Football

 

GROUNDS DIMENTIONS :

Length (touch line): Minimum 90m, maximum 120m. Width (goal line): Minimum 45m maximum 90m. For senior football the recommended field dimension is 105m long and 68m wide.

FIFA’s recommended field of play dimensions are 105 metres x 68 metres. The field of play must be rectangular and marked with continuous lines.

THE GOAL

The diagram shows the minimum recommended goal dimensions for a 5-a-side game of small-sided football which is 12 ft. x 4 ft.

The minimum goal size for a 6-a-side or 7-a-side game is 12 ft. x 6 ft

THE BALL

The recommended ball is size 5: 69-71cm in circumference and 410-450g in weight.

The ball may not be changed during the match without the permission of the referee.

If the ball goes out of play it will be thrown-in from the side-line. If the ball is lost, or out of bounds, a replacement ball shall be provided by the referee.

If the ball bursts or becomes defective during the course of the game then the game shall be stopped and a replacement ball will be dropped at the place where the first ball became defective.

TEAMS

Small-sided football may take the form of 5, 6 or 7 players per team, including the goal keeper. Each of the two teams must start with an equal number of players.

 The recommended maximum squad size is 11 (5-a-side), 14(6-a-side) or 16 (7-a-side).

Players should be at least 16 years old.

Guidelines for Soccer Field Dimensions

Globally, FIFA (soccer’s international governing body) recommends that children play soccer on pitches that are significantly smaller than those used by adults. FIFA guidelines dictate that soccer field sizes differ according to the specific age group of the players and the number of players on each team.

In the United States, the most readily adhered to guidelines are set out by the US Youth Soccer Association. The organization recommends that children younger than 12, play on smaller pitches, for a shorter duration than senior players.

REFEREES

Matches are officiated by two on-field referees who each patrol a flank of the pitch.

A third referee will administer substitutions at the halfway line on the side of the pitch where the benches are located and monitor the behaviour of the players, ensuring all substitutes are seated throughout the game.

The fourth referee, positioned at the table, will act as time keeper and keep a record of all scores, red and yellow cards and any other incidents in the referee’s match report.

The referees officiating each game will not comprise of anyone of the same nationality as the two competing teams.

The referee has the authority to:

1. Start, suspend and restart the game as appropriate for infringement of the rules, injury or other reason as they see fit
2. Act as timekeeper, including adding extra time for any delays to the game
3. Warn or take disciplinary actions against players for both on and off-field behaviour
4. Ensure that no unauthorised persons enter the playing area
5. Monitor the substitution process
6. Exercise discretionary power
7. Ensure that teams clothing and match equipment comply with the match regulations
8. Keep a full record of all game details in the match report

CLOTHING

Each team should wear the kit specified to them in the tournament kit schedule which consists of jersey, shorts and socks.

All players must wear shin-pads, covered entirely by their socks.

Players are forbidden from wearing jewellery or any other items which may injure themselves or any other player.

 Footwear must be appropriate for the playing surface. For 3G playing surfaces metal studs and blades are prohibited.

The goal keeper’s kit should be a different colour to the rest of their team.

In the case that a goalkeeper is substituted for an outfield player, the outfield player must wear a different coloured jersey or bib to the rest of the team.

Referees will wear black or yellow to avoid colour clashes with participating teams.

 TIMING

The duration of the game may vary according to the competition. It is recommended that games last for between 20 and 40 minutes.

There will be no stoppages in play unless there is a serious injury, foul or the ball become defective.

The referee must add extra time to the game if it was interrupted due to injury, deliberate delaying etc.

 The game may be extended to accommodate penalties if there is a tied result at the end of regular play.

If a match is suspended part-way through, due to any unforeseeable circumstance, then the re-scheduled match will resume at the exact point at which it was suspended.

 All teams are required to be at the pitch side at least 10 minutes before their kick off time.

If a team arrives more than 5 minutes late then they will forfeit the game and the opposition team shall be awarded a 3-0 win.

Time keeping shall be controlled by the fourth referee.

 START OF PLAY

The team manager/ leader/ delegate must be in place at least 30 minutes before the start of the game to complete the match card.

The choice of ends is pre-determined by the match organisers.

 For national team games, each squad must enter from the side of the pitch and walk out to the centre, forming a line facing the main side of the grandstands. After the national anthem is played for each team the team listed first in the fixtures (the ‘home’ team) will go along the line and shake hands with the referees and their opponents.

