Rules 

Equipment: 

1. Clubs/Town teams must match with numbered shirts that must be worn in order to play in any game. Additional clothing, when necessary, is to be worn under the team shirt. In order to be able to distinguish the Goalie from the rest of the team, goalie shirts are to be a different color than either team shirt. 

a. Pinnies may be utilized 

2. Shin guards must be worn by all players, fully covered by their socks. No player will be permitted to play without them.

3. Except for medical emergency notification bracelets/necklaces, hearing aids, etc. With the following not permitted: watches, necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, berets, hard hairpieces, and/or referee discretion. 

4. Sport safety glasses and/or goggles are permitted. 

5. Appropriate soccer cleats and/or turf shoes must be worn to be permitted to play. 6. Coaches and referees will inspect the field of play and playing area to ensure that there are no dangerous conditions (holes in the field, rocks, unsecured goals, bleachers too close to the playing field, etc.). 

Rules of Play: 

1. Start of Game All U15, U12, U10, U8, and U6, games will start on time as long as there are enough players present to play. IE: (U15 - eleven players on field, U12 - nine players on field, U10 - seven players on field, U8 - five players on field, U6 - four players on field) a. Forfeiting - is to be avoided as much as possible. 
i. Teams can draft a player from the same club/town U-Level and/or one U-Level below from the same club/town. 

ii. Both teams may opt to play down players equally 
iii. An agreed upon extension of the start time by both coaches. - Field time permitting with a total max extension of thirty minutes is permitted and a fifteen minute grace period extension for referees. 

iv. Coaches are encouraged to reach out to the opposing coach prior to for upcoming game verification. 

2. Each age U-level will play the below designated time blocks each game: 

a. U6 - Four 8 minute quarters 

b. U8 - Four 10 minute quarters 

c. U10 - Two 25 minute halves 

d. U12 - Two 30 minute halves 

e. U15 - Two 40 minute halves 

3. Each Club/Town must provide printed rosters with players names and gender.

4. The referee controls the game and everyone must abide by their decisions.. Coaches, players, parents, and other spectators are not permitted to speak to the referee about the game. See “Referee Abuse” for further information 

a. The referee’s authority as in FIFA rules and is especially final on timekeeping play, ground conditions, coach and parental interference and scoring. The referee will refer all disciplinary infringements to the referee assignor who will contact a member of the SCYSL. 
i. All disciplinary infringements will be discussed with the executive board of the SCYSL. 

b. Only the referee may stop the play of the game. 

5. No carded “Travel” (MCYSA/EDP/ECNL) players from any club may play on any recreational team. SCYSL reserves the right to this decision and could require additional verification to prevent “travel” players from participating. 

6. Direct kicks will only be allowed in U-level 10, 12 and 15. An indirect kick must hit or touch another player before it can go into the net. A direct kick is just that, it can score without touching another player. 

7. If the ball is intentionally kicked to the goalie by a teammate from the field of play, the goalie cannot pick up the ball. He/she must play the ball with his/her foot, head, etc. If the goalie picks up the ball, an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposition from the point of the infraction, except if the infraction occurred within the goalie box. In that case, the ball will be placed on the goal area line which runs parallel to the goalie line closest to the point of the infraction. A player may play the ball to his goalie from outside the touch line on a throw in. In this instance the goalie is considered a field player and cannot use his/her hands. Goalkeepers may only take six seconds after controlling the ball after it is played into the penalty area when returning the ball into play. Goalkeepers may not indulge in any tactics that are designed, in the opinion of the referee, to hold up the game and thus run down the clock as to give an unfair advantage to his/her own team. Infractions of these rules will result in an indirect free kick. 

