Coaches

Running Up the Score:

Keep games competitive and fun:

• Positive sportsmanship can be created by avoiding score differences of 6-0 through various coaching strategies.  Coaches with a dominant team should encourage players to pass more frequently, rotate positions, and identify new players to score.
  
• If one team is up by 5 goals, the losing team can add an extra player on the field. That player stays in until the score gets closer (within 2 goals).
  
• Coaches please let the referee know the reason for the player add and removal.
  
• This will all be handled by the coaches directly and the referee shall have no involvement.
  
• Important: If the CPYS board has to step in because this isn't being handled right, the coach could face consequences.
  

Let Your Players Think:

Don't be a remote control:

• avoid constantly yelling instructions like "Pass to Sarah!" next "pass to Joe!" You're coaching kids, not playing the game for them.
  
• Good soccer players need to make their own decisions and react to what's happening in real-time, not wait for you to tell them every move.
  
• if you call out every play, you kill the creativity that makes soccer fun. Kids learn by experimenting, trying things, and figuring out what works—not by following rigid orders.

Fields:

- Available for warm-up and final words of encouragement 10 minutes before your game.


Law 7- Duration of Game

- There is a running clock
- Two (2) equal halves of twenty-five (25) minutes each.
- Five (5) minute break at half time.
- Teams change side each period.

Law 2- The Ball

- Soccer ball size #4


Law 3 - Number of Players

- 7 vs. 7, six on field plus one goalie.
- Minimum players to start game is five (5)
- Teams not required to play even sided.


Law 3 - Substitutions

- Both teams may sub between periods
- Either team may substitute on following only
- - Goal kicks, after a goal, throw-ins and extended timeout(injury, cautions, send-offs).

No substitution on:
- - corner kicks, direct kicks, indirect kicks or penalty kicks unless it's considered an extended timeout(injury, cautions, send-offs).


Law 3 - Playing Time

- Each player is scheduled for a minimum of half of the game.


Law 4 - Player Required Equipment

- Shin guards. Socks must cover shin guards, no exceptions.
- Soccer shoes or gym shoes only. No football or baseball cleats allowed.
- No Jewelry must be removed, including earrings, no exceptions.

Law 5 - Referees

- One referee and two assistant referees are assigned to the game.
- Coaches check in with the referee 2 minutes before game time for the coin toss.
- If a referee not available to ref a parent or a coach can referee the game.


Law 6 - Assistant Referees

- Duties included
- - Ball is out-of-play
- - Opponent entitled to a corner kick, goal kick, or throw-in
- - Substitutions
- - Offside position
- - Foul or misconduct
- If a assistant referee not available then a parent or a coach can step in as assistant referee.
- If a parent or coach is used they can only call out-of-play.

Law 8 - Start and restart of play

- Player may not touch the ball again when taking following kicks until it has touched another player.
- - free kick, goal kick, corner kick, kick-off or throw-in
- Results: indirect free kick to opponent.
- Opponents of the team taking the kick shall be at least five (5) yards from the ball.
- Goalkeeper may punt and drop kick the ball.


Law 8 - Kick-Offs

- All the players of each team, except the player taking the kick-off, must be in their team’s half of
the field.
- The kicker (and only the kicker) may be entirely in the opponents’ half of the field at the taking of the kick.
- On game starts defensive players must stand outside of the circle.
- Teammates of the player taking the kick has no restrictions as to where they may be. They are allowed to be within the circle on their side of the field.
- Ball in play when kicked and clearly moves in any direction.


Law 8 - Drop ball

- Restart when referee stops a game for an injury, outside interference, weather or accidental whistle.
- Only one player may take part in the dropped ball; all other players to be at least (4) yards.
- Ball is in play when it makes contact with the ground.
- To award a goal the ball has to be touched by two different players.


Law 8 - Build-out area

- Opponents
- - Must move outside build-out area on all free kick and goal kick restarts
- - Players must remain outside build-out area until ball is kicked and clearly moves.
- - Must also move outside build-out area whenever the goalkeeper gain possession of the ball.
- Goalkeepers must not touch the ball again with their hand(s) until it has been touched or played by another player.


Law 9 - Ball out play

- When the ball completely leaves the field of play over the touchline(sideline) or goal line on the ground or in the air. 
- - Also whenever the whistle is blown by referee.
- Results: A throw-in for the opposite team.


Law 11 - Offside

- Players can only be in offside position in the opponents build-out area.
- - Between the offside lines (build-out line) and the goal line.
- offside offense occurs when a player in offside position becomes actively involved by interfering with play or an opponent.
- Results: Indirect free kick at location where the player was offside position occurred.


Law 12 - Fouls and Misconducts

- No pushing.
- No hooking or holding.
- No slide tackling.
- - If contact is made yellow or red card may be issued based on referee opinion. (Rarely used) Avoid carding players as much as possible.
- Coaches and bench personnel may be carded for misconduct.
- Results: A direct free kick if contact is made.
- Results: If no contact is made indirect free kick.

Law 12 - Heading

- Prohibited at this age.
- Results: Indirect free kick for opposing ream at spot of the infraction.


Law 12 - Handball

- Deliberate plays with either hands or arms.
- Results: in a direct free kick for the other team.

Law 13 - Free Kick

- Opponents are at least five (5) yards from the ball.
- The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
- Free kicks on the defender's half of the field, the opponent must remain outside of the build-out area until the ball is in play.
- Direct Free Kick (DFK) - a goal may be scored on the first touch, but only against the opposing team. 
- Indirect Free Kick (IFK) - two touches required for a goal to be allowed.


Law 14 - Penalty Kick

- When a direct free kick is offense is committed inside a players own penalty area.
- All players except kicker and goalkeeper to be outside of penalty area and penalty arc.
- Goalkeeper must have at least one foot touching the goal line at the time the ball is kicked.
- Ball must be clearly kicked in a forward direction.


Law 15 - Throw-in

- Restart when ball goes over the touchline (sideline) and is taken by opponents of player who last touched the ball.
- A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.


Law 16 - Goal Kick

- When the ball goes out of the field of play over the goal line last touched by the attacking team.
- Results: in a goal kick by the other team.
- Defensive players must stand at or behind the build-out area until the ball is in play.
- If the opponent encroach to early,  an indirect free kick restart is to be taken at point where player crosses into the build-out area. 
- Goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team.


Law 17 - Corner Kick

- When the ball goes out of the field of play over the goal line last touched by the defensive team.
- Results: In a corner kick for the attacking team to the closet corner that the ball went out of field of play.
- Opponents must stay five (5) yards from the ball until it is in play,