THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SOCCER LEAGUE

THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SOCCER LEAGUE

VARIANCES TO LAWS OF THE GAME

ARTICLE VII

Laws of the Game

The FIFA laws of the game are used except as follows..

Law I - The Field of Play (see diagram Attachment ‘A’)

1. Dimensions

a. Recommended Large Field - no change.

b. Recommended U-10 Reduced Field - 80 x 50 yards. The field of play shall be rectangular, its length being not more than 80 yards nor less than 70 yards and its width not more than 50 yards nor less than 40 yards.

c. Recommended U-8 Reduced Field - 60 x 40 yards. The field of play shall not be more than 70 yards nor less than 50 yards and its width not more than 50 yards nor less than 30 yards. The length in all cases shall exceed the width.

2. Markings a. Marking Fields shall be marked with a restraining line 3 yards outside the touch lines. b. The Goal-Area

1. Recommended Large Field - no change.

2. Recommended U-10 and U-8 Reduced Field - Six yards from each goal post and six yards into the field of play joined by a line drawn parallel to the goal line. c. The Penalty-Area 1. Recommended Large Field - no change.

2. Recommended U-10 Reduced Field - 14 yards from each goal post and 14 yards into the field of play joined by a line drawn parallel to the goal-line. The penalty mark shall be 10 yards form the goal line and the penalty arc shall have an 8 yards radius.

3. Recommended U-8 Reduced Field - 12 yards from each goal post and 12 yards into the field of play joined by a line drawn parallel to the goal-line.

d. The Corner-Area - no change.

e. Center Circle

1. Recommended Large Field - No change

2. Recommended U-10 Reduced Field - 8 yard radius

3. Recommended U-8 Reduced Field - 6 yard radius.

f. The Goals

1. Recommended Large Field - no change.

2. Recommended U-10 Reduced Field - 6 x 18 feet. Maximum 7 feet high by 21 feet wide. Minimum is the size of hockey goals.

3. Recommended U-8 Reduced Field - 6 x 12 feet. Maximum is 6 feet high by 12 feet wide and the minimum is the size of hockey goals.

Law II - The Ball 1. Under 14 through under 19 age groups - 05 ball (27-28 inches in circumference, 14-16 ounces weight)

2. Under 10 through under 12 age groups - 04 Ball (25-26 inches in circumference, 11-13 ounces weight)

3. Under 8 - 03 Ball (23-24 inches in circumference, 11-12 ounces weight)

4. The ball shall be spherical; the outer casing shall be of leather or other approved materials. No material shall be used in its construction which might prove dangerous to the players.

Law III - Number of Players

1. Maximum Number of Players on the Field

a. In the under 8 age bracket, a team shall consist of seven (7) players, one of whom may be the goalkeeper.

b. In the under 10 age bracket, a team shall consist of eight (8) players, one of whom may be the goalkeeper.

2. Maximum Number of Players on the Roster

a. Under 8 - Maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed 12.

b. Under 10 - Maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed 14.

c. Under 14 and 16 - Maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed 18. d. Substitution is unlimited as far as number is concerned.

3. Playing time

a. Each player SHALL play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.

b. In Under 8 and Under 10 a player SHALL play at least a quarter of the game as a field player. Referees are not responsible for enforcing this rule but should report any flagrant violations of it to the head referee.

Law IV - Players' Equipment 1. Team jerseys are mandatory. Black team jerseys that conflict with referee uniforms are prohibited. Soccer or gym shorts and knee length socks are recommended. Shoes must be soccer shoes, rubber cleated shoes, running shoes, gym shoes or tennis shoes. Soccer or cleated shoes may be required at the discretion of the referee, for players U12 and older, when playing on wet or soft fields.

2. No hats or headgear shall be worn during the game except (i) by the goalkeeper to shade his/her eyes from the sun, and (ii) in the U8 and U10 age groups, safe knit hats may be allowed in cold weather at the discretion of the referee.

3. Shin guards are mandatory for all age groups. 4. No belts, watches, rings, earrings (pierced or post), loose articles of clothing or anything that may be considered dangerous by the referee shall be worn during the game.

5. Long pants are optional during bad weather but must be tucked inside soccer socks or cut off above socks or tied at the ankle.

