Spring 7 v 7 Rules

St. Pete Raiders 7 v 7 Spring Soccer Rules

PLAYER REGISTRATION

All players will be listed on their teams’ roster before the season begins. Players can only play for their assigned team, unless prior arrangements are made with the program administrator.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

TWELVE is the maximum number of players on a team; SIX field players and a goalkeeper at one time. Players may only play on one team in the program. Substitutes are allowed on any stoppage of play outside of the playing field. The player leaving the field must be off the field before the player entering the game steps onto the field. Substitutes may only enter and exit at the half-field mark only.

TEAM UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT

All players must wear club issued Spring jerseys/shirts during play. All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards and players wearing jewelry will not be allowed to play. Teams are responsible for providing game balls. Here are the following sizes for each group: U8 = Size 3; U9-U12 = Size 4; and U13 & up = Size 5.

FIELD DIMENSIONS

U8 Maximum Length - 40 yards, Width - 30 yards.

U10 Maximum Length - 60 yards, Width - 40 yards.

U12 & Above Maximum Length - 75 yards, Width - 45 yards.

GOAL AREA

Safety of the Goalkeepers is priority. Any attempt to kick ball from goalkeeper possession as determined by the referee will result in an in-direct kick for the goalkeeper.

GAME DURATION

The game shall consist of TWO 25 minute halves separated by a two-three minute halftime period. There are no time outs in 7 v 7 soccer. U8 will be 4v4 with FOUR 10 minute quarters.

HEADING

Players in the U13 and above age group are the only players allowed to head the ball. Players deliberately heading the ball in U12 and below will result in a indirect kick for the opponent.

GOAL SCORING

Goals can be scored from anywhere on the offensive half of the field of play. The ball must last be touched (either by offense or defense) within the attacking team’s offensive half of the field.

NO OFFSIDES and NO SLIDE TACKLING in 4v4 or 7v7 soccer. However this does not mean you can cherry pick, and leave a player right in front of the goal.

10 YARD RULE

In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least ten yards away from the ball. 5 Yards in U8 soccer

INDIRECT KICKS

All dead ball kicks (free kicks, kick-offs, corner kicks) are indirect with exception of penalty kicks. Indirect kicks must be deliberately passed to a teammate, no touching and blasting the ball at the goal.

GOAL KICKS

May be taken from any point inside in the goal box. Ball must touch ground or player prior to crossing the half line. On a Goal Kick, All defensive players must be behind the "Build Out Line" (the half line in U8) until the ball is put into play by the team taking the goal kick. Quick goal kicks may be taken at the discretion of the team taking the kick, without players retreating to the "build-out line". Any long ball played over the center line, is an in-direct kick from the center line for the opponent.

GOALKEEPER POSSESSIONS

All instances of Goalkeeper possessions, goal kicks, etc., the ball CAN NOT be punted or drop kicked. Goalkeeper possessions, goal kicks can not travel over the half line without touching the ground or another player on the defensive side of the field. Any ball thrown over the half-line in the air will result in an indirect kick from the half-line by the opponent.

KICK OFF
May be taken in any direction. Goals CAN NOT be scored directly from a Kick-Off as this is an Indirect kick.

PENALTY KICKS

Shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction. It is a direct kick taken from 10yds with all players behind the goal arc.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Players, coaches and spectators are expected to act in the nature of good sportsmanship at all times. Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated. Any instance of such conduct will disqualify the responsible party from the game.

SITUATIONS OR OCCURRENCES THAT THESE RULES DO NOT ADDRESS SHALL BE LEFT TO THE SOLE DISCRETION OF PROGRAM DIRECTOR.