Rules and Regulations

Key Points

• In indoor soccer, U6 & U8 play "half-court", while U10 and up play the full-size field

• U6 & U8 players cannot enter the goal area to score goals
• U10 and up are allowed into the goal area to score goals

• If the goalie's hand is touching the ball and the ball is still moving, players may still kick at the ball.
• But if the ball is stationary, even with just one hand on it, players may not kick at the ball.

• A goal is scored only if the whole of the ball crosses the goal line. It is not a goal if the ball just touches or partially crosses the goal line, per FIFA Rule#10.

• While a goal kick is being taken, players on the other team are prohibited from standing inside the penalty box, per FIFA rule#16.
  
• Players on the same team may stand in the box during goal kicks.
  
• The ball is not in play until it has exited the penalty box. This rule applies to both indoor and outdoor soccer.
• For U12, the goal area and the penalty area are one and the same - not separate boxes as on large standard fields.

• There is no offside in indoor soccer.
  
• In outdoor soccer, offside applies to U12 and up.
  
• For U12, offside is only called when players are in the last 1/3 of the field.
  
• For U14 and up, offside is called starting at midfield.
  
• As per FIFA rule#11, a player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponent's goal line than both the ball and the last defender, at the moment the ball is played by one of his team (ie: at the moment of the kick).

• Pass Back Rule: a goalkeeper may NOT touch a ball with his hands (or arms) when the ball has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate with the foot. However, if a teammate plays the ball back to the goalkeeper with any other part of the body, such as the shin, knee, thigh, head, etc., the goalkeeper may legally handle this ball.
  
• This rule applies to both outdoor and indoor soccer (per ASA ruling of August 2009).

• A goalkeeper may NOT touch a ball with his hands (or arms) direct from a throw-in by a teammate.
  
• A throw-in that goes directly into the goal does not count if no one touches it (ie: the ball never entered the field of play).

• Players are not allowed to play if they are wearing a cast, even if it is padded..

• Each team gets one timeout in indoor soccer. There are no timeouts in outdoor soccer.

The size of the ball used is:

• Size 3 for U6 and U8
• Size 4 for U10 and U12
• Size 5 for U14 and above