Lake to Lake Soccer League

Lake to Lake Soccer League LAKE TO LAKE SOCCER LEAGUE THE ABBREVIATED LAWS OF SOCCER INCLUDING LOCAL ADAPTATIONS Updated 3.06.2014 LAW 1 THE FIELD OF PLAY Law 1 discusses the correct dimensions and markings of the soccer fields. The sideline stripes are called Touch Lines. The field end lines are called the Goal Lines. Law 1 describes the Center Circle, the Corner Area and the Penalty Spot. The large box in front of each goal is the Penalty Box. The smaller box inside the penalty box is the Goal Box. Law 1 discusses how tall and thick the corner flags must be and the correct goal sizes. 1 st /2 nd 3 rd /4 th 5 th /6 th : The Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) has made recommendations as to goal/field size for younger players. Field and goal sizes are set based on these recommendations and the space available. LAW 2 THE BALL A size 5 soccer ball is standard. 1 st /2 nd Size 3 ball 3 rd /4 th & 5 th /6 th Size 4 ball 7 th and older Size 5 ball LAW 3 THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS The match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players. Either team may have unlimited substitutions: a. Between periods b. On a goal kick c. When a goal is scored d. On a throw-in. Each team may substitute up to one player: if any player becomes injured. The injured player must leave the field (and may be substituted for) if play is stopped for the injury. In addition, a player must leave the field if: a. he/she is cautioned (yellow card) b. he/she is bleeding. The cautioned or bleeding player may be substituted for. The cautioned player may re-enter at the next available substitution opportunity. The bleeding player may re-enter the game, provided the bleeding is stopped, bandaged, covered, etc. A team shall not substitute for a player that has been disqualified (red card). The WIAA (high school rules) also allow for substitution to the team gaining possession of the ball on a corner kick. THIS IS NOT LEGAL UNDER LAKE TO LAKE RULES. A player may not enter the field of play for substitution unless beckoned by the referee. Players should enter and exit at the center of the field.

A field player may substitute with the goalkeeper at the time of that team s legal substitution, as long as the uniforms are legal. The referee must be notified and OK the substitution. Any player who violates these rules may be cautioned. 1 st /2 nd graders are never given yellow cards, only verbal warnings. Local Adaptations: Please refer to the Modified Rules Sheet. Younger team sizes shall be based on age levels: 1 st /2 nd 5 vs. 5 No goalkeeper 3 rd / 4 th 7 vs. 7 one of which is a goalkeeper 5 th /6 th 9 vs. 9 one of which is a goalkeeper LAW 4 - THE PLAYERS EQUIPMENT All players must wear: a. matching jerseys b. shorts c. shin guards d. matching socks that completely cover the shin guards. Goalkeepers must wear a jersey with colors that distinguish him/her from all other players and referees. The player may not wear anything that is considered dangerous to himself/herself or to another player. Specific illegal equipment includes, but is not limited to: a. all jewelry, except medical bracelets or necklaces that are taped to the body b. hair clips c. knots in scarves d. casts or splints, unless padded to the satisfaction of the referee (a doctor s permission slip is required) e. zippers or belts f. face or spectacle guards g. helmets, hats (soft sunvisors, caps and soccer specific headgear are allowed for goalkeepers) h. face painting or anything else worn strictly for adornment, especially in the hair. Players socks do NOT have to match the uniform. Long pants may be worn in cold weather. LAW 5 THE REFEREE AND HIS/HER DUTIES LAW 6 THE ASSISTANT REFEREE AND HIS/HER DUTIES A soccer game is officiated by one referee and two assistant referees (linesmen) or by two referees on the field with each covering ½ the field. They are responsible for enforcing the laws of the game. The referee: a. makes sure that all players are dressed correctly and safely b. checks that the field conditions are safe c. conducts pre-game conference with coaches/captains and conducts the coin flip d. keeps time The advantage rule: e. allows play to continue when the team, against which an offense has been committed, will benefit more from allowing play to continue vs. calling the foul. He/she penalizes the original offense if the anticipated advantage does not materialize at that time. f. The referee s decisions are final. The referee can overrule the assistant referees. At the 1 st /2 nd & 3 rd /4 th level, the club may choose to officiate with no assistant referees. (One referee is allowed.)

