1.
Regardless of previous game or practice
attendances, any child that attends a scheduled game must play a minimum of
one-half of the total game if that child was present prior to the start of the
game. If a child arrives late for a scheduled game, then the amount of time
shall be adjusted accordingly. This rule
shall be enforced throughout the season, and during tournament play. This is a critical aspect of recreation
soccer that separates this league from the travel program, and all
commissioners must ensure this policy is enforced. Coaches that do not adhere to this policy may
be dismissed from coaching for the remainder of the season, pending a ruling by
the four league commissions.
2.
Players attending less than 50% of the regular season
matches, shall not be qualified to participate in the end-of-season
tournament. The team not following this
rule closely will be disqualified for the tournament participation.
Groups
|
Halves
(min.)
|
Halftime
Breaks (min.)
|
U7
|
20
|
5
|
U8
|
25
|
5
|
U10
|
25
|
5
|
U12
|
30
|
5
|
U14
|
35
|
5
|
U16/U18
|
35
|
5
|
Clock
stops only in case of a major injury. You must complete each game and
vacate the field as soon as possible, but no later than the start of the next
game.
Tie Games
Score
remains a tie without overtime during regular in-season games. Separate rules
will be published specific for the tournament.
Opposing
Teams
Opposing
teams shall line up on opposite sides of the field. Only players and coaches
may stand in front and must stay in the middle third of their side. The coach
of each team should provide a line person to assist the referee. The referee will determine the line person’s
responsibilities.
Only one
coach from each team in the U7 age group shall be allowed on the field during
play; however, coaches are restricted from entering either penalty area.
Coaches should make every effort to stay close to the sidelines as much as
possible and not to interfere with the game. For all age groups, no person (coach nor
parent) is allowed at the end of the field near, or behind, the goalkeeper
area.
Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers
will be allowed unlimited steps while in possession of the ball in the penalty
area, within the 6-second
time limit. Goalkeeper
substitution must be reported to the referee. While the goalkeeper has the
ball, everyone must leave him/her alone so he/she can clear the ball. Goalkeeper
is penalized with an indirect kick if he/she commit any of the three offenses
inside his/her penalty area:
1- Touches the ball again, a second time, with his/her hands after releasing
the ball and before it has touched another player.
2- Touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked
(kickback), or throw-in, to him/her by a teammate.
3- Takes more than six seconds to release the ball after gaining possession
of the ball.
Special situation: If an indirect kick occurs inside the goal area box,
the ball is placed on the nearest point of this goal box line. This rule applies
to all age groups, with the exception of U7 and U8 groups that get one warning
to the keeper.
Substitutions
Substitutions
for all age groups may be made during the following situations: half-time, after a goal is scored, prior to a
goal kick, or in case of injuries. If the game is stopped because of an injury,
the injured player must be replaced and/or vacate the field of play. If not
replaced, the player can re-enter any time after play is re-started with the
referee’s permission. The opposing team may also make one substitution prior to
the re-start from an injury, and on your possession of a throw- in.
U7, and U8
age groups will have a liberal substitution policy; they may substitute on the
fly.
U16/U18
Coed substitution is made when the ball is out of bounce or a goal is
scored. Once referee permission is
granted subs. has to be completed in less than 5 seconds, before start of play.
Safety
Measures
Players in
the fields must wear shinguards. Coaches are to report unsafe fields or goals
(unstable) to home team, field commissioner or
Rules and Guidelines to Remember
A.
Players may not handle the ball. However, if the ball
strikes any part of the hands to the shoulders can be considered by the referee
a handball. Girls only may fold their arms across the chest to protect
themselves from a high ball. All players may protect themselves during a
free kick at close range, provided they do so before the kick is made.
B.
Players may not hold, push, pull, strike, kick, jump
at, trip, knee, or charge violently into an opponent. These offenses, including handballs, are
considered serious offenses and shall result in a DIRECT FREE KICK; if
violation occurs in the penalty area it will result in a PENALTY KICK. A goalie handling the ball outside the
penalty area will result in a direct kick and he/she will receive a yellow
caution card.
C.
An indirect will result in any dangerous play,
offside, kickback, obstruction, delays, unsafe tackling (endangering the safety
of other players), removing jersey during play, and unsportsmanlike conduct.
D.
An indirect kick will be awarded to the opponent team
if a player makes a throw-in and go after the ball to touch the ball first and
before it touches any other player.
E.
The referees will not tolerate profanity or
misconduct by players, coaches, parents, or players on the sideline that
endanger the safety or compromise the fairness of the game. By the referees’
discretion, the subject person with the misconduct or offense the offense will
be immediately ejected from the game area and asked to leave the field
area immediately before the restart of the game. If the altercation continues,
the referee will determine the match to be a forfeit.
F.
Clearance during a free kick: In a free kick, all
opponents must stay clear of the ball by a minimum of 10 feet, with the
exception of an indirect kick inside the goal box where the players can stand
between the goal posts on the goal line. In a free-throw, all opponents must
stay clear no less than 3 feet from the point the throw-in is taken.
G.
Slide tackling is allowed from the side only, but
discouraged. No slide tackling
in U7 or U8 age groups are allowed. In all other age groups and in the event of
a side slide tackle, contact with the ball (not the player) is only permitted. A
referee may award the opponent team an indirect kick if the slide tackle rule
is violated.
H.
During a penalty kick, both teams must be out of the
penalty area with the exception of the goalkeeper and the kicker. The
goalkeeper must have portions of both feet on the goal line. The goalkeeper may
move from side to side on the goal line, but may not move forward until the
ball is kicked.
