General Information for all AYSO Parents:
Before proceeding, please see "TEAM/AGE CHART" tab for your child's Division placement based on their birth year. It is confusing, do not assume you know. The soccer year continues until next year so the Fall league age divisions are based on age at end of next year.
For example, 2018 Fall league is based on age at end of 2019.
All Coaches, Refs and Board Members are volunteers. Committed Division Coordinator volunteer may be required before each division will be created allowing Parents to register their child and pay. Parents will be encouraged to help coach teams. If not enough Coach volunteer involvement, registration refunds (teams disbanded) could be given based on registration date (this means your kid would be out of playing AYSO soccer for the season). The Region (Board) will make every effort to find Coaches. Roster changes are possible before 1st game. AYSO does background checks on all volunteers and provides full training. Equal playing time and POSITIVE coaching are our priority!
Shin guards are required for all. Cleats are not mandatory; football and baseball cleats are not allowed (have cleat on front end of shoe). Full uniform (jersey, shorts, socks) provided, team banners are ordered separately by team (usually $10 additional fee collected by Team Parent). Teams usually agree to a snack schedule to take turns providing refreshments for players at halftime and after game. Practice field is Naranja Park and possibly Riverfront Park. Coach will email/call parents about practice schedule. Game schedule will be published online and emailed by Board. Equal playing time for all players or at least 1 half if odd numbers. No Practices or Games week of Amphi Fall break (does not include weekend before). No Games Thanksgiving weekend, practices determined by Coach. Games could also be postponed based on OV Parks and Rec reseeding schedule. Only Coach is allowed to interact with Ref, not parents! Parents ENCOURAGE players – DON’T COACH – could contradict Coach’s directions. “AYSO e-Sign Registration” copy must be printed out and turned into Coach before you are allowed to drop off and leave. For every game at the U10 age group and above, every match needs a crew of 3 officials, meaning the (center) Referee, and 2 Assistant Referees. Each Team encouraged to have at least a trained Assistant Ref volunteer.
Dangerous plays/Fouls: kicking or running into a player. Player on the ground, high kicks, etc… are only fouls if a player is in danger of being kicked/hurt.
Region 922 Game Formats and Match Rules
6U Boys and 6U Girls divisions – 3v3 or 4v4. Size 3 ball. No weekday practices. One hour on Saturdays that consists of ½ hour practice followed by game. Practice starts at scheduled game time. Teams should arrive at least 15 minutes early to be prepared/start warming up. Game is also 30 minutes, consisting of four 6 minute quarters and 5 minute halftime. Quarter break for substitutions and quick sip of water – not a break period. Played on 20x30 yard field using 4’x6’ foot goals. 5 children on each team roster play 3v3, 6 children on both rosters can play 4v4. Coaches ref the game, they decide to take turns or not, both be on the field or not. Coaches need to warn players if showing unsportsmanlike behavior, pushing or kicking. Make Player take a break if behavior continues. No scores kept, Coaches keep roster cards for season to show even playing time. Participant trophies given at end of season.
Changes from standard soccer rules:
· No throw-ins, opposing player should kick or dribble the ball in if it goes outside the lines, defense being 8 yards away to allow restart.
· No shooting from half field on restart after a goal.
· Corner kicks (from the corner) and Goal kicks (from the line) are played, defense allowing 8 yards.
· Deliberate heading is not allowed – called as dangerous play.
· Slide tackling is not allowed – called as dangerous play.
· No Offside rule in effect
· Refs do not use yellow or red cards, all free kicks are Direct Free Kicks (doesn’t have to be touched by another teammate to score).
· No Goal Keepers, No standing/waiting in Goal.