8. Heading is not permitted during games and/or practices in U-Levels U6-U12* restart will be an indirect free kick from the spot of infraction. 

a. *U.S Youth Soccer has adopted a policy of NO HEADING in games or practices for U11 teams and below and for 10 year old players and younger playing up. Players in U11 and younger age groups may not deliberately head the ball in soccer matches. The SCYSL no longer extends this no heading policy into the U12 age group. Because our teams are grouped in 2 year age brackets. With all U11 players being placed in the U12 division there will be players in the U12 teams banned from heading. Coaches may instruct age eligible players in heading and allow them to use it in game situations. They may not instruct or allow those under the age of 11 to use their head. This will be up to the coaches to police , referees will be instructed to allow heading in these games but will not be able to enforce the age requirement, it is up to the coaches to make sure these guidelines are followed. Heading is allowed by all in the U15 age group. 

b. If a player deliberately heads the ball and the ball remains in play, the referee will immediately stop play and restart with an indirect free kick as per Law 13. c. If a player deliberately heads the ball and the ball immediately goes out of play, the referee will restart in accordance as to how the ball went out of play (throw-in, goal kick, corner kick) 

d. If a player is inadvertently struck in the head with the ball, there is no rule infraction. 

e. However, if the referee deems the player to be injured the referee will immediately stop play, have the player removed and restart with a drop ball.
9. Offsides will be strictly adhered to in U-levels 10, U12 and U15. 

a. Definition of “Offsides” a player is generally considered offside if they are in the opponent's half of the field, closer to the goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent (excluding the the goalkeeper) when a teammate passes the ball forward. 

b. When the goalkeeper has the ball: 

i. U6/U8 Games will be played with all players backing up to their side of the field past the midfield line. 

ii. U10 Games will require all fields to have build out lines following the guidance of FIFA 

c. A player will not be considered offsides on throw-ins/corner kicks until an attacking player plays the ball forward towards the goal and a member of the attacking team, at the time the ball is played, is in an offsides position. 

d. If a player interferes with the play of an opponent while in an offsides position he/she is to be considered offsides by interference whether or not the ball is played to him/her. 

e. When players can cross the buildout line without penalty: 

i. When the goalkeeper drops the ball to the ground so to play the ball with their feet, to include when the goalkeeper rolls the ball forward to him/herself with the intention to kick the ball to a teammate. 

ii. For all defensive dead ball restarts from within the penalty area (goal kick included) and for when the goalkeeper throws/rolls the ball either toward a teammate or to an open space between the teammate and the buildout line, the second touch rule applies unless the ball comes to a stop prior to a teammate’s touch or before the ball crosses the buildout line
.

Build out line requirements: the "build-out line" policy, designed to promote playing the ball out of the back, requires the opposing team to retreat behind the line when the goalkeeper has possession or on a goal kick, and the goalkeeper can only pass, throw, or roll the ball into play, not punt or drop kick. 

Purpose:The build-out line is designed to encourage teams to play the ball out from the back and reduce pressure on the goalkeeper. It is particularly relevant for younger age groups (8U-10U). 

Location: The build-out line is located equidistant between the halfway line and the penalty area. 

When the Opposing Team Must Retreat: 

Goalkeeper Possession: When the goalkeeper has possession of the ball in their hands. 

Goal Kick: On a goal kick. 
Defensive Free Kick: On a defensive free kick inside the penalty area. 
How the Goalkeeper Can Put the Ball Back into Play: The goalkeeper can pass, throw, or roll the ball to a teammate. Punts and drop kicks are not allowed. 

10. Throw In: 

a. Level U12 and U15 - Throw in rule applies in full. 

b. Level U10 - on first incorrect throw-in, the referee will show the player the mistake made and the throw-in will be taken again. On a second incorrect throw-in, the throw-in will be given to the other team. U Levels U6-U8 there will be no limit for throw ins but upon referee discretion. 

11. Player substitutions may be unlimited with the consent of the referee made during any time of the play of the game as long as the team has possession of the ball. 

a. Coaches must have players lined up on the midfield line and ready to be called on by the referee for substitutions. 