The decision over which team will kick off shall be determined by a by a coin toss. The winning team captain shall decide whether they prefer to kick off the first or second half.

To kick off, all players must be in their own half of the playing area. When the referee signals the ball shall be kicked from the centre mark by the team selected by the winner of the coin toss.

GENERAL RULES

There are no ball height restrictions.

There is no offside rule.

Slide tackles are not allowed. General sliding to control or stop the ball is permitted only if there is no opponent nearby.

Substitutions are unlimited are may occur at any time during play, under the observation of the referee positioned at the halfway line. The exiting player must have left the playing area before the substitute player crosses the side line. If a player is injured they may leave the field from another point, but the player replacing them must enter at the halfway line upon authorisation of the referee.

RE-STARTS

The ball goes out of play when:

1. It has crossed the side or goal lines
2. It hits any foreign object in the arena
3. Play has been stopped by the referee for a foul, injury or any other reason.

Throw ins are awarded when the ball leaves the field of play over the side lines, to the opposing team to that which last touched the ball.

If the ball passes the goal line (but there was no goal) and the ball was last touched by the attacking team then the goal keeper must restart the game by a kick-off or throw in.

 If a goal is scored the goalkeeper shall restart the game with the ball in their hands.

 If the ball passes the goal line (but there was no goal) and the ball was last touched by the defending team then a corner is awarded to the attacking team.

 A drop ball will be used to restart the game after a temporary stoppage, such as a serious injury, the ball bursting or the ball hitting a foreign object.

 If play is stopped because a player has fouled, play shall be restarted by a free kick by the opposing team. If the offence is committed in the penalty area, a penalty kick is taken from the penalty line at the place nearest to where the infringement occurred.

SCORING

 A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar, unless it has been thrown, carried or intentionally propelled by hand or arm by a player of the attacking side, the goalkeeper included.

 A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-off or a throw in.

 A goal may be scored directly from a corner, free kick or penalty kick.

 A goal may be scored if the ball goes directly from one goalkeeper to the opposing goal.

 If a match is drawn, and a winner must be determined, there will be three penalties from each side, which alternate in turn. This will usually apply to games at the knock out stages of a ISF tournament and not during the group stages, unless otherwise stated. A coin toss between team captains shall determine which team is first to take their penalty.

 If, before both teams have taken three penalties, one team has scored more goals than the other could score, even if it were to complete its three penalties, no more penalties are to be taken.

 If the teams still cannot be separated after the first three penalties then the game will go to sudden death penalties until a winner is found. The players taking the sudden death penalties must be different to the players who have taken the first three penalties. A player who has received a red card may not take a penalty.

 All players, except the player taking the penalty and the goalkeeper, must remain in the opposite half of the pitch to where the penalty is being taken.

 If a team are more than 5 minutes late to their match the result shall be 3-0 in favour of the opposition.

 If a team cannot play or continue to play due to injury, suspensions or red cards they will forfeit that game and the result shall be 3-0 in favour of the opposition.

Fouls and Misconduct

A free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team if a player commits the following offences:

1. Kicks, trips, strikes, holds or pushes an opponent (or similar)
2. Slide tackles
3. Plays in a dangerous manner
4. Deliberately impedes the progress of an opponent when the ball is not being played
5. Deliberately handles the ball (excluding the goal keeper)
6. The player responsible for a kick off, free kick, throw in or corner touches the ball a second time before it is touched by any other player.

 The free kick is taken from the place where the foul occurred.

 Free kicks are taken from one-step back and the player must not extend their run up beyond this point.

The recommended distance between the ball and the opponents at a free kick is 5 meters. If an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance, the kick is retaken.

A penalty kick shall be awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the offences listed at 12.1. inside their own penalty area.

 Penalty kicks are taken from one-step back and the player must not extend their run up beyond this point. The players, other than the kicker, should be outside of the penalty area, behind or to the side of the penalty mark, and at least 5 meters from the ball. If an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance the kick will be retaken if no goal is scored but will not be retaken if the player scores. If a team mate is closer to the ball than the required distance the kick will be retaken if a goal is scored but shall not be retaken in the player does not score.

 A yellow card shall be awarded if a player commits the following offences:

1. Persistent fouling
2. Unsporting behaviour
3. Dissent by words or action
4. Failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted by throw in, corner or free kick
5. Deliberately delaying the game
6. Entering/ leaving the pitch without the referees permission

A red card shall be awarded if a player commits the following offences:

1. Two yellow cards in the same match
2. Serious foul play
3. Violent conduct
4. Offensive or abusive language
5. Deliberately handles the ball when the opposing team has a goal scoring opportunity (excluding the goal keeper)
6. Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free-kick or penalty kick.

