Laws of the Game
The Laws of the Game are maintained and altered by the International Football Association Board. The International Board meets annually to consider any requests for changes to the Laws or any decisions necessary to clarify any aspect of the Laws. Any such changes decided upon at that meeting go into effect on July 1 each
year. IFAB publishes a copy of the Laws of the Game each year.
AYSO, with the permission of FIFA, publishes an AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game each year. All AYSO matches are conducted in accordance with the current Laws of the Game and decisions of the International Board, subject to those modifications approved by IFAB and adopted by AYSO in the current AYSO National
Rules & Regulations. Copies of both the Laws of the Game and AYSO National Rules & Regulations are available from the AYSO Supply Center. AYSO volunteers are encouraged to keep abreast of the most current version of the Laws of the Game and the National Rules & Regulations.
Finally, Per the policy of AYSO, Region 97 has revised rules for our local play.
Matches sponsored in our region are asked to abide by the following rules.
AYSO Reference Book: : MY2019
NATIONAL RULES & REGULATIONS
I. MATCH CONDUCT
C. PLAYING TIME AND SUBSTITUTION
1. Except as noted in Article I.C.3 all eligible team members in attendance at AYSO matches must play at least half three quarters of the match, excluding overtime.
Keepers should play no more than 1/2 of the game.
(During matches the referee should ask the coach to abide by the playing time rules. Non-compliant coaches should be reported through the use of a match report)
REGIONAL OPERATIONS
(NOTE: As a part of Player Development Initiatives, USSF and AYSO have adopted 4v4 play for 5U-8U play.
Region 97 has chosen to adopt 7v7 play for the 8U [6y8m - 7y11m] single age division in Fall and for combined 7U/8U [6y3m - 8y5m] Division in Spring.
The following changes have been adopted to accommodate 7v7 play.)
**New Referee Rules Starting with the Fall 2023 Core Season **
Team Referee Now Considered for Team Requests
We are expanding the approved coach player requests from two to three players. Head Coach, Asst. Coach and now the Team Referee. To honor the Team Referee 3rd player request, the parent/guardian of the player must have at least completed the online regional ref course and be signed up for the in-person on the field course by the start of practice for the season. (Please note that where we can accommodate, all player requests are honored at U7 and younger).
Certified Referee Requirement for Home Team
If the Home Team does not have a certified ref sign-up to center ref the game after theirs by Friday at noon, the game will be scored as a forfeit regardless of the outcome with the Away Team getting the win. Please note, the Home Team with the last game of the day is required to ref the first game of the day. The game will still be played but the score will not be kept.
7v7 Standards of Play for 8U
Field
• 70 55-65 yards (length)
• 40 35-45 yards (width)
Goals
• The maximum goal size is 6.5’ high x 18.5’ wide.
• The recommended goal size is 6.5’ high x 12’ wide.
Offside and other offenses
• All offenses should be considered as trifling and the referee should adopt an educational rather than punitive approach. Serious breeches can be penalized.
• Law 11, Offside will NOT be enforced. (Players should be discouraged from loitering around the goal or keeper, but the law will not be enforced and no penalties will be given)
• No penalty kicks
Build Out Line
• The build out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting.
• Build out lines should be equidistant between the top of the penalty area and halfway line.
• When the goalkeeper has the ball, either during play (from the opponent) or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play.
• Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (to either side of the build out line). Punting is not allowed.
• The ball is in play from a goal kick when it is kicked and clearly moves.
• The ball is in play from goalkeeper pass-in when the goalkeeper releases the ball.
• After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal.
• If a goalkeeper punts the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.
• If the punt occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.
Matches
• Size 4 3 ball
• Game may not start or continue if there are less than 5 players on a team.
• Substitutions take place approximately midway through each half – See Rules & Regulations I. C. 1 & 2.
• Matches shall have 2 equal halves not to exceed 25 20 minutes each.
• Halftime shall be a minimum of 5 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes. No added time.
