⚽ U12–U18 Full-Field Soccer – Rules of the Game

Belmont, Lambeth & Thames Centre | West London League – 2026 Season

League Philosophy:  This is a developmental and educational league for coaches, players, referees, and parents.

• Be patient.

• Help others understand the game.

• Make positive comments at all times.

• Encourage good plays for both teams from the sidelines.

Unless otherwise stated, FIFA rules apply.

🟢 Definitions

• Referee: Center referee, linesperson, or game convenor.

• Coaching Staff: Coach, assistant coach, manager, team rep, or anyone acting for the team.

• League: West London Soccer (and subcommittees).

LEAGUE RULES

1. GAME DURATION and BALL SIZES

• 12 & Under: Two 35 minute halves Size 4 ball

• 14 & Under: Two 40 minute halves Size 5 ball

• 16 & Under: Two 45 minute halves Size 5 ball

• 18 & Under: Two 45 minute halves Size 5 ball

Above times apply provided the game starts on time. In the event of a late start, each half will be one half of the time remaining to the curfew, after allowing for a 5 minute break. The game time is changed starting as of August 1st to 6:00p.m. Please always check schedule for proper game times due to changes.

2. HAND SHAKES

Shaking of hands will take place at the start of each game at the center line.

3. FORFEITED GAMES

Forfeited games will go into the record book as a 1-0 loss, and will not be rescheduled.

• Not enough players less than 7.

• Team is no show

• No nets provided by home team.

4. TERMINATED GAMES

A game may be terminated by the referee and or Field Proprietors for the following reasons:

• Severe weather conditions which prevent the safe playing of the game

• Field proprietors can cancel games due to field condition and legalities

Games terminated for darkness or inclement weather will be decided as follows:

• more than 3/4 of the game played - the score will stand

• less than 3/4 of the game played - the game will be rescheduled

Loss of control of the game by the Referee due to the conduct of the players, coaching staff or spectator will result in game being recorded as a 1-0 loss. Other terminated games will be awarded or rescheduled as decided by the League.

5. PLAYER EXCHANGES (SUBSTITUTIONS)

Player Exchanges may be made with the Referee’s permission:

• after a goal is scored

• when a goal kick has been awarded

• at a throw-in, provided the team awarded the throw-in elects to substitute

• when a player has been injured (the injured player only may be substituted

• Players who have been issued a yellow card will automatically be substituted off the field.

• Must obtain the Referee’s permission before making a substitution thru centre pitch.

6. ASSISTANT REFEREES (Formerly LINESMEN)

Each team will be required to provide one person to act as linesman, unless linesmen are provided as part of the refereeing contingent. Their sole duty, unless otherwise assigned by the Referee, will be to flag for ball out of play. The Referee will be the sole judge of the rules governing the game. In addition the Referee will be the sole authority on offside.

7. MINIMUM TEAM

A minimum team consists of seven (7) players, including the goalkeeper. If within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time, one of the teams cannot field the minimum number of players; the game will be declared a forfeit. (Refer to rule 3) 

NOTE: There is No summer league rule. Teams may play with up to 11 players against the team which has 7. Coaches must make every effort to use call-up players during vacation periods.

8. NO REFEREE

If a Referee fails to arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time for U12 or U14 boys and girls game; The 2 coaches will agree upon an acceptable individual to act a substitute referee.

No protest will be allowed in this situation. If the choice of referee is unacceptable to both coaches then the game is rescheduled. The league will reschedule the game.

But notification MUST be given to the scheduler with 48 hours of the Original game being rescheduled. Failure to do so will automatically result in a default for both teams.

For U16 or U18 boys and girls game, no league/club approved referee for that game the game will be rescheduled. But notification must be given to the scheduler with 48 hours of original game being schedule. Failure to do so will result in default for both teams.

