Edwardsville YMCA Recreational Sports > Soccer

YMCA of Edwardsville Youth Soccer League
First Grade League Rules

The YMCA First Grade League is an introduction to soccer for many children. The emphasis of this league is instruction. Soccer skills will be taught to the children in a fun, relaxed, encouraging environment. Sportsmanship and teamwork will also be stressed. We ask coaches and parents to praise player's development, improved skill, and good sportsmanship, and not emphasize whether the child scored or the team won the game. There will be no score kept for league games and no team standing will be posted. We hope that this will allow the children to focus on having fun and improving their skills instead of winning and losing.

THE BALL:

• A size 3 ball will be used for league games.
  

NUMBER OF PLAYERS:

• Each team will play with 5 players and a goalie on the field at one time.
  
• The maximum number of players on a roster is 12. The YMCA reserves the right to waive this rule when necessary.
  
• The minimum number of players to start a game is 5.
  

FIELD/GOAL SIZE:

• The dimensions of the playing field will be 30 yards by 40 yards.
  
• The goals will be 5 ft high and 10 ft wide.
  

PLAYING TIME & POSITIONS:

• EACH PLAYER WILL PLAY A MINIMUM OF 50% OF THE GAME.
  
• Everyone should have a chance to play all positions. Please rotate/substitute your players so that each player plays offense and defense in each game.
  

PLAYING EQUIPMENT:

• Footwear should be athletic shoes or soft cleated soccer shoes.
  
• SHIN GUARDS ARE MANADATORY and will be worn under full socks or athletic pants. No metal fasteners are allowed.
  
• No earrings or jewelry may be worn.
  
• A player wearing a cast may not play.
  

REFEREES:

• Judgment calls by the referees are final.
  
• All rules infractions should be briefly explained to offending player.
  
• Coaches will discuss foul calls and rule interpretations with officials during breaks only.
  

LENGTH OF GAME:

• Each game will be divided into 4 quarters.
  
• Each quarter will last 10 minutes. Clock will run continuously during game.
  
• The half-time break will be 5 minutes. The 1st and 3rd quarter breaks will last 2 minutes.
  

START OF GAME:

• Parents and spectators should be located across the field from the teams. Only coaches and players will be allowed on the team side of the field. The referee will keep the area behind the goal line free of spectators.
  
• A coin toss will decide which team will start with the ball. Possession then alternates at the start of remaining quarters.
  

OFFSIDES:

• Coaches may not allow players to remain near either goal as a permanent defender or forward (cherry picking). Players should be encouraged to be involved in play at both ends of the field.
  

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT:
Conform to FIFA rules with the following exceptions:

• All fouls will result in an indirect kick.
  
• There will be no penalty kicks.
  
• Referees will explain all infraction to offending players.
  
• The referees will consider the age and experience of the player when calling fouls or letting game play on. Safety will always have the highest priority in our leagues.
  
• NO SLIDE TACKLING WILL BE ALLOWED WHERE CONTACT IS MADE.
  

FREE KICKS:

• All free kicks shall be indirect kicks.
  
• All indirect kicks awarded in the penalty box will be taken from closest indirect kick mark.
  
• A goal may not be scored from an indirect kick until a second player from either team has touched the ball.
  
• Opposing team players must be 5 yards from the ball.
  

THROW-INS:

• A throw-in puts the ball back in play after it is out of play on a sideline.
  

GOAL KICK:

• A goal kick puts the ball back in play when it goes over the end line after touching an offensive player last. Goal kicks are taken from the goal kick marks.
  

CORNER KICK:

• Corner kicks put the ball in play when it goes over the end line after touching a defensive player last. Corner kicks are taken from the semi-circle located in corners of field.
  

TIME OUTS:

• There are no time-outs.
  

SUBSTITUTING:

• Teams can substitute players freely any time during game.

REMEMBER…
It takes years to develop good players, coaches, and officials. Everyone is doing his or her best. Let's all be patient with each other. Coaches should minimize their coaching or instructing players during the game. Loud yelling of directions from the sidelines confuses and distracts young people and tends to create timid and insecure players.