Soccer Rules

AUBURN PSSA SOCCER RULES
(Revised August 2008)
Age Groups
Juniors: Turning 8, 9 or 10 years during the current year
Seniors: Turning 11, 12 or 13 years during the current year
Teams
 11 players per team with as many substitutes as you like. 10 outfield players and 1
goalkeeper may be on the field at one time.
 All players MUST wear shin pads.
 Only goalkeeper may wear a hat.
Playing Time
Juniors Seniors
2 x 15 minute halves 2 x 20 minute halves
 No stoppage time is to be played.
 Home team to provide the ball. Ball may only be replaced if lost or damaged.
Umpiring
 Home team teacher referees first half unless other mutual agreement is made.
 Parents CANNOT referee, even if they are accredited.
Coaches
ALL coaches are to support ALL decisions made by the referee regardless of their accuracy.
Spectators, parents and coaches are not allowed on the field during play, unless invited.
Starting the Match
 Teams toss a coin. Visiting team calls. Winner chooses either which way to run or to kick
off. This is reversed during the second half.
Kick-off
 A kick-off is done at the beginning of both halves of the match and when a goal is scored.
When a goal is scored, the team that has been scored against commences the kick-off.
 The ball must travel forwards. If not, the kick off is restarted.
 The opposing team must be behind BOTH the halfway line and the semi-circle until the
ball is kicked.
Scoring
 A goal is scored when the WHOLE of the ball crosses the goal line in-between the goal
posts. If the goal is accidentally scored by the defending team, it is still a goal. This is called
an OWN-GOAL.
 Once the referee awards a goal they MAY NOT take it back. The only exception is if the
goal-scoring team has too many players on the field.
Throw-ins
 Occurs when the WHOLE of the ball crosses the touch line on either side of the field. This
DOES NOT include the goal-line.
 A throw-in goes against the team who touched the ball last, regardless if the touch was
accidental or deliberate.
 THROW-IN – Both feet must remain on the ground and the whole of the ball must come
back behind the head. It must be completed in one motion and not simply dropped.
 If done incorrectly the throw is awarded to the other team. JUNIORS are asked to do it
again.
Offside
 Occurs in the attacking half of the field. A player is offside if they are in the attacking half of
the field and there are less then 2 defending players between the attacking player and the
defenders goal.
 The blue forward on the left of the
diagram is in an offside position as he is
both in front of the second to last
defender (marked by the dotted line) and
the ball. Note that this does not
necessarily mean he is committing an
offside offence.
A player can run beyond those two last defenders once the ball has been kicked, provided
they started their run from an onside position.
 If a player is offside and has nothing to do with the play, then the player is ignored.
 You cannot be offside in your own half or during a throw-in.
Fouls
Common fouls are :
 Handballs (accidental or on-purpose). The ball is called a handball if it touches any part of
the players hand or arm.
 Tackling from behind (includes tackling through the legs), tackling with boots raised, or
generally any reckless tackle in which the tackler has tackled the player and not the ball.
This can be either accidental or on-purpose.
 Grabbing an opponent’s shirt.
 Foul language.
 Kicking or tripping.
They result in a free kick to the team that was fouled.
Penalties
 If a foul occurs in the defenders box, it is a penalty. The attacking player MUST commit the
foul in their OWN box for it to be a penalty.
 A free shot is awarded 12 steps from the centre of the goal mouth.
 The only 2 players allowed in the box are the goalie and the kicker. No players are to
encroach upon the area until the ball has been kicked. If the goalkeeper moves prematurely or
players enter the box the kick is to be retaken, regardless if they have scored or not.
Injured players
 Players on the ground cannot play the ball.
 MILD INJURY – Play continues until there is a clear break in play. This is important as some
players may feint injury to prevent a goal. Play resumes from where the ball was when the
whistle was blown for the injury.
 SERIOUS INJURY – Play stops immediately.
 RESTARTING PLAY – DROP BALL - The ball is dropped between two opposing players.
Players must wait for the ball to bounce before they may kick the ball.
Goalkeepers
 Goalkeepers are the only players allowed to touch the ball with their hands and this may only
be done in the 18 yard box.
 A goalkeeper has 6 seconds to release the ball.
 Goalkeepers are not allowed to pick up the ball if it has been passed to them by a team mate.
If they do it is an indirect penalty from where it occurred. This means 2 players MUST touch
the ball before they can score.
Goal kicks
 Goal kicks are taken when the attacking team kicks the ball over the defenders goal line on
either side of the goal posts.
 During the goal kick, only the goalkeeper and the kicker may remain in the box.
 JUNIORS – Take their goal kicks anywhere in the 18 yard box.
 SENIORS – Take their goal kicks inside the 6 yard box.
Corners
Corners occur when the defending team puts the ball over the back goal line.
JUNIORS – Can bring the ball about a third of the distance in from the corner post.
SENIORS – Are to kick the ball from the corner post.
Deciding Result
 The game finishes ONLY when time is up. Once the whistle blows, the game is over and
the ball declared dead. Even if it is about to cross the goal line.
 The winning team is the one who has scored the most goals.
Results
 Results and score sheets are to be faxed or emailed to the convener by both teams within
a week of the match.
 Win = 3 points
 Draw = 1 point

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AUBURN PSSA SOCCER RULES

(Revised August 2008)

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