9. PROTEST

All protests will be directed to your home club representative, who has the option of taking it to the Discipline Committee. The Discipline Committee decision will be final. If a protest has merit the Club Representative can contact by email the Discipline Committee Chair. All protests will post a $50.00 cheque. A cheque payable to the LEAGUE, by the club, at time of protest. No protest will be reported within 24 hours and not later than 72 hours; except during challenge cup, it must be reported immediately. Before 24 hours and after 72 hours the protest is void.

10. VIOLATIONS

Under no circumstances are Referee to be badgered or otherwise abused by players, coaching staff, spectators. If, in the opinion of the Referee, the game is out of control, he/she may terminate the game and report to the Referee Club Convenor, who will report to Club Representative, who will report to Discipline Committee, who will make the final decision as to whether the game will be forfeited or replayed. All Yellow and Red card violations will be written directly on the completed Game Sheet by the referee only. Both coaches are to email the red and yellow cards of the game within 48 hours with the player‘s first and last name, age division, reason for the card and which club they play for to the following Email address statisticianscores@westlondonsoccer.com

i. Yellow card violations require the immediate substitution of the player charged with the infraction. The carded player may return to the game at the next opportunity for a player exchange.

ii. Any player receiving two Red Cards in a Season will be reviewed before the next gamed played.

4 Yellow Cards = 2 Red Cards he/she will be under review until further notice.

No cards can be protested.

11. PLAYER TO PLAYER INCIDENT

All red card offenses between players will result in an automatic one game suspension. The game for which the suspension will be in effect is to be the next regular League or Challenge cup game. This is an automatic ruling supported by all club members of the LEAGUE and Western Counties Soccer Association.

12. COACHING STAFF TO OFFICIAL INCIDENT

In the event that a referee is abused in any way by a member of the Coaching staff, the referee may terminate the game as a direct result of verbal and/or physical abuse from coaching staff, the ejected member will receive a 1 Game suspension. If the severity of the incident warrants a formal review by the Discipline Committee, there may be further sanctions.

13. DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE

The committee will be made up of three volunteer members selected from the LEAGUE. Protests will be initiated when the individual presents his/her Club Representative with a concise written statement of the facts involved in the disputed rule. Protest Committee will arrange to convene in a timely and practical manner. In the cases when the Club Convenor involved in the dispute is also a member of the Protest Committee, then another Executive Committee member will be needed to decide on the protest. Rule violations which require a player’s or a coaching staff’s suspension remain in effect until an alternate decision is rendered by the Discipline Committee. It is the Club Representative’s responsibility to collect and submit information to the Discipline Committee. Then the Discipline Committee can make a proper and informed decision. Once the decision is communicated to the Club Representatives the decision is final.

14. SPECTATOR CONDUCT

All Coaching staff is responsible for the conduct of his /her spectators. The Referee expects the

support of each Coaching staff in maintaining order throughout the game. The Referee can stop play of the game and request the Coaching staff to address disruptive behaviour of spectators. The referee has the authority to request removal of spectator from the field and vicinity through the coaching staff.

Failure to do so can result in any or all of the following:

• Banishment of Problem Spectators from future Games

• Termination and Forfeiture of the game

15. CALL-UPS

Teams are permitted to call-up players from a younger age division house league team only. These players must be registered with the Home club and each team may call up players to field a maximum of 18 players. A player called up may play only one age division higher. For example:

(U12 to U14)

Call ups have no restriction on number of times called up.

No call-ups are permitted during the challenge cup game.

All call-ups must be clearly marked on the game sheet with CU.

16. UNIFORMS

Players, including call ups, must wear their entire soccer uniform as supplied by their home club which may include a shirt with a number, shorts, socks. Shin guards and proper footwear to be worn at all times. Failure to do so can result in the removal of the offending player until the uniform problem has been corrected to the satisfaction of the Referee. In the event of a colour clash, the Away team will be responsible for changing to an alternate colour or wearing bibs.

