Laws of the Game for Mini-Soccer (2015-16)

LAWS OF THE GAME FOR MINI-SOCCER WITHIN THE SOUTH EAST LONDON & KENT YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Under 7’s to Under 10’s are not permitted to play in leagues where results are published.

Except where other provision in these laws is made, the Laws of Association Football apply.

Each Law is numbered to correspond with the appropriate association Football Laws.

The game is for boys and girls in the separate age groups Under 7 to Under 10 with mixed football permissible in each of the 5 age groups.

UNDER 7’S & UNDER 8’S (5 V 5) LAWS OF THE GAME

Law 1 (Playing Area)

Field of Play (Recommended overall pitch sizes shall be:-

Maximum length 40yds/minimum length 30yds
Maximum width 30yds/minimum width 20yds

Halfway Line

The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The centre mark is indicated at the mid-point of the halfway line. This is also used as the retreat line when restarting play with a goal kick.

Goal Size

The distance between the posts is 12ft and the distance between the lower edge of the cross bar and the ground is 6ft.

Law 2 (The Ball)

The ball should be size 3 for U7 and U8. It should be safe and made of leather or another suitable material

Law 3 (Number of Players)

Maximum number per team, including goalkeeper

Under 7 - 5 v 5
Under 8 - 5 v 5

A match may not START if either team consists of fewer than four players. The minimum number of players in a team required for a match to CONTINUE is also four. Matches can begin with 5v4 but the importance and ethos of Mini-Soccer should be upheld wherever possible and the development of the children should come before the score line.

Each team must not have a squad greater than double the size of the team per age.

Any number of substitutes, without being named, may be used at any time with the permission of the referee. A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player.

All team members should receive equal playing time where possible, with a best practice recommendation of at least 50% per player for each game.

Law 4 (Playing Equipment)

Players must wear shin guards and goalkeepers must wear a distinguishing playing strip. Shin guards must be covered entirely by the socks.

Players must wear the appropriate clothing dependant on the weather.

Correct footwear must be worn for the surface of the pitch e.g. no metal studs on artificial grass pitches.

Law 5 (Referees)

The Authority of the Referee

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws for Mini-Soccer in connection with the match to which they have been appointed.

Furthermore, referees should also recognise their role is to facilitate learning of the players, for example, allow young children to take a second attempt at a throw-in if the first is not within the Laws.

Law 6 (Assistant Referee)

Assistant referees are not required.

Law 7 (Duration of the Game)

In any one day, no player shall play more than 40 minutes. It is the responsibility of the parent/carer or organisation to ensure the child does not exceed this. Each league/competition will determine its own playing time within the maximum time permitted however the maximum duration will be two halves of 20 minutes.

It is permitted during development matches that the periods of play can be split into equal quarters.

The half time interval must not exceed 5 minutes.

Law 8 (Start and Restart of Play Procedure)

A kick-off is taken at the centre of the playing area to start the game and after a goal has been scored.

Opponents must be 5 yards away from the ball and in their own half of the field. The ball must be played forward.

In Mini-Soccer a goal cannot be scored directly from a start or restart of play.

Special Circumstances

A dropped ball to restart the match, after play has been temporarily stopped inside the penalty area, takes place on the penalty area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when the play stopped. No goal can be scored direct from a dropped ball.

Law 9 (Ball In and Out of Play)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

Law 10 (Method of Scoring)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

Law 11(Offside)

There is no offside.

Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

However, in Mini-Soccer all free kicks are direct.

A free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the goalkeeper:

Takes more than 6 seconds to release the ball from his/her hands
Touches the ball again with his/her hands after it has been released from his/her possession and has not touched any other player
Touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a team mate
Touches the ball with his/her hands after he/she has received it directly from a throw in taken by a team mate

For all these offences, the free kick should be taken from the penalty area line, parallel with the goal line, at the nearest point to the offence.

Law 13(Free Kicks)

For all free kicks opponents must be 5 yards from the ball.

Law 14 (Penalty Kicks)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

Position of the Ball and the Players

All players except the defending goalkeeper and kicker must be outside the penalty area and at least 5 yards from the penalty mark.

The ball must be kicked forward.

Law 15 (Throw-in)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

The role of the referee is to also allow young players to learn the game. This may involve letting players take throw-ins again, if incorrect technique is used. The referee should ensure the same player attempts a second time, with guidance and help from the match official.

Law 16 (Goal Kick Procedure)

A player of the defending team kicks the ball from any point within the penalty area.

Opponents must retreat to their own half until the ball is in play. The defending team does not have to wait for the opposition to retreat and has the option to restart the game before should they choose to.

The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out the penalty area.

Law 17 (Corner Kicks)

The opposing players must remain at least 5yards from the ball until it is in play.

The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. If he/she does, a free kick is awarded against them.

The ball is in play immediately when it enters the field of play

UNDER 9’S & UNDER 10’S (7 V 7) LAWS OF THE GAME.

Under 9’s & Under 10’s are not permitted to play in leagues where results are published or winner trophies are presented.

Except where other provision, in these Laws are made, the Laws of Association Football apply. Each Law is numbered to correspond with the appropriate Law of the Game. These Laws are mandatory unless special permission is granted by The Football Association.