LAW 7 THE DURATION OF THE MATCH A soccer game consists of two 45 minute halves. Half-time must not exceed 10 minutes. The referee may add time lost for substitutions, injuries or any other reason. Additional time is allowed at the end of each half, if needed, to complete a penalty kick. Local Adaptations: a. 1 st /2 nd 12 minute quarters 2 minute breaks after 1 st and 3 rd quarter, 5 minute break after 2 nd quarter b. 3 rd /4 th 25 minute halves 5 minutes at half-time c. 5 th /6 th 30 minute halves 5 minutes at half-time d. 7 th /8 th 35 minute halves 5 minutes at half-time e. High school 40 minute halves 5 minutes at half-time. f. No overtimes are played. LAW 8 THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY The team winning the coin toss chooses which goal they will attack in the first half. The team that loses the toss takes the kickoff. In the second half, the teams switch sides and the kickoff is taken by the team that won the toss to start the game. Kickoffs are taken at the start of each half, after a goal is scored and to start overtime periods. Players must be in their own half of the field during a kickoff. The defending players must be at least 10 yards from the ball at the kickoff. If a restart is necessary, and the laws of the game do not otherwise provide for the correct restart procedure, a drop ball is used. The referee drops the ball (from waist height) from the spot of the ball when play was stopped, but always outside the goal box. The ball must touch the ground before it may be played by any player. PENALTY: Warning (1 st offense) or yellow card (subsequent offense). Local Adaptations: At the younger levels, the referee may allow the play to be redone if it is not done correctly. The defending team must be outside of the center circle at any kickoff. For younger levels, the center circle may or may not be 10 yards in radius. LAW 9 THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY 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. The ball is out of play when play has been stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times including when it rebounds off of the goalpost, crossbar, corner flag, referee or assistant referee and remains in the field of play. LAW 10 SCORING A goal is one point. A goal is scored when the ENTIRE ball passes LEGALLY into the goal. A goal may be scored from a: a. kickoff b. direct free kick c. goal kick d. penalty kick e. corner kick f. drop ball g. goalkeeper s throw, punt or drop kick A goal may NOT be scored from a: a. indirect free kick b. throw-in c. a free kick into a team s own goal d. 1 st /2 nd grade only; cannot score from own defensive half of the field e. 1 st /2 nd grade only; must be outside the opponents goal box to score a goal a. If either of d or e occur, the result is a goal kick for the other team Official scores will not be kept.

LAW 11 OFFSIDE It is not an offense to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if he/she is nearer to his opponent s goal line than both the ball and the second to last opponent. A player is never offside if he/she is in his/her own half of the field or he/she is even with the second to last defender. There is no offside on a throw-in, corner kick (until touched a second time) or on a goal kick. A player in an offside position is penalized if, AT THE MOMENT THE BALL IS PLAYED BY ONE OF HIS TEAMMATES, he/she is involved in active play, gains an advantage by being in that position, is interfering with play, or interfering with an opponent. The foul is mostly called when the ball is passed by a teammate to a player in an offside position. PENALTY: indirect kick. Special interpretations: a. A player may not move from an offside position to an onside position to receive the ball if he/she was offside at the moment the ball was played by his/her teammate. b. A player in an offside position is not offside if a teammate takes a shot on goal, unless he/she was interfering with play. However, he/she is offside if he/she receives the ball off any deflection. 1 st /2 nd are not called for offside unless the offside player is clearly taking advantage of the no offside rule by camping out in an offside position. Referees are to use their discretion by chasing an offside 1 st /2 nd player back onside without stopping play. Goals scored during this procedure are goals. LAW 12 FOULS AND MISCONDUCT Fouls and misconduct are penalized as follows: A DIRECT FREE KICK is awarded if a player: a. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent b. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent c. Jumps at an opponent d. Charges an opponent e. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent f. Pushes an opponent For offenses a-f above, it is only a foul if the kick, trip, etc., is done in a careless or reckless manner or if the offending player is deemed to be using excessive force. g. Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, tackles are not allowed h. Holds an opponent i. Spits on an opponent j. Handles the ball deliberately (except the goalkeeper within his/her own penalty box). A PENALTY KICK is awarded if any of the above ten offenses is committed by a player inside his/her own penalty area, provided the ball is in play. An INDIRECT FREE KICK is awarded if: The goalkeeper a. holds the ball longer than six seconds b. touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been released into play and not yet touched by another player

Any player c. touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a teammate d. touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately thrown-in to him/her by a teammate. e. plays in a dangerous manner (slide tackles are not permitted) f. impedes the progress of an opponent (obstruction) g. prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands h. commits any offense which requires a warning, yellow card or red card A player shall be cautioned, by showing a YELLOW CARD, for the following offenses: a. any unsporting behavior b. showing dissent by word or action c. persistently infringing on the Laws of the Game or is guilty of very rough or dangerous play d. delaying the restart of the game e. failing to respect the required distance during the restart of play f. entering or leaving the field without the referee s permission A player is sent off, by showing a RED CARD, for the following offenses: a. serious foul play, especially a tackle from behind b. violent conduct c. spitting at any other player, spectator or referee d. denying the opposing team an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (except the goalkeeper in his/her own penalty box) e. denying an opposing player (who is moving towards his goal) an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately fouling him/her f. using offensive, insulting or abusive language g. receiving a second yellow card in the same game If a player receives a red card, that player s team shall play one player short for the remainder of the game. Local Adaptations: For 1 st /2 nd there are no yellow or red cards. Serious foul play is handled with a verbal warning, followed by time-out period for that player. Offending player can re-enter the game when the coach has deemed the player ready to try again. Also, all free kicks are indirect. There are NO PENALTY KICKS or DIRECT KICKS for 1 st /2 nd. Slide tackling is not allowed at any age level. LAW 13 FREE KICKS Free kicks are direct if a goal may be scored directly off the kick. Indirect kicks must be touched by any other player before a goal may be scored. For direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker cannot touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by any other player. Also: a. if any free kick is kicked into a team s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team c. the referee signals an indirect kick by raising one arm straight up over his/her head. Otherwise the kick is direct d. If an indirect free kick is kicked into an opponent s goal, a goal kick is awarded to the opposing team e. All opponents must be ten yards from the ball during the taking of any free kick, except in the case of h below f. If the defending team is taking a free kick from inside their own goal box, the kick may be taken from anywhere inside that goal box. Rule e above still applies