17. JEWELLERY

The League has ZERO tolerance for jewelry. Using tape to cover up jewelry is not allowed. Barrettes and bobby pins are also prohibited. Medical Alert Bracelets are allowed. They must be fully taped to the referee’s satisfaction. Referees are also prohibited from wearing jewellery except for a watch or similar device for timing the match.

18. SCORING and STANDINGS

The league will keep a complete record of scores and standings.

WIN = 3 points TIE = 1 point.

It is the responsibility of each team’s coach to update the score of his/her game within 48 hours of the game, failure to do so by one coach, the accepted score will stand regardless. Failure by both coaches’, the game will be posted as a default. All rain out games must be reported by both coaches to the Scheduler. ( rule #4 ) Each team should have access to the W.L.S.L. statistical website (www.westlondonsoccer.com) through their coach or team representative to enter the game score.

Assistance to set it up can be obtained by emailing statisticianscores@westlondonsoccer.com

Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of points.

If a tie exists between two or more teams, the final standings will be determined using the following tie-breaking formula:

• Total number of wins

• Games versus each other

• Lowest Goals Against

• Highest Number of Shutouts

19. RESCHEDULED GAMES

Rescheduling of games is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. Clubs and their representatives, the league, are the only ones allowed to reschedule a game. The club or clubs wanting a rescheduled game must find a field, ref and date that both agree on. The league must be informed of the final time and date within 48 hours of the original scheduled game. Failure to do so will result in a default for both teams. No protests are allowed.

20. COACHES AREA

Coaching staff and players are to stay 1 meter behind the sidelines, 1 meter from the penalty box and 1 meter of their side of center. In addition, Coaching staff and players are to be on the opposite side of the spectators. Coaching staff are not permitted to coach their team from the spectator side of the field. The Referee does not have to start the game until satisfied that all participants have complied with this rule.

21. REGISTATIONS AND GAME SHEETS

Players registered in a competitive youth soccer League are NOT permitted to play in the League. All players must be registered with their respective clubs. A game sheet is to be supplied by each team (no photocopies permitted). This must be completed by each Coach and made available to the Referee PRIOR to the start of every game. The Referee MUST sign the Game Sheet at the completion of the game legibly and print name clearly

• white copy is sent by the Referee to his/her Convenor

• yellow copy is kept by the Visiting Coach

• pink copy is kept by the Home Coach

It is a responsibility of the referee and both coaches’s to report yellow and red card violations to the league website. A late player must ask the referee’s permission to play and be listed on the game sheet before he/she can enter the game.

22. GOAL NETS

The use of goal nets is mandatory.

If you are the home team on any pitch you are to responsible to mount goal nets by game time. The home team defaults if nets are not mounted. (15-minute grace period from scheduled game time.)

23. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY and PLAYER DISCIPLINE

Players must be registered with a club that belongs to the league up until and including June 1st (of the registration year). In addition, the player cannot be registered with a COMPETATIVE team in the same season. Players can be called up to play a maximum of 3 games for a Competitive team. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of games where an ineligible player was used, and or maybe a suspension of coach, and or maybe a season suspension of the player. If a player receives a card during their very last game of the season, card will be carried forward and applied to the following year.

24. CHALLENGE CUP

The playoff format is as follows... All games are single elimination and the tie breaking formula to be used is as follows.

1. 2 X 10 minute Extra-time periods using Sudden Death/Victory procedure (GOLDEN BALL)

2. Penalty-kicks using FIFA format. No Player substitution is allowed before or during the penalty kicks.

25. TEAM APPLICATIONS

All teams wanting to register to play, in the League, must be submitted by March 1st of the NEW SOCCER YEAR. No additions as of April 1st of the new soccer year.

26 CLUBS BELONGING TO LEAGUE

All Clubs must be Registered and Insured with Western Counties to be a member of the LEAGUE.

Schedules:

U12 Girls - Monday

U12 Boys - Tuesday

U14 Girls - Wednesday

U14 Boys - Thursday

U16-18 Girls - Thursday

U16-18 Boys - Tuesday

Field locations & Times: See Schedule