Rules
The cup competition will be played in accordance with the FA Mini Soccer rules.
1: Playing Phase
Not applicable
2: Playing Area
Kick offs are from the centre mark on the halfway line.
Retreat line: the team without the ball moves back to the halfway line for a goal kick.
Goal sizes: the goal size for Mini-Soccer is 12ft × 6ft.
3: The Ball
- The ball must be size 3 for U7/U8/U9/U10
- It should be safe and made of leather or another suitable material.
4: Number of Players
Maximum number per team, including goalkeeper.
- U7 and U8 - 5v5 (with a squad of ten or less)
- U9 and U10 - 7v7 (with a squad of fourteen or less)
Roll off roll on substitutions can be made at any time during the game with permission from the referee, including players who have already been substituted.
5: Playing Equipment
Players MUST wear shinpads. These should be covered entirely by knee length socks.
Goalkeepers MUST wear a different coloured shirt to the rest of the team.
Footwear should be appropriate for the playing surface and venue.
If the weather is poor, then players should wear appropriate clothing when playing in a match. Hoodies and tracksuit bottoms are not allowed.
6: Match Officials
Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws for Mini-Soccer relating to the match to which they have been appointed.
All referees should recognise their role is to facilitate learning of the players, for example, allow young children to take a second attempt at a throw-in if the first is not within the Laws.
Assistant referees are not required.
7: Duration of the Game
In any one day, no player shall play more than:
- 40 minutes for U7 / U8
- 60 minutes for U9 / U10
The half time interval must not exceed 5 minutes.
8: Start and Restart of Play
A kick-off is taken at the centre of the playing area to start the game and after a goal has been scored.
Opponents must be 5 yards away from the ball and in their own half of the field. The ball can be played in any direction. In Mini-Soccer a goal cannot be scored directly from a kick off or from a drop ball.
In special circumstances a drop ball us used to restart the game, such as after an injury. If the game has stopped with the ball in the penalty area, the drop ball should be taken on the penalty area line.
9: Ball in and Out of Play
The goal line and touchlines are part of the field of play. The ball must be entirely over these lines to be out of play.
If an attacker is the last player to touch the ball over the goal line, a goal kick is given. The opposing team retreats to the halfway line.
If a defender is the last player to touch the ball over the goal line, a corner kick is given.
If a player touches the ball over the touchline, a throw in is given to the opposing team.
10: Method of Scoring
A goal is scored when the ball completely crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar of the goal.
If a foul or hand ball occurs the goal shall be disallowed.
11: Offside
There is no offside rule.
12: Fouls and Misconduct
Free kicks are awarded when a foul is committed as in older age football.
In Mini-Soccer all free kicks are direct.
A goalkeeper is not allowed to pick the ball up from a back pass or a throw in.
If this happens a free kick should be given on the penalty area line closest to where the incident occurs.
13: Free Kicks
For all free kicks opponents must be five yards from the ball.
14: Penalty Kicks
If a foul is committed in the penalty area by a defender a penalty kick will be awarded.
All players except the defending goalkeeper and kicker must be outside the penalty area and at least 5 yards from the penalty mark.
The ball must be kicked forward.
15: Throw-in
When the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, on the ground or in the air, instead of a throw-in, a pass-in or dribble-in is awarded.
A kicker taking a pass-in may choose to touch the ball again before it is touched by another player.
At the moment of delivering the ball: The ball must be stationary on the touchline at the point where it left the pitch; only the kicker may be off the pitch.
All opponents must stand at least 5 yards from the point on the touchline where the pass-in or dribble-in is to be taken.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a pass-in.
16: Goal Kick
If an attacking player kicks the ball over the goal line a goal kick is awarded to the
defending team.
A goal kick can be taken from any point within the penalty area and by any player from the team with the ball.
The ball must leave the penalty area to be in play. If this does not happen the kick can be retaken.
The team without the ball must retreat to their own half until the ball is in play. This is known as the Retreat Line.
Once the ball is in play, the team without the ball can try and win it back.
17: Corner Kicks
The opposing players must remain at least 5 yards from the ball until it is in play.
The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. If he/she does, a free kick is awarded against them.
The ball is in play immediately when it enters the field of play.
CUP FINAL RULES
The referee will keep a record of the score on a score card and return the score card to the result tent upon completion of each game.
Tournify will be used to manage scores
In the event of a tie after normal time:
- The winner shall be decided by the best of 3 penalties.
- If this still does not decide the result, then the winner will be the best of sudden death penalties.
A message from the League
The league kindly request that all teams and supporters remain at the venue for the presentation of medals for your age group.
Players for 3rd and 4th teams will receive a participation medal.
All Winners and runners up will receive a trophy.