The Santa Cruz City Youth Soccer Club has formulated the following rule modifications for players in the under 8 and under 10 age groups. Please review these rules and help make the soccer experience richer for the children playing in our league.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CLUB HAS DECIDED TO ASSIGN LICENSED REFEREES TO U-8 GAMES. Read the CYSA Team Manual for Modified and Summary of Laws of the Game.

PREPARATION: Teams should arrive at least 20 minutes before game time. The referee will check equipment for safety. Shoes should be soccer cleats, turf shoes, or tennis shoes. No baseball shoes. No earrings or hard hair barrettes. Socks are outside shinguards, not inside and pulled over the shinguards, shirts are tucked in, and shoelaces are double tied, by an adult. Examine player passes if available. Home team provides the ball. Visitors call coin toss. Winner chooses the goal they will attack.

START GAME PROMPTLY

THE GAME:
7 players per side
Ball size: Size 3 ball
Goal size: 6 feet high x 15 feet wide
Game duration: 2-25 minute halves. 5 minute halftime.
Substitution break: At about the 12 minute mark of each half, indicate a sub break with the clock running. Do not stop play during possible scoring situations! Allow coaches to reposition players; restart game with a kickoff by team in possession.
Do not call offside.
Unintentional handballs play on.
Allow rethrows for bad throw-ins. Remind players how to do it properly.
No slide tackling, pushing, or tripping. Stop play, explain the foul, and award free kick where the foul occurred, but no closer than the goal box line.
All free kicks are INDIRECT (ball must touch any other player before a goal counts).
Goal kick: any defensive player from anywhere in the goal box.
Corner kick: any offensive player from anywhere inside the corner arc. At any kick, the players must be at least 6 yards away.
Stop play for injuries with the clock running. Substituted players may return at the sub breaks. Restart play with a drop ball (a ball dropped from waist high; it must touch the ground before players can kick it!) from where the ball was when the whistle blew.
Stop game for dangerous conditions: dogs, small children, low flying aircraft; restart with a drop ball.
Coaches, parents and spectators are not permitted near the goals. Parents and coaches should stay 3 feet back from touch line (outside line). Encourage coaches to observe from midline.

END OF GAME: Encourage teams to shake hands. Observe teams for unsportsmanlike gloating and report it to the coach.

COACHES' RESPONSIBILITIES: To play all prepared players 50% of the game.
Require parents maintain a supportive and pleasant atmosphere.

NO DOGS AND PACK TRASH OUT--EVEN ORGANIC TRASH!

Club-Modified Rules For Under 10

THE GAME:
Ball Size - Size 4 ball
Goal Size - U-10 7x21 feet (standard is 8x24 feet)
Field Size - smaller than regulation to accomodate smaller venues. Usually 45 x 80 yards.
No. of Players - 9 on the field including the goalkeeper. IMPORTANT NOTE: C3PL (CLASS III) PLAYS 8 V. 8. THAT IS, 8 ON THE FIELD FOR EACH TEAM INCLUDING THE GOALKEEPER.
Length of Game - 25 minute halves.
Substitutions - Conforms to the laws of the game (no substitution break).
Slide Tackling is not to be allowed and shall be treated as dangerous play.
Free Kicks - only INDIRECT kicks
Penalty Kicks - NO Penalty Kicks - remove ball to nearest point on penalty box line parallel to goal line.
Throw-ins - Conforms to the laws of the game. Leniency recommended for first 2 games of the season.
Off-side - Conforms to the laws of the game. Leniency recommended for first 2 games of the season.

COACHES' RESPONSIBILITIES:  Remember that this is a Class 4 Recreational Division and NOT a Competition Division.
Play all eligible players equally and require that parents maintain a pleasant atmosphere.
Create a positive experience of team sports for non-athletic players and families - "Participation" not "Wins".
End of Game:
Help players maintain good sportsmanship--win or lose.
Watch for gloating or other unkind comments between players after the game.

Updated August 27, 2002.