Revisions

• March 1, 1999: Travel Players Competing on Arlington Association Recreation Teams.
• September 15, 1999: Revision of the above change (See Law III for current rule).
• March 3, 2000: Mostly correction of typographical errors. In Law XVII, for U8 and U9 games, opponents must be 8 yards away from the ball. This statement had erroneously been omitted from these rules.

Field of Play

• The field of play shall be rectangular, its length being no more than 80 yards or less than 70 yards and its width not more than 50 yards or less than 40 yards. The length in all cases shall exceed the width.
• Small goal posts (Seven (7) feet high and twenty-one (21) feet wide).
• Distinctive lines not more than five inches wide.
• A halfway line shall be marked out across the field.
• A center circle with an eight (8) yard radius.
• Four (4) corner arcs with a two(2) foot radius.
• Goal Area: six (6) yards from each goal post and six (6) yards into the field of play, joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line.

The Ball

• Under 8 (Size 3)
• Under 9 (Size 3)
• Under 10 (Size 4)

Number of Players

• The maximum number of players on the field at one time is eight (8) for each team, one of the eight (8) is the goalkeeper.
• Unless otherwise indicated, a team must have at least five (5) eligible players to commence a game. If within ten minutes after scheduled game time, a team does not have the required number of players ready to play, the referee shall abandon the game as a forfeit for the team with the required number of players. The winning coach (forfeit winner) shall report the game score along with the circumstances.
• Unlimited substitution shall be permitted on corner kicks and kick off and unlimited substitutions by the team in possession of the ball on throw-in.
• In any competition where one team achieves a five goal lead over its' opponent, the coach of the winning team is required to remove one player from the field of play. For each additional goal scored by the leading team, the team shall continue to remove one player. If after a five goal lead and withdrawing a player or players, the leading team shall be permitted to replace a player previously withdrawn for each goal scored by its' opponent. Coaches must inform the referee of the "Five Goal Rule".

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Players' Equipment

Referees

• All Association coaches, players and adult spectators must recognize the referee as the sole authority over the game. As specified under the F.I.F.A. Rules, maintaining respect for the referees is of vital importance to successful youth soccer. Behavior, which falls below this standard of respect and interferes with the referee's ability to officiate, will not be tolerated. Any incidents will be subject to Association Board review and discipline.
• All games shall be officiated by a single referee using Club Linesman unless otherwise authorized by the Board.
• If the assigned referee fails to appear within ten minutes after scheduled game time, the teams may appoint a substitute referee by mutual agreement. Such appointment of a substitute referee shall be binding for the game. Should the assigned referee appear after a substitute has been assigned, the teams may allow him to officiate the game.

Assistant Referees

• Each coach (on the request of the referee) will designate one person who is acceptable to the referee to act as linesman. At all times, the referee may overrule the linesman. The linesman indicates only if a ball has completely crossed the touchline or goal line and shows which team has possession.

Duration of Game

• Duration:
• Games must begin on time and must be completed prior to the starting time of the next scheduled game.
• Games that terminate because of weather conditions or other sufficient circumstances after one half of play has been completed is considered to be a complete game. Game scores at the time of termination shall stand and be officially recorded.

The Start of Play

• Conform to FIFA with the following exception:
  Opponent must be eight (8) yards from the center mark while kick-off is in progress.

Fouls and Misconduct

• Sliding tackles are not permitted. Penalty to award for an infraction of this rule is an indirect free kick.
• The penalty for violation of the rule prohibiting use of hands or arms shall not apply in female competition when players hands or arms are struck by the ball while protecting her chest.
• Charging of the goalkeeper in possession of the ball is not permitted within the goal area at any time.

Free Kick

• Opponent must be eight (8) yards away before the kick is allowed.
• For U8 & U9 Games:
  Defensive free kick resulting from an infraction of the rules by the attacking team which occur within the penalty area are taken from the edge of the penalty area rather than the spot of the rule infraction.

Penalty Kick

• Opponent must be eight (8) yards away before kick is allowed

Goal Kick

• For U8 & U9 games only:
  The goalie may bring the ball to the edge of the penalty area regardless of the steps required to get there.

Corner Kick

• For U8 & U9 games only:
  Corner kicks are taken from the edge of the penalty area where the penalty line and the touch line bisect.
• Opponents must be ten (10) yards away from the ball.

Home/Away Spectators

• The home team and the away team must take opposite sides of the field. The home team has first choice of a side. All parents and other spectators are to take the side of the field assigned to the team they accompany. During the competition, each coach is responsible for the behavior of players and spectators on their side of the field and may be carded by the referee for their or their players or spectators behavior.

Score Reporting

• Do not report game scores to the Score Recorder.

Profanity

• Under no circumstances will any coach use profanity or abuse either physically or psychologically any youth.

Forfeits

• If a team forfeits two consecutive games in any competition, it shall be automatically withdrawn from the competition and all games not played will be declared forfeits. The players of such team may obtain automatic release and transfer from the Club if they so request.
• If a team withdraws or is otherwise deleted from a competition, the disposition of points from previously played games and games to be played shall be determined by the Board.

Sanctions

• It is the responsibility of the coaches to monitor and control the behavior of all adults and players. Persons ejected (red carded) must leave the game area immediately. A player receiving a red card may remain on the sideline under the coach's supervision and may not play in the next scheduled game.

Competition

• For the purpose of competition, the Association is divided into Age Groups with each Age Group further divided into levels of competition depending on individual team skill levels. At the conclusion of each season teams are reevaluated, based on performance, in accordance with seeding policies established by the Board.
• Any game where the score is tied after regulation time will be recorded as a tie. No team may practice more than twice a week for a maximum of two hours per practice. Non League (friendly games) shall be considered as practice sessions.

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Good of Soccer

• For the purpose of fostering the good of soccer, it is in the spirit of competition that a Club will not transfer a player from a higher level of competition to a lower level of competition for the purpose of strengthening a team.
• Opposing parent/coaches and players should shake hands after each game.

Trash

• All teams shall be responsible for maintaining field areas in a clean and neat appearance, disposing of all trash prior to leaving the field.