MINISOCCER RULES
Law 1: PlayingArea
WARNING: Please ensure thatThe FA Goalpost safety guidelines are observed.
Size of Pitch
Under 7s-8s Minimum width: 18.30m (20 yards) Maximum width: 27.45m (30 yards) Minimum length: 27.45m (30 yards) Maximum length: 45.75m (50 yards)
Under 9s-10s Minimum width: 27.45m (30 yards) Maximum width: 36.60m (40 yards) Minimum length: 45.75m (50 yards) Maximum length: 54.90m (60 yards)
Other pitch dimensions
Penalty Area: Length 9.15m (10 yards);Width 16.47m (18 yards)
Penalty Mark: 7.32m (8 yards) from the Goal Line opposite the Centre of the Goal.
Halfway Line: The field of play is divided into two halves by a half way line.The centre mark is indicated at the mid-point of the halfway line.
Goal Size: The distance between the posts is 3.6m (12feet) and the distance between the lower edge of the cross bar and the ground is 1.88m (6 feet)
Law 2: The Ball
The ball should be size 4 for U9/U10, or Size 3 for Under 7 and 8. It should be safe and made of leather or another suitable material.
Law 3: Number of Players
All age groups shall play 7 a side. (Under 7s from 2013-14 will play 5v5)
Law 4: Playing Equipment
All players must wear shin guards and goalkeepers must wear a distinguishing playing strip. Shin guards must be covered by the stockings.
Law 5: Referees
Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of  the  game in connection with the match to which they have been appointed.
The referee also:
Enforces the laws of the game. Controls the match in co-operation with the assistant referees/time keeper.
Ensures that the ball meets the requirement of Law 2. Ensures that the players equipment meets the requirements of Law 4.
Stops, suspends or terminates the match, at their discretion, for any infringement of the laws. Stops, suspends or terminates the match because of outside interference of any kind.Stops the match if, in their opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that they are removed from the field of play.Ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play.
Allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time.Takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and/or sending off offences.Takes action against team officials who fail to conduct them selves in a responsible manner and may, at their discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds. Ensures that no unauthorized persons enter the field of play. Restarts the match after it has been stopped.
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. he referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his/her discretion provided that play has not restarted.
Law 6: Timekeeper/Scorer/Assistant Referee
A person may be nominated to assist the referee to:
Record goals scored. Act as a time keeper and signify to the referee by an agreed signal when the time of each half has expired.Suspend time on an instruction from the referee for all stoppages and add that time to the end of each half.
Supervise the use of rolling substitutes.Carry out any other duties as prescribed by the referee.
If an independent time keeper / scorer is not nominated, these duties are the responsibilities of the referee.
Law 7: Duration of Game
All League Mini Soccer matches shall be played with 30 minutes each way,Cup Matches shall be 25 minutes each way to allow for extra time if required as set out in the Cup Competition rules.
Subject to the above it is the Team Manager/Coaches responsibility to ensure that the use of rollon rolloff substitutes are used to ensure that the following maximum playing times for any player in any one day are adhered to:Under 7 & Under 8, Maximum playing time 40 minutes. Under 9 & Under 10, Maximum playing time 60 minutes. The half time interval must not exceed 5 minutes.
Law 8: Start & Restart of Play
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 4.5m (5y) away from the ball, and in their own half of the field. The ball must be played forward.
Special Circumstances
A dropped ball to restart the match after play has been stopped inside the penalty area takes place on the penalty area line parallel to the goal line at that point nearest to where the ball was located when the play was stopped.
Law 9: Ball In & Out of Play
The ball is out of play when:It has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air.Play has been stopped by the referee.
The ball is in play when:
It rebounds from a goal or post, crossbar or corner flagpost and remains in the field of play.It rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when they are on the field of play.
Law 10: Method of Scoring
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the cross bar, provided that no infringement of the laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.
winningTeam
The team scoring the greater number of goals during a match is the winner. If both teams score an equal number of goals or if no goals are scored, the match is drawn.
Competition Rules
For matches ending in a draw,cup competition rules state provisions involving extra time, or other procedures as approved by the International FA Board to determine the winner of a match.
Law 11: Offside
Thereis no offside in mini soccer.
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
In Mini-Soccer all free kicks are direct.
A free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offences in a manner considered to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
Jumps at an opponent Charges an opponent Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent Pushes an opponent
A free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offences:
Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before
touching the ball
Holds an opponent
Spits at an opponent
Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his/her own penalty are
Plays in a dangerous manner
Impedes the progress of an opponent
Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his/her hands
Commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law12, for which play is stopped to
caution or dismiss a player
Penalty Kick
A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above offences is committed by a player inside his/her own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play.
Free Kick
Afree 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.
Cautionable Offences
A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he/she commits any of the following seven offences:
Is guilty of unsporting behavior
Shows dissent by word or action
Persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
Delays the restart of play
Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick
Enters or re-enters the fieldof play without the referees permission
Deliberately leaves the field of play without the referees permission
Sending Off Offences
A player is sent off and shown the red card if he/she commits any of the following seven offences:
Is guilty of serious foul play
Is guilty of violent conduct
Spits at an opponent or any other person
Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity, by deliberately handling
the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area)
Denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the playerâs goal by
an offence punishable by a free kick or penalty kick
Uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
Receives a second caution in the same match
Law 13: Free Kicks
Forall free kicks opponents must be 4.5m (5y) from the ball.
Law 14: Penalty Kicks
A penalty kick is awarded for offences, as described in Law 12.
Positionof the ball and players
All players except the defending goalkeeper and kicker must be outside the penalty area and at least
4.5m(5y) from the penalty mark.The ball must be kicked forward.
Infringement/Sanctions
If a player or players commit an offence at the taking of a penalty kick his/her team shall not be allowed to gain an advantage(i.e.the kick is re taken or the goal is disallowed depending on which team offended).If a player of both the defending and attacking teams offend,the kick shall be re taken.
Law 15: Throw In
A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in. A throw in is awarded:
When the whole of the ball passes over the touch line, either on the ground or in the air.
From the point where it crossed the touch line.
To the opponents of the player who last touched the ball.
Procedure
Atthe moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:
Faces the field of play Has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line.
Uses both hands.Delivers the ball from behind and over the head.
The throw in is awarded to the opposing team, if any of these requirements are not carried out.
The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player. If he/she does,a
free kick will be awarded against them.The ball is in play immediately when it enters the field of play.
Law 16: Goal Kick
Procedure
A player of the defending team kicks the ball from any point within the penalty area.
Opponents must remain outside the penalty area and at least 4.5m(5yards) from where the kick is taken until the ball is in play.
Law 17: CornerKicks
The opposing players must remain at least 4.5m (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 freekick is awarded against them.
The ball is in play immediately when it enters the field of play
LAWS OF THE GAME
