may not hold the ball in their hands for more than 6 seconds during game play. They
may not handle a ball that was intentionally passed back by a teammate or release the ball and
regain control using their hands before a teammate touches it. This will result in a direct kick taken
by the other team at the top of the arc outside the box.
Punting will only be allowed in U9 and below. Keepers in the U10 and up leagues must release the
ball using their hands (can hold the ball for up to 6 seconds), or place the ball on the ground at
their feet.
Rule 10
Spectators
Spectators are not allowed on the field at any time. Food and drink (besides water) are also not
allowed on the field.