Coach & Parent Guide to Soccer Rules

Click Here for LYSL House Rules 

Here is a short guide to soccer rules to help you understand and enjoy the game a little better. Some of these rules have been modified by LYSL by age level for recreational play. 

KICKOFF- the play that starts the beginning of the game, second half, and after goals are scored. The ball is placed inside of the center circle on the center mark. All players must be on their side of the field. Defenders can be no closer than the radius of the circle from the ball. Play starts once the ball moves forward. The kicker cannot touch the ball again until a second player has touched it.

OUT OF BOUNDS- when the entire ball goes over the touchline or goal line on the ground or in the air. A player may be out of bounds and still play the ball. The ball may hit the officials (if they are inbounds), flags, crossbars, or goal posts and still be playable.

A THROW-IN- is used to get the ball back into play when the ball goes out of bounds on the touch lines.

·       To perform a legal throw-in, the thrower must face the field, hold the ball with both hands behind the head and bring them forward over the head to throw the ball. The thrower must have parts of each foot on or behind the touch line and on the ground when throwing the ball.   If the thrower violates these rules, the opponents get a throw-in from the same spot.

·       Remember- U8 players can retry the throw-in and play the second throw-in even if it is illegal.

·       Throw-ins should be taken from the place where the ball went out of bounds.

·       The thrower cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it. Penalty- indirect kick.

·       If an opponent unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower, he is cautioned for unsportsmanlike behavior.

·       A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

A GOAL KICK- is awarded to the defending team when the attacking team kicks the ball across the goal line but not in the goal.

·       This free kick can be taken anywhere inside the goal box.

·       The opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

·       The ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area.

·       If the ball is not kicked far enough, it is re-kicked by the defending team.

CORNER KICK- awarded to the attacking team when the defending team has touched the ball last before it crossed the goal line.

·       The ball is placed on the nearest corner arc. Kicker may not move any flags that mark the arc area.

·       Defensive team must remain the radius of the circle away from the ball.

·       The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.

·       The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

·       A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

A DROPPED BALL- is a way of restarting the game after a temporary stoppage.  

·       Injury/not knowing which team kicked it out

·       Drop the ball at the place where it was located before play was stopped.

·       Play restarts when the ball touches the ground. (Penalty- replay the dropped ball)

SCORE.........or.........NO SCORE

·       A direct free kick (includes corner kicks, kickoffs, and goal kicks) into the opponent's goal counts as a score.

·       No goal for an offensive throw-in that goes directly into the opponent's goal. Give the defenders a goal kick.

·       If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the goal, wave off the goal and give the defenders a goal kick. However, if a player from either team touches the ball on a throw-in or indirect kick, then it is a goal.

·       If a direct or indirect free kick is kicked directly into a team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team. You can't score against yourself on a free kick.

·       A team can score on itself in any other circumstance.

·       Just as the entire ball must be out of bounds, so must the entire ball cross the goal line in order to count as a goal.

OFFSIDE- A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second to last opponent.

·       A player is not offside if he is in his own half of the field of play.

·       A player is not offside if he is level with the second to last opponent

·       A player is not offside if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, throw-in, or corner kick.

·       There is no offside if the ball is received directly form an opponent.

·       There is no offside penalty if the player is not involved in the play even if he is in an offside position.

·       There is no offside penalty in U8. This rule is enforced in Ul0 and U14.

INDIRECT FREE KICK FOULS- awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:

·       Plays in a dangerous manner

·       Impedes the progress of an opponent

·       Prevents the goalie from releasing the ball from his hands

·       Commits any other offense, not previously mentioned, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player

·       Unsporting behavior

INDIRECT FREE KICK FOULS AGAINST THE GOALIE

·       Takes more than six seconds before releasing the ball

·       Touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not been touched by another player

·       Touches the ball with his hands after it has been kicked to him by a teammate. A ball sent to the goalie by head, chest, or knee can be legally touched.

·       Touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw in taken by a teammate.

·       Wastes time

DIRECT FREE KICK FOULS

·       Tackling an opponent to gain possession of the ball before touching the ball

·       Holding an opponent

·       Spitting at an opponent

·       Handling the ball with any part of the hand or arm Unintentional handling is not an offense.

DIRECT FREE KICK FOULS IF THEY ARE COMMITTED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE

·       Kicking, or trying to kick, an opponent

·       Tripping, or trying to trip, an opponent

·       Jumping at an opponent (Trying to play the player, not the ball)

·       Charging an opponent

·       Striking, or trying to strike, an opponent

·       Pushing an opponent

PENALTY KICK- Any direct kick foul inside the Penalty Area results in a penalty kick.

·       A penalty kick is a shot on goal inside the penalty area defended by only the goalie.

·       The penalty kick is given when the defense commits any one of the ten direct kick offenses inside the penalty area.

·       Ball is placed on the penalty mark.

·       Goalie remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goal posts and cannot move forward until the ball is kicked.

·       The kicker must identify himself to the referee.

·       All other players line up outside the penalty area behind the penalty mark and must stay out of the

·       penalty area until the ball is touched.

·       Referee will wait until players are in proper position before allowing the player to take the kick.

·       The ball is live after the kick.

·       The kicker cannot touch the ball until it has touched another player.

·       Penalty kicks are taken only at the Ul0 and U14 levels.

FOUL DURING THE PENALTY KICK

·       If the kicker or a teammate commits a foul, the shot is allowed, but if it goes in, the shot is retaken. If that teammate gets the rebound, stop play and give the defenders an indirect free kick.

·       If the goalie or teammate commits a foul and the ball goes in, the goal is scored. If it doesn't go in, then the penalty kick is retaken.

·       If both teams commit a foul, the penalty kick is retaken.

YELLOW AND RED CARDS

v  Players are expected to follow all soccer rules of fairness and sportsmanship.

v  Coaches are expected to keep all players within the boundaries of fairness and sportsmanship.

v  Coaches are expected to keep themselves and their parents within the boundaries of fairness and sportsmanship.

v  NO referee cards, red or yellow, will be given during any LYSL House League game.

v  HOWEVER...Referees will have the right, and power, to expel any game participant who consistently plays outside this boundary of fairness and sportsmanship.

Click Here for LYSL House Rules