Law 1 (Playing Area)

Halfway Line

Goal Size

The distance between the posts is 12ft and the distance between the lower edge of the cross bar and the ground is 6ft.

Law 2 (The Ball)

The ball should be size 3 for U9
The ball should be size 4 for U10
It should be safe and made of leather or another suitable material

Law 3 (Number of Players)

Maximum number per team, including goalkeeper

Under 9 - 7 v 7
Under 10 -7 v 7

A match may not START if either team consists of fewer than six players. The minimum number of players in a team required for a match to CONTINUE is also six. Matches can begin with 7v6 but the importance and ethos of Mini-Soccer should be upheld wherever possible and the development of the children should come before the score line.

Each team must not have a squad greater than double the size of the team per age.

All team members should receive equal playing time where possible, with a best practice recommendation of at least 50% per player for each game.

Law 4 (Playing Equipment)

Players must wear shin guards and goalkeepers must wear a distinguishing playing strip. Shin guards must be covered entirely by the socks.

Players must wear the appropriate clothing dependant on the weather.

Correct footwear must be worn for the surface of the pitch e.g. no metal studs on artificial grass pitches.

Law 5 (Referees)

The Authority of the Referee:-

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws for Mini-Soccer in connection with the match to which they have been appointed.
Furthermore, referees should also recognise their role is to facilitate learning of the players, for example, allow young children to take a second attempt at a throw-in if the first is not within the Laws.

Law 6 (Assistant Referee)

Assistant referees are not required.

Law 7 (Duration of the Game)

In any one day, no player shall play more than 60 minutes. It is the responsibility of the parent/carer or organisation to ensure the child does not exceed this. Each

League/competition will determine its own playing time within the maximum time permitted however the maximum duration will be two halves of 25 minutes.

It is permitted during development matches that the periods of play can be split into equal quarters.

The half time interval must not exceed 5 minutes.

Please refer to the Standard Code of Rules for Youth Competitions.

Law 8 (Start and Restart of Play Procedure)

A kick-off is taken at the centre of the playing area to start the game and after a goal has been scored.

Opponents must be 5 yards away from the ball and in their own half of the field. The ball must be played forward. In Mini-Soccer a goal cannot be scored directly from a start or restart of play.

Special Circumstances

Law 9 (Ball In and Out of Play)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

Law 10 (Method of Scoring)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

Law 11(Offside)

There is no offside.

Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football. However, in Mini-Soccer all free kicks are direct. A free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the goalkeeper:

Takes more than 6 seconds to release the ball from his/her hands
Touches the ball again with his/her hands after it has been released from his/her possession and has not touched any other player
Touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a team mate
Touches the ball with his/her hands after he/she has received it directly from a throw in taken by a team mate

For all these offences, the free kick should be taken from the penalty area line, parallel with the goal line, at the nearest point to the offence.

Law 13 (Free Kicks)

For all free kicks opponents must be 5 yards from the ball.

Law 14 (Penalty Kicks)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

Position of the Ball and the Players

All players except the defending goalkeeper and kicker must be outside the penalty area and at least 5 yards from the penalty mark.

The ball must be kicked forward.

Law 15 (Throw-in)

Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.

Law 16 (Goal Kick Procedure)

A player of the defending team kicks the ball from anywhere within the goal area or 4 yards from the goal line.

The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out the penalty area.

Law 17 (Corner Kicks)

The opposing players must remain at least 5yards from the ball until it is in play.

The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. If he/she does, a free kick is awarded against them.

SELKENT ADDITIONS TO THE LAWS OF MINI-SOCCER

Recommended overall pitch sizes shall be:-

Under 7 and 8	Maximum length 40yds/minimum length 30yds Maximum width 30yds/minimum width 20yds
Under 9 and 10	Maximum length 60yds/minimum length 50yds Maximum width 40yds/minimim width 30yds
Penalty area	A penalty area must be marked out. Length 10yds - Width 18yds.
Goal area	A goal area is also recommended. Length 4yds - Width 12yds.
Penalty Spot	A penalty spot must be marked 8yds from the Goal Line opposite the Centre of the Goal.
Halfway Line	The Field of Play must be divided in two halves by a halfway line. A centre circle of 5yds radius is also recommended.

Please note that marking of the penalty area by a 10 yard line running from touchline to touchline is no longer acceptable. A penalty box must be used.

Duration of Play

Under 7	10 minutes each way (Two games)
Under 8	10 minutes each way (Two games)
Under 9 and 10	25 minutes each way.

The half time rule shall not exceed 5 minutes.

Cup games - 5 minutes each way extra time (see rule 25F(c))

Referees

The League reserves the right to appoint a registered referee at any time and as is deemed necessary. Fees for the referee appointed by the League will be shared by both teams. In the absence of a League appointed official, Clubs must mutually agree upon a referee who shall then control the game and have full authority to enforce the Laws.

Power and Duties : He/she shall have the same powers and duties as laid down in the laws of the Game.

Decisions of the Referee : The decision of the referee regarding facts connected with play is final and cannot be subject to appeal.