6. Glasses must have an elastic headband.

Law V - Referees

1. The referee has the right to ask the coach and or assistant coach, after appropriate warning and refusal to comply with this warning, to leave the area of play should they in the opinion of the referee be affecting the call of the game.

If both the coach and/or assistant coach are asked to leave the field of play after appropriate warnings, the game will become a forfeit to the opposing team, unless a responsible adult can assume coaching responsibilities. The forfeit rule will apply should the coach who is asked to leave refuse to do so.

2. Should the spectators become unruly, the game will be stopped, opposing coaches and referees will consult and spectators will be asked by coaches to maintain order. If in the opinion of the referee order is not restored, the game will be stopped.

3. The official referee shall be the sole judge on the field of play, and the referee's decision shall be final. No protest based on a referee's judgment decision shall be allowed. Any complaint about any official referee shall be directed in writing to the Head Referee.

4. The two-man referee system is approved by the NKSL for emergency use only. In these cases, both referees have equal power and responsibilities to control the game. The responsibilities of the linesman in Law 6 are absorbed by the two field referees.

Law VI - Linesman The responsibilities of the linesmen are absorbed by both the field referees if the two-person system is used.

Law VII - Duration of the Game

1. Length of games:

Age Group Time

Under 8 Four - 12 min. quarters

(2 min. between quarters)

Under 10 Two - 25 min. halves

Under 12 Two - 30 min. halves

Under 14 Two - 35 min. halves

Under 16 Two - 40 min. halves

Under 19 Two - 45 min. halves

All age groups are entitled to a 10-min. break between halves.

2. In tournament or playoff games where a winner must be determined, the tie-breaking procedures shall be set by the tournament rules, and may vary accordingly.

Law VIII - The Start of Play 1. Each team will have an approved roster available for inspection by the referee. Referees will check the rosters at the request of the opposing coach and at their own discretion. Any team playing a player not properly registered and assigned to that team will forfeit the game in question and all previous games that season.

2. In quarter play, each quarter will be started with a center kick. Alternating teams control the center kick. Teams change goals at half time.

3. A game becomes a forfeit should a team not field at least five players for U8, six players for U10 and seven players for all other age groups at scheduled kick off time. Should the start of the game be delayed because of no fault of either team, such as teams playing before their game finishing late, 10 minutes will be allowed from end of that game to start of next game.

Law IX - Ball In and Out of Play

No changes or additions.

Law X - Method of Scoring

No changes or additions.

Law XI - Offside

There shall be no offside for U-8 games.

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct

KYSA and NKSL changes and additions to FIFA rules follow:

1. Goalie in the under 8 age group: The goalie will be allowed to bring the ball to the front edge of the penalty area before clearing it disregarding the number of steps taken or how many times the ball is bounced. FIFA rules apply to all other age groups.

2. Coaching position on field: Coaches and assistant coach of under 8 year age group are allowed to use full length of one sideline of the field for the purpose of giving instructions to their team. All other age groups require the coaches and assistant coach to remain within 10 yards of the halfway line.

3. Sportsmanship: Ejection from a game for any reason carries an automatic one (1) game suspension for a player. Additional suspension may be imposed if recommended by the head referee and approved by the Executive Committee of the Board. Ejection of a coach from a game carries no further penalty unless recommended by the head referee and approved by the Executive Committee of the Board.

4. In Under 8 the referee shall explain all infractions to the offending player.

5. Slide tackling is prohibited in U8 and U10 age groups.

Law XIII - Free Kick

1. In Under 8 all fouls will result in an INDIRECT free kick with the opponents six yards away.

Law XIV - Penalty Kick 1. There are no penalty kicks in Under 8.

2. Penalty kicks are to be 10 yards Under 10.

Law XV - Throw-in 1. In Under 8 a second throw-in must be allowed if the player commits a foul on the initial attempt. The referee shall explain the proper method before allowing the player to re-throw.

Law XVI - Goal-Kick 1. Under 8 year age group playing on non-reduced field will have the ball placed halfway between the goal area and front of the penalty area for the goal kick. 2. In Under 8 opponents must be six yards away from the ball.

Law XVII - Corner-Kick

1. In Under 8 opponents must be six yards away from the ball.