12. Slide Tackling is not permitted in SCYSL. For the purpose of these rules, a slide tackle is defined as: in soccer, a type of tackle in which a player slides along the ground with one leg stretched out in order to push the ball away from the opposing player 

a. The offending player will receive a yellow card on the first slide tackle offense. 

b. Upon the second offense the player will receive a red card and be eliminated from play for the remainder of the game. 

13. A handball may be called by a referee if the ball strikes and/or a player causes the ball to strike either him/herself or another player on the arm and/or hand. A handball occurs when a player intentionally touches the ball with their hands and/or arms, with intent to stop or direct the ball, and it is considered a foul. 

a. If the handball was accidental, it might not be called a foul, especially if it didn't change the game's outcome or affect an important play. 

14. At the beginning of the game (quarter/half) and after a goal is scored the team awarded possession will put the ball into play from the center of the circle at the midfield line by playing the ball forward. This is an indirect kick that may be of any distance as long as the ball travels forward into the opponent's end of the field. 

15. Penalty Kicks - The part of the ball must touch or overhang the centre of the penalty mark. Encroachment by players will be penalised only if it has an impact (same philosophy as goalkeeper encroachment). The ball must be stationary, with part of the ball touching or overhanging the centre of the penalty mark, and the goalposts, crossbar and goal net must not be moving. 

a. If, before the ball is in play, one of the following occurs: 

i. a team-mate of the player taking the penalty kick is penalised for encroachment only if: the encroachment clearly impacted on the

goalkeeper; or 

ii. the encroaching player plays the ball or challenges an opponent for the ball and then scores, attempts to score or creates a goal-scoring opportunity a team-mate of the goalkeeper is penalised for encroachment only if:  1. the encroachment clearly impacted on the kicker; or the encroaching player plays the ball or challenges an opponent for the ball and this prevents the opponents from scoring, attempting to score or creating a goal-scoring opportunity 

iii. Explanation: Player encroachment can be difficult to detect and manage, especially at the lower levels of the game, where there may be no neutral assistant referees. However, it can easily be identified by the video assistant referee, and if Law 14 were to be applied strictly, most penalty kicks would be retaken. Since encroachment rarely affects the outcome of the kick (only if the ball rebounds into play), the same principle should apply to player encroachment as to goalkeeper encroachment, i.e. it is penalised only if it has an impact. 

16. Players cannot put themselves between the ball and the opposing player without attempting to play the ball. If he/she does, an indirect free kick will be awarded for obstruction and “playing the man and not the ball.” 

a. Indirect Free Kick - If a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than eight seconds (with the referee using a visual five-second countdown), a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team (rather than an indirect free kick if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than six seconds, as per the current

Laws). 

17. A Dangerous Play will be called when a player attempts to kick the ball and his/her foot rises at or above the waist and there is a player of either team within five, (5) feet to the front, right and left of the offending player. A direct kick will be awarded to the opposing team. 

18. On all free kicks, opposing players must remain 10 yards away from the ball. On free kicks, by the defending team, from within the penalty box all opposing players must be at least 10 yards from the ball and at all times outside the penalty box. 

19. Players can not contact opposing players by jumping in (leaving one’s feet and jumping at or over another player) to head or play a ball. If a player commits this foul a direct free kick will be awarded to the non offending team. 

20. The goalie may play on any part of the field. However, once he/she leaves the penalty box he/she may not touch the ball with his/her hands. He/she may, however, play the ball back into the penalty box and then pick it up to punt, throw, etc. 

21. The ball is out of play when it has completely crossed the goal line or touch line, whether on the ground or in the air. 

22. In the event of six goal differential the following steps are to be followed:
a. Coaches are encouraged to respectfully request the opposing team to “pullback.” 

i. Coaches can opt for a lower amount of players on the field, rotate players and/or utilize the time to work on passing skills/ball touches. 

b. Coaches are to be reminded that players should be rotated so that said players are not playing the same position for more than (2) quarters.

