Rules Summary

	U6	U7	U8	U10	U12/U14 Small Sided
Format	3 v 3 - dual field	4 v 4 - dual field	5 v 5 - dual field	7 v 7	6 v 6
Refs	Coach ref	Center Ref	Center Ref	Center Ref	Center Ref
Min Ref Cert	n/a	Grade 9	Grade 9	Grade 9	Grade 9
Game Length	25 min practice session. Game is played in quarters with time determined by coaches.	12 min quarters	12 min quarters	30 min halves	30 min halves
Breaks	As needed	2 min between quarters 1 & 2 and 3 & 4. 5 min half	2 min between quarters 1 & 2 and 3 & 4. 5 min half	5 min half	5 min half
Min # of players	any	any	any	any	any
Ball	Size # 3	Size # 3	Size # 3	Size # 4	Size # 4 for U12 Size # 5 for U14
Subs	On the fly	On the fly	On the fly	On goal kick by either team, after a goal by either team, half-time, during injury stoppage by either team, prior to your own throw-in, prior to your opponents throw-in if they sub.	On goal kick by either team, after a goal by either team, half-time, during injury stoppage by either team, prior to your own throw-in, prior to your opponents throw-in if they sub.
Goalies	No	No	Yes - keeper may not distribute ball directly beyond midfield line.**	Yes - keeper may not distribute ball directly beyond midfield line.**	Yes - keeper may not distribute ball directly beyond midfield line.**
Goal Kicks	Yes - from anywhere on along the goal line.	Yes - ball may not be kicked directly beyond midfield line.	Yes - ball may not be kicked directly beyond midfield line.	Yes - ball may not be kicked directly beyond midfield line.	Yes - ball may not be kicked directly beyond midfield line.
Thrown-ins	No - Kick-ins instead.	Yes - Player gets one do over if foul throw	Yes - Player gets one do over if foul throw	FIFA	FIFA
Free Kicks	All direct. No PKs.	All direct. No PKs.	All direct. No PKs.	FIFA	FIFA
Kick-offs		Indirect - may not score directly. One do-over.	Indirect - may not score directly. One do-over.	FIFA	FIFA
Required Distance	4 yds	4 yds	4 yds	8 yds	10 yds
Offside	No	No	No	FIFA	FIFA
Fouls/ Misconduct	No cards. No slide tackles. Players may receive a "timeout".	No cards. No slide tackles. Players may receive a "timeout".	No cards. No slide tackles. Players may receive a "timeout".	FIFA - only use your cards in extreme cases. Explain offenses.	FIFA

** U8 through U12s - Once a goalkeeper plays the ball with their hands, they can not kick, throw, or punt the ball directly over the half way line. It must bounce or be touched in their own half first. If the goalkeeper dribbles the ball outside of their own penalty area or does not play the ball with their hands, then there is no restriction on how far the ball can be played. Violation: U8 - direct free kick from half-way line. U10/U12/U14 - indirect free kick from half-way line.