8U Boys and 8U Girls - 4v4, Size 3 ball. One-hour practice once per week, and games on Saturdays. Practice day and time determined by Coach, could be any weekday between 5pm and 8pm. Games usually Saturday mornings anytime between 8am and 4pm, Friday night games possible. Games are two 20 minutes halves with 2 quarters of 10 minutes, with a halftime period of at least 5 to 10 minutes. Field is 20x30 yards with 4x6 foot goal. Teams should arrive at least 15 minutes early to be prepared/start warming up. Up to 6 players on each roster. Quarter break for substitutions and quick drink – not a break period or long enough for coaching. Coaches need to warn players if showing unsportsmanlike behavior, pushing or kicking. Make Player take a break if behavior continues. No scores kept, roster cards kept by Coach for season to show even playing time. 10 game season. Participant trophies given at end of season.
Changes from standard soccer rules:
· No throw-ins, opposing player should kick or dribble the ball in if it goes outside the lines, defense being 8 yards away to allow restart.
· No shooting from half field on restart after a goal.
· Corner kicks (from the corner) and Goal kicks (from the line) are played, defense allowing 8 yards.
· Deliberate heading is not allowed – called as dangerous play.
· Slide tackling is not allowed – called as dangerous play.
· No Offside rule in effect.
· Refs do not use yellow or red cards, all free kicks are Direct Free Kicks (doesn’t have to be touched by another teammate to score).
· No Goal Keepers, No standing/waiting in Goal.
10U Boys and 10U Girls - 7v7 or 8v8, Size 4 ball. One-hour practice twice per week, games on Saturdays. Play 7v7, or 8v8, one player being a goalkeeper. Must have 5 players to start a match. Field 60x40 yards. 25 minutes halves. Ref provided by Region, Coaches do not Ref. Coaches need to warn players if showing unsportsmanlike behavior, pushing or kicking. Make Player take a break if behavior continues. Scores kept, roster cards filled out by Coach with Players name and numbers before game for Ref. Ref will mark players that didn’t start and changes at each quarter and halftime. Every Coach should keep own record of playing time for each quarter to ensure equal playing time. Ask Team Parent for help is need be. These are the official record of Sportsmanship, Everyone Plays, issues, referee credit, etc... Completed game cards are to be stored in Coach/Referee Storage Container at Naranja in zippered bag.. For every game at the U10 age group and above, we prefer a crew of 3 officials, meaning the (center) Referee, and 2 Assistant Referees. Each Team is encouraged to have at least an Assistant Ref trained volunteer for the season. If no Referees are present, Coaches should share the Referee duty (1/2 game each), and are responsible for returning completed game cards to the container. 9 game season + Area tournament (3 games). Participant trophies given at end of season.
Fouls @ 10U and up - Direct vs Indirect Free Kicks: Direct penalties are more severe (contact foul) and can score on restart by a single kick. Indirect penalties (non-contact foul) the ball has to be touched by a 2nd player before score, Ref signals indirect by holding his arm up until 2nd player touches the ball. Offside: Attacking player can’t be past the last defender before the ball is played by their teammate and they touch it or interfere with the defenders (even if offside player returns onside before he touches the ball). You can YouTube many videos explaining Offside.
Changes from standard soccer rules:
· Substitutions and water break at 12.5 minute quarters and halftime. Not a period long enough for coaching.
· Deliberate heading is not allowed – called as dangerous play.
· Slide tackling is not allowed – called as dangerous play.
· No punting or drop kicks by goalkeeper. Ref will give re-do weeks 1-3, give as IFK after that. Goalkeeper should wear a penny of neutral color.
· Build out line in effect. See BOL rules on website. Build out line is halfway between half-field line and penalty area box. Attacking team must retreat behind the Build out line until the goalkeeper releases the ball from his hands in active play or when the ball kicked on a goal kick.
· Offside infraction in effect but only past the build out line
· Refs do not use yellow/red cards; “Advantage” rarely called; restart with DFK/IFK/CK/GK
· Throw-ins: give a redo with instruction in first 1-2 games only; if still incorrect, call the illegal throw and award to other team
10U teams are encouraged to participate in “Soccerfest”, an Area wide AYSO tournament held 1st or 2nd weekend in December, usually at Rillito fields. The Region will pay for each team to enter. Games could start Friday night but more likely to be 2 on Saturday and 1 Sunday.