g. If an indirect kick is awarded to the attacking team inside the opponent s goal area, the kick is taken from that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the fouls occurred. h. If an indirect kick is awarded to the attacking team inside the opponent s goal area, the opposing team may be closer than the required 10 yards if they are on the goal line between the goal posts Local Adaptations: Younger players do not need to be 10 yards from the ball. Generally 1 st /2 nd can be 6 yards and 3 rd /4 th can be 8 yards away. LAW 14 PENALTY KICKS A penalty kick is awarded against a team who commits a direct kick foul inside their own penalty area. The procedure: a. The ball is placed on the penalty spot b. Any player on the offended team may take the penalty kick. c. The goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, between the goal posts, until the kick is taken. He may move along the goal line, but may not leave the goal line before the kick. d. All players except the kicker and the goalkeeper must be outside the penalty area, behind the penalty spot and at least 10 yards from the ball until the ball is kicked e. The kicker may not touch the ball a second time, until after it has been touched by any other player. If the kicker or his teammate violates any rule above and 1. The ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken 2. Misses the goal, indirect kick for the goalkeeper s team, except if advantage rule applies. If the goalkeeper or his teammate violates any rule above and 1. The ball enters the goal, a goal is scored 2. Misses the goal, the kick is retaken No penalty kicks for 1 st /2 nd. LAW 15 THE THROW-IN A throw-in is awarded to the opponent of the player who last touched the ball before it passes over the touch line. The player taking the throw in: a. Must face the field b. Must have both feet touching the ground on or behind the touch line until after the throw is taken c. Uses both hands to deliver the ball from behind and over his/her head The thrower may not touch the ball again until any other player touches it. The ball is in play the moment it crosses the vertical plain above the touch line. A goal may not be scored directly from a throw-in. It is a yellow card offense to deliberately distract or impede the thrower. An incorrect throw-in as described above results in a throw in by the opposing team. 1 st /2 nd are given a second throw-in, if the first is an illegal throw. In this case, the same player must take the second throw. If the second throw is also illegal, a throw-in is awarded to the opposing team. LAW 16 THE GOAL KICK A goal kick is awarded when the entire ball, having been last touched by a player of the attacking team, passes over the defending team s goal line and a goal is not scored. The defending team kicks the ball from anywhere inside their goal box.

Also: a. The kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by any other player. PENALTY: Indirect kick b. All opposing players must leave the penalty box. c. The ball is not in play until it is kicked out of the penalty box, if the ball does not leave the penalty box, the kick is retaken LAW 17 THE CORNER KICK A corner kick is awarded when the entire ball, having been last touched by a player of the defending team, passes over the defending team s goal line and a goal is not scored. The attacking team kicks the ball from the corner arc closest to the spot where the ball went out. If the ball passes over the crossbar, the kick may be taken from either corner arc. Also: a. The kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by any other player. PENALTY: Indirect kick b. All opposing players must be at least 10 yards from the ball c. The corner flag must not be touched or moved d. Since the ball is deemed to be on the goal line for every corner kick, no player can be offside at the time that the corner kick is taken. Younger players do not need to be 10 yards from the ball. Generally for 1 st /2 nd, 6 yards and for 3 rd /4 th, 8 yards is recommended. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: -Teams are expected to be organized as equally as possible by each community. The goal is to have teams evenly matched based on age, gender, and experience as much as possible. No elite teams are to be organized. -Opposing parents, coaches and players are encouraged to shake hands after each match. -3 rd /4 th and older teams should be on one side of the field, spectators on the other side. -Dominating teams are encouraged to refrain from running up the score, they are encouraged to drop a player after an advantage of six goals. -Parent/Coaches, non-playing players and other spectators should POSITIVELY encourage the activity of the players. -No alcoholic beverages will be consumed or allowed near the playing area. - Practices: 1 st /2 nd and 3 rd /4 th Preseason: Four 1.5 hour practices During the season: One 1.5 hour practice per week 5 th /6 th high school Preseason: Four 1.5 hour practices During the season: Two 1.5 hour practices per week -Teams having a bye are encouraged to schedule an extra game (from another division?) or they may schedule an extra practice. -Games rescheduled due to weather may be in addition to normal practice and playing time. -Game cancellations due to weather: Prior to the start of a game the home team is responsible for deciding if conditions are safe for the game to be played and notify officials and the visiting team of schedule changes/cancellations. Once a game has started, it is the responsibility of the referees in conjunction with the coaches to decide if the game should be ended.