SSYSA Adopted rules for Under 12
US
Youth Soccer recommended modifications to the FIFA Laws of the Game.
FIFA Laws of the Game can be found at
www.ussoccer.com/referees.
Law 1 –
The Field of Play
Dimensions: The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touchline
must be greater
than the length of the goal line.
Length: minimum 60 yards maximum 80 yards
Width: minimum 45 yards maximum 55 yards
Field Markings: Distinctive lines not more than (5) inches wide. The field of
play is divided into
two halves by a halfway line. The center mark is indicated at the midpoint of
the halfway line. A
circle with a radius of eight (8) yards is marked around it.
The Goal area: Conform to FIFA.
The Penalty Area: A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows:
Two lines are
drawn at right angles to the goal line, fourteen (14) yards from the inside of
each goalpost. These
lines extend into the field of play for a distance of fourteen (14) 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 penalty
area. Within each penalty area a penalty mark is made ten (10) yards from the
midpoint between
the goalposts and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a radius of eight
(8) yards from each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.
Flag posts: Conform to FIFA.
The Corner Arc: Conform to FIFA.
Goals: Conform to FIFA with exception that the maximum distance between the
posts is twenty one (21) feet and the maximum distance from the lower edge of
the crossbar to the ground is seven (7) feet.
Law 2 –
The Ball: Size four (4).
Law 3 –
The Number of Players: A match is played by two teams, each
consisting of not more
than
eight (8) players, plus
one goalkeeper.
Substitutions: At start of period, injury, before goal kick, after score, or
before own throw-in.
Law 4 –
The Players Equipment: Conform to FIFA. Non-uniform clothing is
allowed based on
weather conditions, but uniforms must still distinguish teams.
Law 5 –
The Referee: Registered referee.
Law 6
The Assistant Referee: Use U.S.S.F. registered referees or club
linesmen.
Law 7
The Duration of the Match: Conform to FIFA with the exception of
the match being
divided into two (2) halves of thirty (30) minutes each. There shall be a
half-time interval of five (5) minutes.
Law 8
The Start and Restart of Play: Conform to FIFA with the exception
that opponents of the
team taking the kick-off are at least eight (8) yards from the ball until it is
in play.
Law 9
The Ball In and Out of Play: Conform to FIFA.
Law 10
The Method of Scoring: Conform to FIFA.
Law 11
Offside: Conform to FIFA.
Law 12
Fouls and Misconduct: Conform to FIFA.
Law 13
Free Kicks: Conform to FIFA with the exception that opponents are
at least eight (8)
yards from the ball.
Law 14
The Penalty Kick: Conform to FIFA with the exceptions that the
penalty mark is at ten
yards and that players other than the kicker and defending goalkeeper are at
least eight (8) yards
from the penalty mark.
Law 15
The Throw-In: Conform to FIFA.
Law 16
The Goal Kick: Conform to FIFA.
Law 17
The Corner Kick: Conform to FIFA with the exception that opponents
remain at least
eight (8) yards away from the ball until it is in play.