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Format and basic rules of play by age group

Girls or Boys teams are available.  Girls may be added to boys teams by special request or necessity.

Please see the CAYSA site for more information. Rules of Play begin on page 21.

U6 - 3 v 3

  • Typically 6-7 players per team
  • Two 16-minute halves (32 minute games)
  • Coaches referee the games
  • 3 players on the field from each team
  • No goalie

Coaches serve as referees and should be on the field with the players.

Use the “new ball” system. Instead of using throw ins or kicks (goal or corner), the coaches on the field should gently toss a ball on the field of play near where the ball went out and declare, “New ball!”

Do have a kickoff after each goal, the team that did not score gets to kick off.

Defenders must stay out of the center circle during kickoffs.

U8 - 4 v 4

  • Typically 8 players per team
  • Two 20-minute halves (40 minute games)
  • One or two referees will officiate the game
  • 4 players per team on the field
  • No goalie

Referee(s) will be provided.

No permanent goalies are allowed. Players must remain outside the goalie box.

No direct kicks.

Players do throw ins, corner kicks and goal kicks.

Coaches substitute from the half line at any stoppage with referee permission.

No offside unless the referee believes it to be an unfair tactic (a player is always position offside to gain an advantage).

Coaches should remain on their half of the field.

Parents should sit on the opposite side of the coaches.

U10 - 7 v 7

  • Up to 12 players per team
  • Two 25-minute halves (50 minute games)
  • Up to three referees will officiate the game
  • 6 players on the field, plus a goalie
  • No heading or punting

Referee(s) will be provided.

Goalies are introduced at this level, with 6 players on the field per team.

Basic soccer rules apply, including offside.

Punting and heading are not allowed at this age group.

Coaches may substitute at the half line on your own throw, goal kick or after any goal with referee permission.

U10 games have an added blue line: attackers may not advance behind that line until the defending team has received the ball from their goalie behind the blue line or the ball has advanced beyond the blue line.

Coaches should remain on their half of the field.

Parents should sit on the opposite side of the coaches bench.

U11 & U12 - 9 v 9

  • Up to 16 players per team
  • Two 30-minute halves (60 minute games)
  • Up to three referees will officiate the game
  • 8 players on the field, plus a goalie
  • U11 does not allow heading the ball
  • U12 allows both heading and punting.

Referee(s) will be provided

Basic soccer rules apply, including offside.

Coaches may substitute at the half line on your own throw, goal kick or after any goal with referee permission.

Coaches should remain on their half of the field.

Parents sit on the opposite side of the coaches bench.

U13 & Older - 11 v 11

U13/U14 - Two 35 minute halves (70 minute games)

U15/U16 - Two 40 minute halves (80 minute games)

U17 and above - Two 45 minute halves (90 minute games)

  • Up to 22 players per team with 18 in uniform at any game
  • Up to three referees will officiate the game
  • 10 players on the field, plus a goalie

Referee(s) will be provided.

Basic soccer rules apply, including offside.

Coaches may substitute at the half line on your own throw, goal kick or after any goal with referee permission.

Coaches should remain on their half of the field.

Parents sit on the opposite side of the coaches bench.