I.
Lying on the ball or playing the ball while on the
ground and in the vicinity of the other players will be considered a dangerous
play.
J.
The ball must go completely across the goal line for
a goal to be scored or to be out of bounds.
Any part of the ball above the line means the ball is still in
play. Play the whistle.
K.
For the U16/U18 Coed age group, a female player only
must make the penalty kick if the goalkeeper is a female; however, if the
goalkeeper is male, a female or male can take the penalty kick.
L.
There are no offside calls on U7 or U8 age groups. Coaches
will be monitored and reported for abusing this No Offside rule. Coaches
are to avoid “Cherry picking” strategy by placing a designated scoring player,
standing in the offensive zone and waiting for the ball to arrive. This will
teach them a bad habit of not checking back to the ball.
M.
A referee reinforces the laws of the game to ensure
safety and fairness of the game. Referee
calls are final, not subject to challenge, explanation, or
questioning. Referees, and assistant referees, communicate his/her calls using
a whistle and universal non-verbal hand signs. Coaches, parents, and players
need to be familiar with the rules of the game to understand the referee’s
non-verbal communication and calls during play. Professionalism by coaches,
parents, and players is required at all times and interference with the referee
work is not allowed. The goal of the recreation Council is to develop our youth
in the fundamentals and skills of the game of soccer, by example of positive
behavior. This includes respect,
sportsmanship, and fair play at all times for our youth.
Number of players required
allowing a game to start
7 v
7: Teams must have 6 players to start
and continue/complete a game
If unable
to field 6 players after a 10-minute grace period, the team short on players
will forfeit the game. Coaches from both teams must make every effort to keep
the game going and avoid a forfeit.
Home Team
Home team
is responsible for alternate colors for jerseys in case of duplicate colors. In
addition, the home team coach is responsible to provide proper home field,
including visible lining, corner flags and goals with nets. Home team are
responsible to ensure the safety and stability of the goal posts (with sandbags
or nailed to the ground), nets are to be intact and away from the goalie’s
feet, fields are clear, intact, and safe (no ankle twisters). Games are
immediately suspended if the goals or fields are not safe.
Soccer
Balls and Fields
|
Age Group |
Ball Size |
|
U14 & U16/U18 |
5 |
|
U8, U10, U12 |
4 |
|
K, U7 |
3 |
Ejection
from game
Any
player, parent, or coach ejected from a game shall be suspended for the next
scheduled/played game as well. A player, parent, or coach ejected on two
occasions in the same season shall be suspended for the remainder of the
season. A Yellow Card is a warning per violation. A Red Card
is a send off (ejection) that requires the individual (player or coach or
parent) to leave the area immediately before the restart of the game and may
result in next game suspension. All red cards are to be reported to the referee
coordinator and all 5 commissioners within 24 hours of offence (email
notification OK)
Standings
Standings
shall be computed as follows: 3 points for a win; 1 point for a tie; 0 points
for a loss. The winning team is
responsible for reporting scores. Please
email scores to the following commissioners of each age group:
Under 7 Matt Dryer mdryer@orioles.com
Under 8
Boys Richard Butt rbutt@kci.com
410-374-0524
Under 8
Girls Richard Butt rbutt@kci.com
410-374-0524
Under 10
Boys Joe Kingeter joseph.kingeter@irs.gov 410-329-3848
Under 10
Girls Joe Kingeter joseph.kingeter@irs.gov 410-329-3848
Under 12
Boys Mark Seely mark.seely@comcast.net 410-343-2453
Under 12
Girls Mark Seely mark.seely@comcast.net 410-343-2453
Under 14
Boys Todd Johnston tjohnston123@comcast.net 410-598-2768
Under 14
Girls Todd Johnston tjohnston123@comcast.net 410-598-2768
Under 16/18 Mohamed Badawi coedsoccer@hotmail.com 410-357-0699
Scores must be emailed prior to the next scheduled game, use the
telephone only if absolutely necessary.
Cancellations
Only
Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Staff may cancel games
because of inclement weather. Check the Hereford Zone Website for the game
status: http:/herefordrec.org/
To find
out information about any game cancellations, the coach must contact his/her
commissioner by email or phone. Commissioners will contact the Rec. Council
offices and will inform the coaches.
Coaches will then contact each parent and inform him or her of the
cancellation. Parents must not contact the Rec. Offices or the
commissioners. It is always a good idea for the coach to contact the
opposing team’s coach to confirm the cancellation.
No
coach-to-coach re-scheduling or cancellations are allowed. Todd Johnston (410)
357-5554 will make all decisions concerning re-scheduling, and all make-up
games will be scheduled through revisions to the master schedule. Referees are
to be paid when they show up for a scheduled game, and not cancelled through
proper channels, and fee will be collected from coaches.
Referee
Fees
|
Group |
System |
Field
Size |
Number of Referee |
Referee
Fee (per
team) |
Referee
Fee (per
game) |
|
U7 |
|
Small |
Non |
$14 |
$28 |
|
U8 |
7v7 |
Small |
1 |
$14 |
$28 |
|
U10 |
7v7 |
mid-size |
1 |
$14 |
$28 |
|
U12 |
7X7 |
mid-size |
1 |
$14 |
$28 |
|
U14 |
7v7 |
Mid-size |
1 |
$14 |
$28 |
|
U16/U18 |
7v7 |
Large |
1 |
$14 |
$28 |
.
There will
be a tournament this year for age groups, except for U7, on October 25,
2008, rain date is November 01, 2008. The planned tournament agenda will be a
round-robin as in the previous year.