3rd & 4th Grade Rules

Rev. 8/28/19

1. Field and Equipment

a. Boundary Line:  45 x 55 yards

b. Goal Area:           5 x 16 yards in front of each goal

c. Penalty Area:     14 x 30 yards

d. Center Circle:     8-yard circumference at the center of the field

e. Ball Size:              Size 4

f. Build Out Lines (Optional): Blue lines painted halfway between penalty area and midfield line

 

2. Game Format

a. The game will be played with two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute half-time.

b. Teams will change sides after half-time. The game shall be terminated on-time, regardless of the time remaining to accommodate the next game time.

c. Each team will play with 7 players on the field, one of whom must be a goalkeeper.

d. Parents and other spectators can only view the game from the same sideline as their team.  Parents should not be behind the goal line or on the opposing team’s side. Home team selects the side.

 

3. ​Player Equipment

a. Shin guards are mandatory for all players and are to be worn inside the socks.

b. Footwear can be athletic shoes or soft-cleated shoes.  Shoes with a toe cleat (e.g. football and baseball cleats) cannot be worn.

c. Non-soccer equipment such as watches and jewelry must be removed prior entering a game.

d. Players with hard casts are permitted to play, provided their cast has been securely encased in bubble wrap or similar padding.

 

4. Referees

a. There are assigned, non-certified referees for this age.

b. Detailed referee rules can be found in FIFA Laws of the Game - Law 5.

c. Decisions of the referee—Decisions will be made to the best of the referee’s ability according to the Laws of the Game and the ‘spirit of the game’ and will be based on the opinion of the referee who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws of the Game. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.

 

5. 7v7 Game Rules

a. Start/Restarts

i. Each half is started, as well as restarts after a goal is scored, by kicking the ball placed in the center of the field within the center circle.  Players of the opposing team must be outside the center circle (8 yards away) when the kick is taken. The ball is in play when it has been kicked and moves in any direction. After kicking, the ball must touch another player before the kicker can play the ball again.

ii. When the ball goes wholly across any boundary, whether on the ground or in the air, the ball is awarded to the team opposite of the player who last touched the ball.

1. When a ball goes out over the sideline the ball is thrown in near the place on the line where the ball went out. After throwing, the ball must touch another player before the thrower can play the ball again. Upon delivering the ball, the thrower must adhere to these restrictions:

a. Face the field of play.

b. Have part of each foot on the ground on or behind the sideline.

c. Hold the ball with both hands.

d. Deliver the ball from behind and over the head.

2. When a ball goes out over the goal line by the attacking team the ball is placed anywhere in the goal area and is kicked in. When a goal kick is being taken, the opposing team must retreat to the build out line. As soon as the ball is kicked and leaves the penalty area, the opposing team may cross the build out line and pressure the ball. The offensive team can play the ball before it leaves the penalty area.  They don't have to wait for it to leave the area.

3. When a ball goes out over the goal line by the defending team the ball is placed in the corner where the goal line meets the sideline and is kicked in. The ball is in play when it has been kicked and moves in any direction. After kicking, the ball must touch another player before the kicker can play the ball again.

iii. When play is stopped by the referee for a non-foul (e.g. injury) then the ball is restarted with a drop ball near the spot where the ball was when play was stopped. The ball is to be dropped to the team that had possession before the play was stopped.  Opposing team members should be at least 4 yards away when the ball is dropped. The ball is in play when it has touched the ground.

b. Goal Scoring

i. Goals can be scored from anywhere on the field, but the entire ball must pass below the cross-bar and between the goal posts for a goal.

ii. A goal can be scored directly from the kickoff and other direct kicks (e.g. corner kicks, direct free kicks).

iii. A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick or throw-in. The ball must touch another player on the field of either team before going into the goal to count.

c. Free Kick Infringements

i. Direct Free Kicks

1. The following are punished by the awarding of a direct free kick: tripping, pushing, punching, handling the ball, holding or kicking an opponent.  Handling the ball means that a player picks-up, holds, stops or propels the ball with his/her hands or arms (not necessarily any time it hits a player’s hand/arm).

2. The kick is awarded to the opposite team and is taken from the spot where the foul occurred.

3. Players of the opposing team must be a minimum of 8 yards away from the ball when a direct free kick is taken.

4. If a wall of 3 or more defenders is formed, the attacking players are not allowed to be within 1 yard of the wall.

ii. Penalty Kicks

1. If a direct free kick foul occurred inside the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded, and the ball is placed 10 yards from the goal line.

2. All players except the goalkeeper and the player taking the penalty kick must be outside the penalty area and the penalty arc.

3. The goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on the goal line until the ball has been kicked.

4. The ball is in play when it has been kicked and moves forward.

5. The kicker cannot touch the ball again until it has touched another player on the field from either team.

iii. Indirect Free Kicks

1. Indirect free kicks are awarded for playing in a dangerous manner (e.g. slide tackling), heading the ball, preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his/her hands, impeding the progress of an opponent (obstruction), or commits any other offense for which play is stopped.

2. The kick is awarded to the opposite team and is taken from the spot where the foul occurred.

3. Players of the opposing team must be a minimum of 8 yards away from the ball when a free kick is taken.

4. The ball is in play when it has been kicked and moves in any direction.

d. Building Out

i. When a goal kick is being taken the opposing team must retreat to the build out line. As soon as the ball is kicked and leaves the penalty area, the opposing team may pressure the ball.

ii. When a goalkeeper gains possession of the ball, the opposing team must retreat to the build out line. As soon as the ball leaves the goalkeeper’s hands, the opposing team may pressure the ball.  There are no drop kicks.  The goalkeeper must distribute the ball with their hands by rolling the ball or placing it on the ground and kicking it.

iii. On fields where build out lines are not present the midfield line is used as the build out line.

e. Offside

i. A player is in an offside position if he/she is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second to last opponent (goalkeeper is usually the last opponent). 

ii. A player is not in an offside position in the following instances:

1. He/she is in his own half of the field of play.

2. He/she is even with the second to last opponent.

3. He/she is even with the last two opponents.

iii. A player judged to be in an offside position by the referee is only penalized if he/she plays the ball, or at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his teammates, he/she is involved in active play by doing any of the following:

1. Interfering with play.

2. Interfering with an opponent.

3. Gaining an advantage by being in that position.

iv. Calls are made at the discretion of the referee. Close calls will not be made.

v. Players cannot be penalized for offside between the build out line and midfield line. 

f. Goalkeeper Rules

i. A goalkeeper may handle the ball only inside his/her own penalty area.

ii. An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his/her own penalty area commits any of the following offenses:

1. Handles the ball after he/she has released it from his/her possession and before it has touched another player.

2. Handles the ball after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a team-mate.

3. Handles the ball after he/she has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate.

iii. The goalkeeper is considered to be in possession of the ball when his/her hands are touching the ball. Kicking or attempting to kick a ball when it is in the possession of a goalkeeper is considered dangerous play and is penalized with an indirect free kick.

g. Substitutions

i. Substitutions are unlimited and can be accomplished on the fly as well as when the ball is out of play. 

ii. The player being substituted for must come off the field before the substitute may enter the field.

iii. There is no stoppage time for substitutions. Play is continuous.

h. Additional Players

i. If a team is behind by 4 goals, a coach can add one additional field player. The additional player will be taken off the field if his/her team scores. An additional player can be added when 6 goals behind, and again at 8. If the losing team does not have additional players, then the winning team should consider taking a player off the field.​