The field of play shall be rectangular, its length being not more than 90 yards nor less than 84 yards and its width not more than 55 yards nor less than 45 yards. The length in all cases shall exceed the width.
TCSA Recommendation: Length: 90 yards Width:55 yards
Distinctive lines not more than five (5) inches wide.
A halfway line shall be marked out across the field.
A center circle with ten (10) yard radius.
Four corner arcs with a one (1) yard radius.
Goal area - fifteen (15) yards in length and six (6) yards to the field of play joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line.
Penalty area – thirty-three (33) yards in length and fourteen (14) yards into the field of play, joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line.
Goals:
Maximum: seven (7) feet high and seven (7) yards wide.
Minimum: size of Hockey goals.
Teams should be on one side and spectators should be on the other side of the field. Opposing coaches and players should shake hands after each game. Parents, non-playing players, and spectators should be located not less than six (6) feet outside touchline nor should be closer than ten (10) yards to the goal line. No individual should be allowed to run the length of the field except participants of the game. Spectators should not instruct the players during the game time. No alcoholic beverages should be consumed or allowed near the playing area. Tobacco products should not be used at or around playing areas. Sportsman like conduct expected from players, teams and fans.
LAW III THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS:
Maximum number of players on the field at any one time: Eleven (11). One of whom must be a goalkeeper. T.C.S.A states that all players take turns playing various positions.
Playing time: Each player shall play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time. T.C.S.A wants coaches to do a game line up to ensure all players present get equal play time.
1) Either team may substitute:
Following a Goal by either team.
Prior to a Goal Kick by either team.
At the completion of a half or quarter.
Prior to a throw‐in but only when initiated by team in possession of the ball.
2) A team must substitute a player following a Caution (Yellow Card).
The cautioned player is required to be removed from the field.
The opposing team may also substitute a player.
3) If play is stopped due to injury, the coach must substitute the injured player.
The injured player is required to be removed from the field.
The opposing team may also substitute a player.
4) A Goalkeeper may change positions with a field player during any recognized substitution opportunity and only with the permission of the referee.
Substitutes must enter the field at the halfway line and may do so only with the permission of
the referee. Before entering the field, each substitute must call off the player that he/she is
replacing. The referee can refuse the substitution if he feels the coach is using up the clock
with continual substitutions.
Teams and games may be co-ed.
Maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed: Eighteen (18).
LAW IV PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT:
Conform to FIFA with the following additions:
Footwear: Tennis shoes or soft cleated soccer shoes. Baseball shoes are acceptable if they do not have toe spike.
Shin-guards: Mandatory and socks must cover entire shin guard.
Jewelry: No jewelry is to be worn during play. This includes but is not limited to earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, etc. Earrings shall not be permitted to be worn under any circumstances, even if covered by tape. Bracelets of any material are prohibited. This includes rubber, string, or any other type of material. Hair accessories may be worn only as necessary provided they are deemed to be safe by the referee.
Not allowed to wear anything that can be used to injure another player. If a player has a cast, it needs to be a soft cast or suitably padded to play. The cast should be evaluated by both coaches and approved by the referee.
Goalkeepers on both teams must wear shirts differing from either team’s colors.
Two (2) referee system is typical, HOWEVER a three referee system is recommended. The referee has full authority to enforce the laws of the game.
Registered/Associated/Coach/Assistant/Parent
Referee’s decisions on points of fact connected with the game shall be final.
All rule infractions shall be briefly explained to the offending player.
LAW VI THE ASSISTANT REFEREE:
LAW VII DURATION OF THE GAME:
Two (2) twenty-five minute (25) halves.
One (1) five (5) minute break between halves.
LAW VIII THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY:
The referee will conduct a coin toss prior to the start of the match to determine who will “kick- off” to begin the match. The opposite team will “kick off” the second half of play.
Kick-offs are taken:
At the start of the match.
After a goal has been scored.
At the start of new period of play (beginning of second half).
At the start of an Overtime period.
3. A goal can be scored directly from a kick-off.
Opponents must be outside the center circle while kick-off is in progress.
Ball does not need to move forward on a kick-off.
If the kicker touches the ball before it touches another player, an Indirect Free Kick is awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the foul.
LAW IX BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY:
The ball is out of play when:
It has completely crossed the goal line or touch line, whether on the ground or in the air.
The game has been stopped by the referee.
The ball continues to be in play even though it comes in contact with the field outlines, the goal structure in the field of play, the flags or the referee.
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the cross-bar, provided that no infringement of the laws of the game have occurred.
