Novato Youth Soccer - Rules of Play

Spanish Version

Some referee's have been told they are applying the wrong rules - sometimes correctly. Therefore NYSA has taken the time to put together a cheat list for the most common variations referee's will encounter.

The table below shows the rules of play which are outside the normal FIFA Rules of the game. They are taken from the following sources - click on each to read - Strongly recommended to all referee's in Novato as there are other rules in High School to do with conduct which are not listed below.

CYSA General Procedures and Modified Rules of the Game

Norcal Game Card (Page 2) and Norcal Team Action Pack

MCAL High School Rules as supplied by Vicki Sodaro

Novato Adult Soccer Website

FIFA Rules of the Game - A seperate page has been developed for "Referee Mechanics" Click here

In addition the US Soccer Federation has many documents devoted to the rules of the game on two web pages. They are useful for reading about recent changes and the more obscure rules and regulations that occasionally occur, for instance players wearing "Religious Jewellery" was one I had to research. Here are the pages:

1. Laws of the Game

2. Position Papers

Rule	CYSA (District V)	NorCal	High School	Novato Adult
Substitutions (1& 2) When	Unlimited* Own Throw-in Any goal kick Any kick off Injury	Unlimited* Own Throw-in Any goal kick Any kick off Injury	Unlimited Own Throw-in Any goal kick Any kick off Injury Own Corner Kick Yellow card Must be at center -line before stoppage	Unlimited* Any stoppage
Throw-ins - Ball does not enter play	Retake throw	Retake throw	Foul throw Goes to opposition	Retake throw
Coin Toss	Chooses end	Chooses end	End or kick off	Chooses end
Injury stoppage – ball still in play (3)	Drop ball***	Drop ball***	Indirect free kick to team in possession	Drop ball***
Yellow cards (4) Substitution req'd 2^nd yellow	No Show then Red No replacement	No Show then Red No replacement	Yes Show with red in same hand – player CAN be replaced	No 10 mins out No replacement Show then red, No replacement
Excessive celebration	Yellow	Yellow	RED can be replaced	Yellow
Taunting	Ref discretion	Ref discretion	RED – NO replacement	Ref discretion
Game Times (half) U9-U10 (Break) U11 U12 U13-U14 U15-U16 U17 U19	2 x 25 (5 min) 2 x 30 (10) 2 x 30 (10) 2 x 35 (10) 2 x 40 (10) 2 x 45 (10) 2 x 45 (10)	2 x 25 (10) 2 x 30 (10) 2 x 35 (10) 2 x 35 (10) 2 x 40 (10) 2 x 40 (10) 2 x 45 (10)	Varsity 40 mins (10) JV 35 mins (10) Ref to stop clock on penalties, goals, caution & send off	45 mins (10)
Sliding Tackles	Allowed	Allowed	Allowed	NOT allowed
Penalties	U6 to U10 NONE U11 - FIFA	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA
Offsides	U6 to U10 NONE U11 - FIFA	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA
Fouls Misconduct & Free Kicks	U6 to U10 INDIRECT 6 yards from ball U11- FIFA	FIFA	FIFA	FIFA

***
1. Unlimited substitutions allowed at referee’s discretion, for example ref may not allow if flow of play being deliberately disrupted

2. In High School if team in possession elects to substitute on own throw or corner then the opposing team may also substitute, if the team in possession chooses not to substitute then the other team may not do so.

3. It is not currently part of FIFA rules but if other team kicks ball out of play to allow treatment etc please ensure sportsmanship on restart – i.e. uncontested drop ball or throw or kick ball to allow opposition to regain possession

4. High School rules different

If you spot an error please report by email by clicking here