U-8 Rules of Play
Characteristics of players
Coaching Tips
Rules of play
Team Information
Picture Dates
Game Schedules
 For the Official Rules from US Youth Soccer and FIFA, you can click here, but this is our much more simplfied version:

Law 1: Field of Play: 25 - 35 yards long, 20 - 30 yards wide, line at the halfway point, with a 4 yard radius circle. A goal area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are
drawn at right angles to the goal line three (3) yards from the inside each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of three (3) yards and are joined by a line
drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the goal area. No penalty area, No flags, Optional Corner Arc.
Law 2: The Ball: Size 3
Law 3: The Number of Players: 2 teams, maximum of 6 plus a goal keeper. Substitutions: unlimited, any time the game stops.
Law 4: Player Equipment: Team shirt, black shorts and socks, shin guards worn under the socks, soccer spikes or tennis shoes, no jewelry.
Law 5: Referees: Parents or coaches may be used. All rule
infringements shall be briefly explained to the offending player.
Law 6: Assistant Referees: None
Law 7: The Duration of the Match: Four10 minute quarters: 2 minutes break at the quarter, 5 minute break at the half.
Law 8: The Start of Play:  The opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least four (4) yards from the ball until it is in play.
Law 9: 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, or when play has been stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times.
Law 10: Scoring: 1 point for each goal scored.
Law 11: Offside: None
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct: no caution or send off shall be issued to players. If a child is being too rambunctious then the game official will ask the coach to make a substitution of that player to give the child a chance to calm down before returning to play.
Law 13: Free Kicks: After any foul, the team that was fouled will be awarded an indirect free kick from the spot where the foul was committed,
and opponents are at least four (6) yards from the ball until it is in play. (for example, if a child picks up the ball during game play, the other team can try to kick it into the goal from the spot where the ball was picked up.)
Law 14: The Penalty Kick: None.
Law 15: The Throw-In: A throw-in has to be taken with two hands over the head and both feet staying on the ground. Some U8 players do not yet have the eye-hand coordination to execute a throw-in to the letter of the law. However, some U8 players have sufficient eye-hand coordination to attempt the throw-in. One ‘do-over’ per thrower should be the normal response if the throw-in is incorrect. The
adult officiating the match should explain to the child how to execute the throw-in correctly.
Laws 16 and 17: Goal kicks and Corner Kicks: If the ball goes over one of the endlines, it is either a goal kick or a corner kick depending on which team kicked it out of bounds. If the defensive team kicks it out, it’s a corner kick. If the offensive team kicks it out, it’s a goal kick.
Goal Kicks: the kick should be allowed to be taken from
anywhere along the goal line over which the ball traveled. This is so the ball can be put back into play quickly. The ball should be placed two or three yards into the field of play to make it easier for the child taking the goal kick to get the ball well into the field of play once it is kicked. The defending players must stand at
least (4) yards away from the ball until it is in play.
Corner Kicks: Kicked from the coner of the field. The defending players must stand at least (4) yards away from the ball until it is in play.

 


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