The offside rule will be enforced. Result of offside will be an indirect free kick at spot of infraction.
Offside occurs when all of the following are met:
A player is nearer to his/her opponents’ goal line then both the ball and the second last opponent (Offside Position). In the definition of offside position, "nearer to his opponents' goal line" means that any part of his head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition.
A player is on the opponents half of the field. A player cannot be offside in their own half of the field.
Involvement in active play. The definitions of elements of involvement in active play are as follows:
Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a teammate.
Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
Gaining an advantage by being in that position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.
LAW XII FOULS AND MISCONDUCT:
All kicks resulting from fouls and misconduct can be direct or indirect. A free kick is taken from where the offense occurred.
SLIDE TACKLING IS NOT ALLOWED AT THIS LEVEL
Direct Free kicks result from the following:
kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
trips or attempts to trip an opponent
jumps at an opponent
charges an opponent
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
pushes an opponent
tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball
holds an opponent
spits at an opponent
handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).
Indirect Free Kicks result from the following:
takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession
touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player
touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate
touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate.
plays in a dangerous manner.
impedes the progress of an opponent
prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
commits any other offense, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player
Note: Deliberate heading at the U12 level will result in an Indirect Free Kick being awarded at the spot of the occurrence.
A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offenses:
is guilty of unsporting behavior
shows dissent by word or action
persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
delays the restart of play
fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick
enters or re-enters the field of play without The Referee's permission
deliberately leaves the field of play without The Referee's permission.
A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offenses:
is guilty of serious foul play
is guilty of violent conduct
spits at an opponent or any other person
denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offense punishable by a free kick.
uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
receives a second caution in the same match.
All Free Kicks will be either Indirect or Direct.
For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
Signal
The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm above his head. He maintains his arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.
Ball Enters the Goal
A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal.
if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded.
if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.
If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded.
If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.
Position of the Free Kick
Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area
Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:
all opponents are at least ten (10) yards from the ball.
all opponents 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.
a free kick awarded in the goal area is taken from any point inside that area.
Indirect free kick to the attacking team:
all opponents are at least ten (10) yards from the ball until it is in play, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts.
the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.
an indirect free kick awarded inside the goal area is taken from that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
Free Kick Outside the Penalty Area
A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits one of the ten offenses for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play.
A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.
Position of the Ball and the Players
The player taking the penalty kick:
The defending goalkeeper:
The players other than the kicker are located:
The player taking the penalty kick infringes the Laws of the Game:
The goalkeeper infringes the Laws of the Game:
A team-mate of the player taking the kick enters the penalty area or moves in front of or within ten (10) yards of the penalty mark:
if the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick to the defending team.
if the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper, the crossbar or the goalpost and is touched by this player, the referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick to the defending team.
A team-mate of the goalkeeper enters the penalty area or moves in front of or within ten (10) yards of the penalty mark:
A player of both the defending team and the attacking team infringe the Laws of the Game:
If, after the penalty kick has been taken:
The kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player:
The kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player:
The ball is touched by an outside agent as it moves forward:
The ball rebounds into the field of play from the goalkeeper, the crossbar or the goalposts, and is then touched by an outside agent:
It is an infringement to enter the penalty area before the kick has been taken.
The goalkeeper also infringes the Laws if he moves from his goal line before the ball has been kicked.
A throw-in is a method of restarting play. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
A throw-in is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, either on the ground or in the air; from the point where it crossed the touch line; to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball. The ball is in play immediately after it enters the field of play.
At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:
faces the field of play;
has part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline
uses both hands
delivers the ball from behind and over his head.
The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
If the initial throw –in fails, the throw-in is taken by a player of the opposing team.
A goal kick is a method of restarting play. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team. A goal kick is awarded when:
the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.
The ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team.
Opponents must be eight (8) yards away from the ball.
The kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
The ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area.
If the ball is not kicked directly into play beyond the penalty area: the kick is retaken.
If, after the ball is in play the kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.
If, after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. A penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the kicker’s penalty area.
If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. If the offense occurred outside the penalty area a direct free kick is awarded at the place where the infringement occurred.
For any other infringement of Soccer Law 16: the kick is retaken.
A corner kick is a method of restarting play. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team. A corner kick is awarded when:
the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.
The ball is placed inside the corner arc at the nearest corner flag post.
The corner flag post is not moved.
Opponents remain at least ten (10) yards from the ball until it is in play.
The ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team.
The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.
The kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.
If, after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.
For any other infringement: the kick is retaken.