U10

Belmont Minor Soccer Association

Mini Soccer - Rules of the Game

(revised – December 2010. For full OSA rules, please visit website at www.southendsoccer.ca)

The Belmont Minor Soccer Association would like to remind Parents, Coaches and players of the importance of fair play, patience, understanding and positive reinforcement during every soccer game.

The Teams

1.1 Basic compulsory equipment shall consist of shorts, socks, shin guards, footwear, and a numbered shirt.

1.2 Each team will consist of 7 players, one player being a goalkeeper.

1.3 A team must field a minimum of 5 players to begin any game.

1.4 All players must be registered in the mini soccer program.

1.5 All players must be given equal playing time/sitting time.

1.6 Substitutions will be allowed under the following conditions, with a minimum of 5 minutes, and a maximum of 10 minutes per shift:

a) during a stoppage

b) if any player is injured

c) or as requested by coaches, upon consent of the referee

An agreement of the substitution time-frame is to be agreed upon by both

coaches and the referee prior to the commencement of play.

1.7 Teams will be required to switch ends at half-time.

The Play

2.1 All F.I.F.A./O.S.A. rules apply unless altered or deleted in the following sections.

2.2 All games will consist of 2x35 minute halves with a 5 minute break for half-time.

2.3 U10 practices should be scheduled on different nights if desired.

2.4 The referee will decide which team will get the first ball. The home team will choose which end to defend.

2.5 Ball size for all games and practices: Size 4

2.6 Offside will be called In the under 10 Boys and girls. Here is the rule for off side. What makes the offside rule especially complicated is that a player can be in an "offside position" without being offside. Two things are necessary to be "offside":

1st - The player must be in an "offside position" at the moment the ball is "played" by a teammate. To be in an "offside position", a player must be on the opponent's half of the field & closer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball & the second-last defender. A player is not in an offside position if he is on his own half of the field (i.e. the half his goalkeeper is on), or even with the second-to-last defender or the last 2 defenders. (The goalkeeper is usually the last defender, or one of the last two, but he might not be; the rules just refer to the last 2 defenders & don't mention the goalkeeper). This is often difficult to call. (For example, if a player is even with the Second Last Defender & thereby in an "onside position" but runs past the Second Last Defender a split second after his teammate makes a through pass. In this example, the player is not offside because he was in an onside position at the moment the ball was played.)

2nd - The player must be involved in "active play" by either:

• gaining an advantage by being in an offside position, or

• interfering with play, or

• interfering with an opponent

For example, if a player is in an "offside position" but not involved in the play, he would not be "offside". This can be a tough call & can be very judgmental. For example, what if the "onball attacker" is to the right of the goal but a teammate is in an "offside position" to the left of the goal? You can argue that the teammate wasn't involved in the play, but you can also argue that he distracted the goalkeeper because the goalkeeper had to worry about the possibility of a crossing pass & therefore the attacking team "gained an advantage by being in an offside position", in which case the teammate was "offside". In this case, the Referee's decision might depend on whether he felt the Goalkeeper was influenced by the player in the offside position. Obviously, it is a very subjective decision. The penalty for Offside is that an Indirect Free Kick is awarded to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the offside occurred. I suggest this: don't argue with the referee over these calls. It's a very tough call and it's easy to miss these calls. (Even the best Linesmen in the world miss these calls). I suggest teaching your attackers to stay 2 steps behind the "Last Defender" and, if they don't have the ball but are running with a teammate who has the ball, to stay 3 steps behind the ball so they are less likely to be called offside. (The linesman's sight angle can sometimes make an attacker look like he's in an offside position when he's actually even with the Last Defender or with the ball).

Special Cases Where Offside Is Not Called: A player is not offside if he receives the ball directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick, even if he is in an offside position; however, once touched, the offside rule starts and if it is then played to a player in an "offside position", offside may be called.

(Note that the offside rule does apply on "free kicks"). A player is also not offside if he passes the ball backward, even if doing so leaves him in an "offside position". However, if he is in an offside position and the ball is played returned to him by a teammate (e.g., a wall pass), then he can be called offside.

2.7 Throw-ins will apply for U10 Boys and Girls. If a foul throw is taken, one retake will be allowed. Another foul throw will result in a change of possession.

2.8 A penalty shot will be awarded if any defensive player commits any of the fouls mentioned in Rule 12 of the Southend Mini Soccer rules inside the 12 yard box.

2.9 All free kicks are indirect, with the except of an intentional foul inside the 12 yard box, referenced in 2.8 above.

2.10 If the goalie handles the ball outside the 12 yard box, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the spot of the infraction.

2.11 Monday-Wednesday ONLY- If a defending player passes back to the goal keeper and the he/she handles the ball, a free kick WILL NOT be awarded. (Southend Mini Soceer Rule)

2.12 Goal kicks can be taken from any point before the 5 yard line.

2.13 Opponents must be outside the 12 yard box when a goal kick is taken. Defenders can remain in the box or take the kick if desired but the ball must leave the 12 yard box before it is handled again.

2.14 No coaches or parents are allowed on the field.

2.15 The goalie shall wear a different colour shirt or pinnie than either team.

2.16 Scores will be kept and recorded online by the coaches.

The Conduct

3.1 Handshakes are to occur before the game commences.

3.2 All players and spectators must sit three yards clear off the sideline. Players and coaches of both teams are to sit on one side the field and spectators on the opposite side.

3.3 No parent, coach or spectator may stand behind the net.

3.4 Players, coaches, parents and spectators shall not criticize the game officials at any time and shall encourage the same from the players.

U10 Mini Field Locations:

TBD

Southend Recreational Soccer

U10 Scoring / Rain Out Policy

Scope:

To generate a process for the entering of scores for the U10 Boys and Girls games.

Process:

1. The coach of the home team must post the score within 24 hours of the beginning of the game.

2. The coach of the visiting team is to check the score within 48 hours of the beginning of the game.

3. Any discrepancies are to be reported to the division convenor at the time.

a. The division convenor shall contact the referee convenor to get the score from the game referee.

b. If the division convenor hasn’t been contacted after 48 hours from the beginning of the game then the score stands.

4. If the referee calls the game due to weather after the first half then the game is considered to be complete and the score will be posted as normal.

5. a. In the case of a rain out the coach of the home team will contact the scheduler to arrange for the game to be rescheduled within 24 hours of the beginning of the game.

b. If a score has been entered and the coach of the visiting team believes the game should be a rain out then he has to contact the division convenor within 48 hours of the beginning of the game. And the discrepancy process in 3. a. applies.