7v7 Soccer Rules - Catholic Youth Sports

Number of Players on Field:

Heading: Only allowed in U14 and U18.

Team Areas:

Player & Coach Sideline:
- Coaches will be expected to stay within the designated team area. The designated area is between midfield and the build out line on the teams bench side. Coaches will not be able to roam the field or around the field.

*ONLY rostered players and officials allowed in the bench areas.

Parent/Spectator Sideline: *Expected to sit/stand on half of field directly opposite their team’s players and coach(es)

The Ball

Number of Players

Max. number of players per team on the field at one time is seven, including GK.
Min. number of players per team on the field is five (5), including the GK.
If a team consist of all boys, the team without females will play a man down for every female that is on the pitch. The minimum a team can play down to is 5. Example: Team A has 3 girls and 4 boys on the field. Team B does not have any girls, then Team B will play with 5 Players. If playing time is not equal. Recruit more girls. This will prevent a team from being all boys. We are a COED League and always will be!!!!
In the case of a penalty kick, the person taking the kick must be of the same gender as the person who was fouled originally. (Example: a female is fouled in the penalty area, the penalty kick must be taken by a female)
Substitutions will be made every 8 minutes. There will be 6 total shifts. All players must play equal shifts. No one can play 4 shifts while one plays 1 shift. There cannot be more than 1 shift deferential between players. Goalies count as a player on the field. The exception for the goalie has been discontinued. To fully comprehend the importance of equal playing time, please look at the charts in the appendix.

FAILURE FOR A COACH TO COMPLY WITH THE SUBSTITUTION PATTERNS WILL RESULT IS FORFIETURE OF THE MATCH IN THE PLAYOFFS.

Duration of the Game / Playing Time

All ages 2 x 24 min. halves. There will be three shifts of 8 minutes per half. No additional time will be added for players running on and off the field.
Half time should be no more than 5 minutes

Starting the Game

Home team will kick off to start the game.
Kickoff occurs at start of each half and after each goal. Opposing team must be outside center circle on their half of field.
Kickoff – ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves in any direction, including backwards.
After halftime, the teams change sides and kickoff is taken by the team who did not take the kickoff at the start of game.

Ball In and Out of Play

If whole ball crosses either sideline, then it is out of bounds and game should restart with a throw-in for the other team

Method of Scoring

Off-Side

Offside will be called if the offensive player is in the final third of the field before the ball is kicked or dribbled across the build up line.
No offside directly from a throw in
No offside directly from goal kick
No offsides on a corner kick
No offsides on a direct kick

Fouls and Misconduct

No punting: if a goalkeeper punts (volley or ½ volleys the ball from hands), the other team shall be awarded an direct free kick on the center spot (half way line). Restart with indirect free kick.
Heading: Only allowed in U14 and U18.
Slide tackling: No slide tackling or sliding under any condition. A slide tackle or sliding will be an immediate yellow card. A second slide tackle or slide will be an immediate Red Card.

Build Out Line/Rule

Goal Kick:

All opposition players must retreat behind build-out line. They can only cross the build out line after the ball has been put into play by the goalie or player taking the goal kick.

Goalkeeper Possession

All opposition players must be behind build-out-line when the ball is the goalkeeper’s hands. They can only cross the build out line when the ball has left the goalkeepers hands. after the goalkeeper has passed the ball to a teammate and it has been received or the ball crosses the build out line. Play then resumes as normal.
The offense team has the ability to play at their pace and can quickly play the ball out prior to the defense getting behind the build out line.

Free Kick

Penalty Kick

Corner Kick

Awarded when ball crosses goal line, except through the goal, and was last played or touched by a defending player. Attacking team to take corner from same side of the goal on which it went across the goal line.
Opponents must be 8 yards from the ball.

Overtime and Shootouts

Playoff games ending in a tie will go straight to penalty kicks.
7 players that were on the field at the end of the regulation game, will participate in the shootout.
The coach must provide the referee with the players numbers in the order they will shoot.
The goalkeepers will be the same as the goalkeepers from the end of the regulation game.
No switching goalies during the shoot out.
Each team has a total of 5 penalty kicks and will alternate each shot. No rebounds are allowed. Goalies can be one of the 5.
The kicker must wait for the official to start the play on each kick.
If the score is tied at the end of the shootout, a sudden death shootout will be held, with 2 players on the field shooting first and then designated bench players. The coach must provide the numbers to the referee in the order of shooters.
A player may not shoot twice. The only way this will occur, is if all players have taken a penalty shot.