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For parentsYouth soccer rules:
explained for parents
You do not need to know the whole rulebook to enjoy your child’s games. You need a handful of rules and how they change as children get older. Here they are in plain English.
The rules change with the format, so start with the one your child plays.
What changes by age
- 4v4, U6 to U8: no keeper, no offside, no heading, a size 3 ball and four 10-minute quarters.
- 7v7, U9 and U10: keepers, offside and a build-out line, no heading, a size 4 ball and two 25-minute halves.
- 9v9, U11 and U12: keepers and offside, no build-out line, a size 4 ball and two 30-minute halves. No heading at U11, and limited at U12.
- 11v11, U13 and up: full rules and a size 5 ball, with two 35-minute halves at U13 and U14. Heading is limited at U13 and allowed from U14.
Throw-ins
When the whole ball crosses the sideline, the team that did not touch it last throws it in. Both feet stay on the ground, and the ball comes from behind the head with both hands. Young players get this wrong all the time, and referees at the youngest ages often let them try again.
Goal kicks and corners
When the ball crosses the end line, it depends who touched it last. If the attacking team did, the defending team takes a goal kick. If the defending team did, the attacking team takes a corner kick from the corner.
Handball
Players other than the keeper in their own penalty area cannot deliberately play the ball with a hand or arm. Not every touch is a foul. A ball that hits a child’s arm from close range often is not. Young children also put their hands up to protect themselves, and most referees use common sense.
Fouls and free kicks
Pushing, tripping, holding and kicking an opponent are fouls, and the other team gets a free kick. If it happens to the attacking team inside the penalty area, they get a penalty kick. At young ages, there is usually plenty of bumping that is not a foul. They are learning to go for the ball.
Why the referee didn’t call it
Youth referees are often teenagers, and they are learning too. They have one view of the game, and they cannot see everything. They will miss calls. That is part of it, and your child will take their cue from how you react.
Questions parents ask
Do all leagues use the same rules?
No. Leagues can vary, so check yours. Your coach or club can tell you what applies.
Can a parent talk to the referee?
No. If you have a concern, take it to your coach or club after the game.
What is the build-out line?
A line used at 7v7. When the keeper has the ball in their hands, or on a goal kick, the other team must drop behind it until the ball is played. The U9 guide explains why.
Offside, explained ›Heading rules by age ›Field sizes and rules by age ›