Laws of mini-soccer

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LAWS FOR MINI-SOCCER

FOR PLAYERS
(BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS OVER THE AGE OF 6 AND UNDER 10 )

Please note : Where Leagues operate Under 11 Mini-Soccer events, they must follow these Laws.

Except where other provision, in these Laws are made, the Laws of Association Football apply. Each law is numbered to correspond with the appropriate Law of the Game. These Laws are mandatory unless special permission is granted by the Football Association.

LAW 1.
Playing Area

Recommended
Size of Pitch

		Under 10s/9s					Under 8s/7s
		Metres		Yds			Metres		Yds
Width		Min.	27.45	Min	30		Min.	18.30	Min	20
		Max.	36.60	Max	40		Max.	27.45	Max	30
Length		Min	45.75	Min	50		Min	27.45	Min	30
		Max	54.90	Max	60		Max	45.75	Max	50

Goal Size

The distance between the posts is 3.6m (12ft) and the distance between the lower edge of the cross bar and the ground is 1.88m (6ft)

Warning

In view of a number of accidents that have occurred, it is necessary to ensure that portable goals of any size are either pinned or weighted to prevent them from toppling forward.

LAW 2. The Ball

The ball should be no larger than size 4. Size 3 is recommended for Under 8's. It should be safe and made of leather or another suitable material.

LAW 3. Number of Players

			Number per Team, including Goalkeeper
Over 6 and Under 8s			4 v 4 and 5 v 5
Over 8 and Under 10s			6 v 6 and 7 v 7

Players must play with and against players only from their own age range - within a two year age band. Players should not be allowed to being to play until the Season of their 7th birthday.

Each team must not have a squad greater than double the size of the team per age.

Any number of substitutes, without being named, may be used at any time with the permission of the referee or game leader. Entry into the field of play will only be allowed during a stoppage in play. A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player.All substitutes should play some part of the game.

LAW 4 Playing Equipment

Players must wear shinguards and goalkeepers must wear a distinguishing playing strip.

Shinguards musts be covered entirely by the stockings.

LAW 5 Referees

The Authority of the Referee

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.

Powers and Duties

The Referee:

* Enforces the Laws of the Game

* Controls the match in co-operation with the assistant referees / timekeeper

* Ensures that the ball meets the requirements of Law 2

* Stops, suspends or terminates the match, at their discretion, for any infringements of the Laws

* Stops the match if, in their opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that they are removed from 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 themselves in a responsible manner and may, at their discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds

* Ensures that no unauthorised persons enter the field of play

* Restarts the match after it has been stopped

Decisions of the Referee

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.

The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his / her discretion provided that play has not restarted

LAW 6. Timekeeper/Scorer/Assistant Referee.

Duties

A person may be nominated to assist the referee to :-
(a) Record goals scored:
(b) Act as timekeeper and signify to the referee by an agreed signal when the time of each half has expired:
(c) Suspend time on an instruction from the referee for all stoppages and add that time to the end of each half;
(d) Supervise the use of rolling substitutes.
(e) Carry out any other duties as prescribed by the referee;

If an independent timekeeper / scorer is not nominated, these duties are the responsibilities of the referee.

LAW 7. Duration of Game

In any one day, no player shall play more than the stipulated period outlined below. Within this maximum the recommended duration of games is provided:

	Recommend number of Minutes in each half	Maximum duration of participation per day per player
Over 6 and Under 8	10 minutes	45 minutes
Over 8 and Under 10	15 minutes	60 minutes

Each league / competition will determine its own playing time within the maximum time permitted. The half time interval must not exceed 5 minutes

LAW 8. Start and Restart of Play

Procedure

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 4.5 m (5 yards) 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 temporarily 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 stopped.

LAW 9. Ball in and out of Play

Ball 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

Ball in play

The ball is in play at all times, including when:

* It rebounds from a goal post, crossbar or corner flag post 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.

Goal Scored

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.

Winning Team

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, competition rules may state provisions involving extra time, or other procedures approved by the International F.A. Board to determine the winner of a match.

Please note this must be included within the maximum participation time.

LAW 11. Offside

There is no offside

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 area)

* 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 Law 12, 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.

