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SJSL MODIFICATIONS TO LAWS OF THE GAME SMALL-SIDED U8-U12
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SJSL MODIFICATIONS TO LAWS OF THE GAME SMALL-SIDED U8-U12

FOR SJSL SMALL SIDED GAMES –U8-U12– Fall 2024

All IFAB/FIFA Laws of the Game 2024-2025 and SJSL Rules of Competition apply, except as modified herein.

LAW 1 - THE FIELD

A. Dimensions

U8-U10 – 47 yds long by 30 yds wide (minimum) 70 yds long by 45 yds wide (max)

U11-U12 – 70 yds long by 45 yds wide (minimum) 80 yds long by 55 yds wide (max)

B. Markings

1. U8-U12 - A center circle with an eight (8) yard radius.

2. Goal Area - U11-U12 – five (5) yards from each goal post and five (5) yards into the field of play.

U8-U10 – four (4) yards from each goal post and four (4) yards into the field of play.

3. Penalty Area -

U8-U10 – twelve (12) yards from each goal post and twelve (12) yards into the field of play.

U11-U12 - fourteen (14) yards from each goal post and fourteen (14)

yards into the field of play.

4. Penalty Mark – U8-U12 - ten (10) yards from the goal line at a spot measured into the field of play from the point midway between the goal posts. From the penalty mark, an eight (8) yard arc is marked beginning from one point that intersects with the line parallel to the goal line and continuing to the second point that crosses that line.

5. Build Out Line – U8-U10 only – connecting the touchlines and parallel to the goal line, marked halfway between the penalty area and the halfway line. This line should be marked differently than the other field markings.

C. Goals

Maximum: Twenty-one (21) feet wide by seven (7) feet in height

Minimum: Eighteen (18) feet wide by six (6) feet in height

LAW 2 – THE BALL

A. A size 4 ball shall be used.

LAW 3 - NUMBER OF PLAYERS

A. U8-U10 - The maximum number of players on the field at any one time shall be seven (7), one of which shall be the goalkeeper. The minimum number of players for a match to start or continue shall be five (5).

B. U11-U12 - The maximum number of players on the field at any one time shall be nine (9), one of which shall be the goalkeeper. The minimum number of players for a match to start or continue shall be six (6).

C. Substitutions: Same as SJSL Rules (any stoppage)

LAW 4 – THE PLAYER’S EQUIPMENT: Conform to FIFA and SJSL

LAW 5 – THE REFEREE: Conform to FIFA and SJSL

LAW 6 – THE ASSISTANT REFEREES

A. If no assistant referees are assigned to the game, a volunteer from each team’s spectators may be requested to help with signaling when the whole of the ball has left the field of play. Such “club linesmen” are not empowered to signal or assist the referee in calling fouls, misconduct, or offside infractions.

LAW 7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH

The game shall be divided into two (2) equal halves, with a five (5) minute break between the halves.

1. U8-U10 (7v7) halves will be 30 minutes in duration.

2. U11-U12 (9v9) halves will be 30 minutes in duration.

LAW 8 – THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY: Conform to FIFA and SJSL

LAW 9 – THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY: Conform to FIFA and SJSL

LAW 10 - METHOD OF SCORING: Conform to FIFA and SJSL

LAW 11 - OFFSIDE: Conform to FIFA and SJSL, except:

A. (U8-U10 only) The build-out line will be used to start where the offside position may begin.

1. Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build-out line

2. Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the build-out line and goal line

LAW 12 - FOULS AND MISCONDUCT:

A. U8-U10

1. There is NO punting or drop-kicking in 7v7 games.

  1. If the GK does either, the restart is an indirect free kick (IFK) from the spot of the offense or on the goal area line (6) parallel to the spot of the foul

4. Heading

  1. U11 and below teams may not deliberately head balls in games.
  1. Deliberately heading a ball during a game will result in an indirect kick for the opposing team at the spot of the offense

B. U11-12 - 9v9 rules

  1. an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the CENTER MARK on the halfway line if the GK punts or drop-kicks the ball from his penalty area, and it lands in the air in the opponent’s penalty area.
  1. If the ball goes directly into the goal, no goal is awarded, and the ball is returned for an indirect kick as above.
  1. Heading – U11 and below teams may not deliberately head balls in games.
  1. Deliberately heading a ball during a game will result in an indirect kick being awarded to the opponent from the point of the infraction.
  2. Players U11 or younger on a U12 team are also prohibited from heading balls in games.
  1.  In the case of a U10 player playing on a U12 or older team, the responsibility is with the coach to enforce this restriction, not the referee

LAW 13 - FREE KICKS: Conform to FIFA with the following exception:

A. Opponents must be eight (8) yards away at the time the kick is taken or beyond the Build Out Line, whichever is further, unless a team opts to take a “quick kick.”

LAW 14 – THE PENALTY KICK: Conform to FIFA with the following exception:

A. Opponents must be eight (8) yards away when the kick is taken.

LAW 15 – THE THROW-IN: Conform to FIFA

LAW 16 – THE GOAL KICK: Conform to FIFA except:

1. GK Possession (7v7 U8-U10): 

  1. When the GK has possession after a save, the GK may wait until the opposing team moves beyond the build out line.
  1. The opposing team must wait behind the buildout line until one of the following conditions are met:
  1. The 2nd touch by a teammate
  2. The ball comes to a stop
  3. The ball crosses the buildout line
  4. Any infringement of these will result in an indirect free kick (IFK) at the spot of the infringement by the opposing team at the buildout line
  1. Once players are beyond the build-out line, the GK has 6 seconds to release the ball back into play with a throw, roll, or placing the ball at his feet and kicking or dribbling.
  1. The 6 seconds will not start until opposing team is behind the buildout line
  2. If the GK places the ball down at their feet to kick or dribble, the ball is live and the opposing team may come across the buildout line without any foul.
  1. If the GK decides to throw the ball BEFORE the opposing team is behind the buildout line, they do so at risk and there is no infringement of the rule, play resumes

2.  Goal-Kick (7v7 U8-U10):  

  1. The opposing team must move behind the buildout line until one of the following conditions are met:
  1. The 2nd touch by a teammate
  2. The ball comes to a stop
  3. The ball crosses the buildout line
  4. Any infringement of these will result in an indirect free kick (IFK) at the spot of the infringement by the opposing team at the buildout line.

3.  Goal-Kick (9v9 U11-U12):

a.  Opposing players are to remain outside of the penalty area (18) until the ball has:

  1. 2nd touch by teammate of kicking team
  2. Ball has come to a stop
  3. Ball has come out of the penalty area
  4. The restart for any infringement is a retake of the goal kick by the kicking team

LAW 17 – THE CORNER KICK: Conform to FIFA with the following exception:

A. Opponents must be eight (8) yards away when the kick is taken.