ACDEFGH
1
Rules of Competition 2025/26 AYSO Region 62 (Foster City) fcayso.org/rules
2025-09-03
2
Division5U6U8U10U12U [4]14U [4]
3
Birth Year202120202019, 20182017, 20162015, 20142013, 2012
4
Players
6
Players on field4v47v79v9Law 3 (11v11)
7
Min players on field456Law 3 (7)
8
SubstitutionsPlayers who arrive up-to 1st quarter must play at least ½ the match.
Players arriving during the 2nd or 3rd quarters must play at least 1 quarter.
9
No player will play 4 quarters until all players have played 3 quartersLaw 3 (free subs)
10
Goalkeeper substitutionsNo GoalkeepersTime in outfield ≥
Time as GK [1]		Max 2 quarters as goalkeeperLaw 3
11
Game
12
Half20 min.25 min.30 min.35 min.
13
Ball size34Law 2 (5)
14
Field30 x 1570 x 4070 x 50Law 1 (100-130 x 50-100)
15
SpectatorsTeams on opposite sidesAll spectators on one side of the field, Coaches & Players on the other
16
CoachesCoaches with their team's players & their parents.Max. 2 qualified coaches in the Technical Area at any time.
Visiting team's technical area is behind AR1.
17
Build-out Line (BOL)NoYesNo
18
Goalkeeper's release methodNo Goalkeeper
(discourage players from being stationary at goal)		IFK for kick release or BOL offenses [2]Laws 3 & 12
19
Goalkeeper's 8 second release Penalize only when clear that GK is delaying the release and the referee's voice is not effective.
10U: Time starts when the last attacker retreats past the BOL.
20
Goal KicksOpposing players at 10y or halfway line.Redo if BOL violation.Law 16
21
Fouls/Misconduct/Restarts
22
Team CaptainCaptain armbands are NOT required. Any player, not just the captains, can talk to the referee.
23
Free kicksNoneIFK onlyLaws 8 & 9
24
OffsideDon't even think about itNo. Discourage goal tendingBeyond BOLLaw 9
25
Distance (for kicks)N/A5 yards6 yards8 yardsLaw 13 (10 yards)
26
Misconduct
(Yellow/Red cards)		Verbal onlyNo Cards for PlayersRare. Yellows can occurLaw 12
27
Throw in'sDon't worry about itKick-insThrow-in or kick-ins allowedLaw 15 [2]Law 15
28
Dangerous play
29
Slide tacklingNot allowed → IFK infractionLaw 12
30
Heading the ballDeliberate Heading of the Ball → IFK InfractionAllowed
31
Sportsmanship
32
Playing short on playersCoach's discretion - not mandatory
33
Running up the score/
Lopsided score rule		Not Applicable1 player down for every goal over a 3-goal difference. [3]Coaches mitigate as soon as they are ahead by 3. Change tactics, not the game of soccer. The ref's only action is to include this in their match report.
Points deducted for a final difference of 6 or more
34
Foster City AYSO-specific rules (highlighted in yellow above)
35
[1] 10U Goalkeeper sub ruleThe Keeper must play equal or more time in the field as in goal. Sitting out does not count as time on field.
Therefore, if a Keeper is in goal for 2 quarters, they must play 2 quarters as field player.
36
[2] 10U No penalization during first 2 gamedatesFor first 2 gamedates of the season, referees stop play, instruct, but not penalize:
1. Inappropriate throw-in and double touch of a kick-off, goal kick, corner kick, and free kick. Restart: retake
2. Minor GK violations, e.g., exit penalty area while holding the ball, handling from back-pass or throw-in, or doing punts, drop-kicks, volleys, or 8s. Restart: dropped ball
37
[3] 10U lopsided ruleAt 4 goals difference, winning team plays down 1 player. At 5, 2 players down.
Only scoring players should be removed. Enforcement follow Law 3.7 (Extra persons on the field of play)

The Lopsided rule takes precedence over Minimum playing time.
Points deducted for a final difference of 6 or more.
38
[4] 12U, 14U rulesThese 12U and 14U rules are intended to be the same as Area2N's rules.