A free 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 of 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:

1. Is guilty of unsporting behaviour

2. Shows dissent by word or action

3. Persistently infringes the Laws of the Game

4. Delays the restart of play

5. Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick

6. Enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission

7. Deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission

Sending Off Offences

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he / she commits any of the following seven offences:

1. Is guilty of serious foul play

2. Is guilty of violent conduct

3. Spits at an opponent or any other person

4. 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)

5. Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick

6. Uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and / or gestures

7. Receives a second caution in the same match

LAW 13 Free Kicks

For all free kicks opponents must be 4.5m (5 yards) from the ball.

LAW 14 Penalty Kicks

A penalty kick is awarded for offences, as described in Law 12

Position of the Ball and the Players

All players except the defending goalkeeper and kicker must be outside the penalty area and at least 4.5m (5 yards) 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 retaken or the goal is disallowed depending on which team offended)

If a player of both the defending and the attacking teams offened, the kick shall be retaken.

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 it crosses the touch line

* To the opponents of the player who touched the ball

Procedure
At the 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

* 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 touched another player. If he / she does a free kick will be awarded against them. The ball is in play immediately 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.

Opposition must remain outside of the penalty area until the ball is in play.

LAW 17. Corner Kicks

The opposing players must remain at least 4.5m(5 yards) 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 free kick is awarded against them.

The ball is in play immediately it enters the field of play.

The Responsible Football Coach / Manager
Code of Conduct for Football

     1. Coaches / Manages must respect the rights dignity and worth of each and every person and treat each              equally within the context of the sport.

     2. Coaches / Managers must place the well being and safety of each player above all other                                        considerations, including the development of performance.

     3. Coaches / Managers must adere to all guidelines laid down within the Constitution and the Rules of The             Football Association.

     4. Coaches / Managers must develop an appropriate working relationship with each player based on mutual             trust and respect.

     5. Coaches / Managers must not exert undue influence to obtain personnel benefit or reward.

     6. Coaches / Managers must encourage and guide players to accept responsibilities for their own behaviour             and performance.

     7. Coaches / Managers must ensure that the activities they direct or advocate is appropriate for the                        age,maturity,experience and ability of players.

     8. Coaches / Managers should,at the outset,clarify with the player (and,where appropriate, their parents)exactly            what is expected of them and also what they are entitled to expect from their coach.

     9. Coaches / Managers must co-operate fully with other specialists (e.g. other coaches, officials, sport                     scientists, doctors, physiotherapists) in the best interest of the player.

    10. Coaches / Managers must always promote the appropriate Code of Conduct and positive aspects of the             sport (e.g. fair play) to players, parents and spectators alike. Never condone violations of the Laws of the             Game, behaviour contary to the spirit of the Laws of the Game or relevant rules and regulations or the use of             prohibited substances or techniques.

     11. Coaches / Managers must consistently display high standards of behaviour and experience and be a role              model for players , parents and spectators.

Goalposts Safety

The Football Association and the British institution would like to draw your attention to the following guidelines for the safe use of goalposts. Too many serious injuries and fatalities have occurred in recent years as a result of unsafe or incorrect use of goalposts. Safety is always of paramount importance and everyone in football must play their part to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.

1. For safety reasons goalposts of any size (including those which are portable and not installed permanently at a pitch or practice field) must always be anchored securely to the ground.

          *      Portable goalposts must be secured by the use of chain anchors or appropriate anchor weights to                    prevent them from toppling forward.
          *     It is essential that under no circumstances should children or adults be allowed to climb,swing on or                    play with the structures of the goalposts.
          *      Particular attention is drawn to the fact that if not properly assembled and secured,portable goalposts                     may toppleover.

     2. Portable goalposts should not be left in place after use. They should be dismantled and removed to a place           of secure storage.

     3. It is strongly recommended that nets should only be secured by plastic hooks or tape and not by metal cup            hooks.Any metal cup hooks should if possible be removed and replaced.New goalposts should not be              purchased if they include metal cup hooks which cannot be replaced.

     4. Goalposts which are "home made" or which have been altered from their original size or construction should            not be used. These have been the cause of a number of deaths and injuries.

     5. Guidelines to prevent toppling:

     i. Follow Manufactures guide-lines in assembling goalposts.

     ii. Before use,adults should:
          * ensure each goal is anchored securely in its place
          * exert a significant downward force on the cross bar
          * exert a significant backward force on both upright posts
          * exert a significant forward force on both upright posts

          These must be repeated until it is established that the structure is secure. If not, alternative
                       goals / pitches must be used.

For reference , you should note that The F.A. and BSI are developing a standard for future purchases. It is anticipated that this document will be available in mid 2000

The Hudds & District Junior Football leagues general rules apply where appropriate.

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