Coaches, Players, Spectators, and Sportsmanship 

1. Every coach will carry a copy of his/her team’s player registration form, parent consent to administer medication, emergency medical information and emergency telephone numbers to every game and practice. The registration form will provide proof of the player’s ages and division should any question arise. If any coach fails to have the registration form available, he/she, upon request shall, within 72 hours, forward the same to his/her own club president and the opposing coach. 

2. All referees will carry yellow and red cards. The referee will issue a yellow card for the first cardable infraction (including but not limited to: using foul language, pushing, elbowing, slide tackling), and a red card for the repeat of the first or a new cardable infraction. A red card will be issued immediately upon the first offense of a major foul (including but not limited to: violent conduct, serious foul play, foul or abusive language, trying to kick the ball while it is in the possession of the goalkeeper, etc.). 

3. Coaches, parents, spectators, children as well as all players are subject to being yellow or red carded. The issuing of a yellow card to a player will result in the player leaving the field of play immediately. A substitution may be made (if there are eligible players available) immediately from the bench of the offending team. The yellow carded player must remain off the field at least until the next available substitution opportunity for his team. A yellow card issued to a coach, spectator, parent, child or anyone else is a warning that continued unsportsmanlike behavior (in the opinion of the referee) will result in the issuing of a red card. A red carded player must leave the field of play immediately and is ineligible for the remainder of the game. He/she cannot be replaced for the remainder of the game; i.e., his/her team must play one player short. If any red carded player continues to act in a manner detrimental to the continuance of play and the spirit of sportsmanship, the referee (at his/her discretion) may hold up play of the game and require that player to leave the playing area to a location where he/she may not be seen or heard from the field. Once a

player is red carded and he/she fails to leave the field immediately, or the playing area within five, (5) minutes if directed by the referee, the referee may declare the game over with a forfeit win to the unoffending team. 

a. The same guidelines are to be followed when any person other than a player is red carded, with the determination of which team the offending person is affiliated with, being at the sole determination of the referee. 

4. Coaches are not permitted on the field of play unless summoned by the referee. Coaching from behind the goal is not permitted. 

a. U6 Exemption: One coach per team is permitted on the field to assist players.
5. Parents are not permitted along the same side of the field as players and coaches and/or behind goals. Spectators are encouraged to remain five feet away from the sideline at all times. Parents/Spectators are strongly encouraged to cheer for their child’s team in a positive manner.

Referee 

1. There is absolutely no tolerance towards referee abuse. This policy is being implemented to eliminate referee abuse, both physical and verbal, and to discourage public dissent of a referee. 

a. Public dissent is not in keeping with the SCYSL principles of positive coaching and good sportsmanship and therefore will not be tolerated. 

b. It is expected that coaches and spectators will have a sporting attitude toward the game and will show respect for the referee. 

c. In accordance with Law 12 of the Laws of the Game, a coach or player may be issued a yellow card or red card for referee abuse. However, the referee may report an instance of referee abuse even if no yellow or red card was issued, especially if the referee is a minor. 

i. Infractions against minor referees will result in any fines and/or suspensions occured being doubled. 

2. Certified referees shall be used for all games (U6 at discretion of club/town) played within the SCYSL. Accordingly, SCYSL Directors Committee shall appoint a licensed Referee Assignor to prepare and adopt a Referee Code. 

a. All referee assignments for games played shall be made by the license Referee Assignor. 

b. Referee fees will be paid by home teams, paid on the field same day. c. SCYSL waives all rights to games not assigned through the referee assignor. 

Guidelines 

1. Coaches and players should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the game. Team line-ups should be prepared before the game to avoid starting delays.
2. Coaches are responsible for balls, ball bags, goalie shirts, first aid kits and all other equipment. 

3. In New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS), when lightning or thunder is detected, all league-sanctioned games must be stopped, and participants must seek shelter, waiting at least 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning before resuming activities.

4. Teams must clean up their area after each game. Remove anything brought into the playing area by you or your team. You mess it up; you clean it up. In the case of two, (2) teams having similar colored uniforms, the home team is responsible for supplying pinnies of an alternate color.