New Infraction:
Intentionally Heading the
Ball (U8/U10/U12)
AYSO Area 5C Referee Guidance
March 12, 2016
Background
• In 2014 AYSO and other U.S. youth soccer groups were
named in a class action lawsuit.
• The purpose of the lawsuit was to address concerns about
concussions in young players.
• The lawsuit was settled in fall 2015.
• As a result, AYSO has made changes to the National Rules
and Regulations to limit the amount of heading allowed in
games and practices.
New NR&R
HEADING THE BALL
1. Consistent with the US Soccer mandates on heading the ball,
heading is banned for all division players U11 (U12 and below
for programs without single age divisions) and below in both
practices and games.
Heading for players in U14 is limited to a maximum of thirty (30)
minutes per week with no more than 15-20 headers, per player.
There is no restriction on heading in matches.
New NR&R
2. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team
if a player age 10 or younger, deliberately touches the ball
with his/her head during a game.
a. The indirect free kick is to be taken from the place where
the player touched the ball with his/her head.
b. An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team inside
the opposing team’s penalty area, must be taken on the
penalty area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest
to where the player touched the ball with his/her head.
New NR&R
3. Neither cautions nor send-offs shall be issued for persistent
infringement or denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity
related to the heading infractions.
Practical Application
Deliberately heading the ball involves a deliberate act of a
player making contact with the ball with his/her head. The
referee must take the following into consideration:
• The movement of the head towards the ball (not the ball
towards the head)
• The distance between the opponent and the ball
(unexpected ball)
Practical Application
•
This new rule is in effect for the Spring 2016 season in all
regions of Area 5C. It applies to all U8, U10 and U12 matches
between teams from the same region or teams from different
regions.
•
In U8 matches, the restart should be a direct free kick instead of
an indirect free kick, since all free kicks in U8 are direct.
•
In U8 matches, if a defender intentionally heads the ball inside
his/her goal area, the direct free kick must be taken
approximately 12 yards from the goal line parallel to the point
nearest to where the player touched the ball with his/her head.
(Comparable to the position of opposing players at the taking of
a goal kick)
AR
Defender Intentionally Heads the Ball in
Penalty Area
Infringement happens
here
D
A
D
IFK taken here
R
Defender Intentionally Heads the Ball in
Goal Area
AR
Infringement happens
here
A
D
D
IFK taken here
R
Attacker Intentionally Heads the Ball in
Penalty Area
AR
Infringement happens
here
A
D
D
IFK taken here
R
Not a change from the current Laws
AR
Attacker Intentionally Heads the Ball in
Goal Area
Infringement happens
here
A
D
D
IFK taken anywhere
in the goal area.
Offending team
must be outside the
penalty area (like a
goal kick)
R
Not a change from the current Laws
Advantage
• Like any infraction, advantage may be applied if the
awarding of the free kick would be to the benefit of the
team that committed the infraction.
• AYSO recommends that advantage be applied sparingly in
U8 and U10 matches, typically only in obvious goal scoring
opportunities.
Summary
• Intentionally heading the ball in U8, U10 and U12 matches
will now result in an DFK (U8) or an IFK (U10 and U12).
• Consider this to be a form of dangerous play.
• Use the same standards for determining intent that you do
for handling.
• Unlike any other foul or infraction, the placement of the ball
for the IFK in U10 and U12 is on the penalty area line if a
defender intentionally heads the ball inside his/her goal
area or penalty area. In U8, placement of the direct free
kick is roughly 12 yards from the goal line if a defender
intentionally heads the ball inside his/her goal area.