A red card results in the exclusion of the relevant player for the rest of the game.

 A player who receives a direct red card will be banned from playing in the subsequent game within any ISF tournament or competition.

 A player who receives a yellow card in two consecutive games is banned from playing in the subsequent game within any ISF tournament or competition.

 The Tournament Director or Senior referee may exclude any player from the entire tournament for any serious offences.

QUALIFICATIONS

The amount of teams which proceed from the group stage to the knock out stage of any competition shall depend on the rules of that particular tournament.

Unless otherwise stated by the rules of a particular tournament, in the case that two or more teams from a group are equal on points, the team ranking shall be decided based upon the following criteria:

1. Superior goal difference from all group matches played by the teams in question
2. Higher number of goals scored from all group matches played by the teams in question
3. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
4. ‘Head-to-head’ record between the two teams in question in their group match
5. Superior goal tally of the top goal-scorer of each team in question
6. Superior number of different goal-scorers of each team in question.

Youth Soccer Field Size Charts

US Youth Soccer Association – Soccer Field Sizes by Age Group
Age	Game Format	Length			Width
Under 6	3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4	25-35yds	22.9-32.0m	75-105ft	15-25yds	13.7-22.9m	45-75ft
Under 7 & 8’s	4 vs 4 or 5 vs 5	25-35yds	22.9-32.0m	75-105ft	15-25yds	13.7-22.9m	45-75ft
Under 9 & 10’s	6 vs 6 or 7 vs 7	55-65yds	50.3-59.4m	165-195ft	35-45yds	32.0-41.1m	105-135ft
Under 11 & 12’s	8 vs 8-11 vs 11	70-80yds	64.0-73.15m	210-240ft	45-55yds	41.1-50.3m	135-165ft
Under 13+	11 vs 11	100-130yds	91.4-118.9m	300-390ft	50-100yds	45.7-91.4m	150-300ft

Soccer field & equipment requirements by age

Under 6

In accordance with guidelines set out by US Youth Soccer, players aged 6 and under should play games which are divided into 4 to 6 minute quarters with no overtime. The ball should be a size 3, and teams should have a maximum of 3 or 4 players on each side to provide a 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4 game, with no goalkeepers. The recommended goal size is 6ft x 4ft.

The soccer field for under 6 games, should have a length of between 25-35 yards and a width of 15-25 yards.

In meters, an under 6 soccer field should be 22.9-32.0 meters long and 13.7-22.9 meters wide, and in feet it should be 75-105 feet long and 45-75 feet wide.

Under 7 & 8’s

Under 7 & 8 players should play games that are divided into quarters that are 4 to 12 minutes long, with no overtime periods. The ball used should be a size 3 and the number of players should be 4 vs 4, or 5 vs 5, with no goalkeepers. The recommended goal size is 6ft x 4ft.

The soccer field for Under 7 & 8’s games is the same size as Under 6’s with a length of 25-35 yards and a width of 15-25 yards (22.9-32.0 x 13.7-22.9 in meters or 75-105 x 45-75 in feet).

Under 9 & 10’s

For players at Under 9 & 10 the US Youth Soccer Association recommends that games should be divided into 25-minute halves. The ball used should be a size 4 with either a 7 vs 7 or 6 vs 6 player format including goalkeepers. The recommended goal size is 18.5ft x 6.5ft.

The soccer field for Under 9’s & 10’s games should have a length of 55-65 yards and a width of 35-45 yards. In meters this equates to 50.3-59.4 meters long with a width of 32.0-41.1 meters, and in feet it is 165-195 long and 105-135 wide.

Under 11 & 12’s

Games involving under 11 & 12 players should use a size 4 ball and consist of 2 x 30-minute halves, with 2 x 10 minute overtime periods. In terms of players on each team, the format can be 8 vs 8, 9 vs 9, 10 vs 10 or 11 vs 11.

The soccer field for Under 11 & 12 games should have a length of 70-80 yards and a width of 45-55 yards. In meters, that is 64.0-73.15 meters long and 41.1-50.3 meters wide, and in feet it is 210-240 long and 135-165 wide.

Under 13 & 14’s

Under 13’s and 14’s regulated games are divided into 2 x 35 minute halves, with 2 x 10 minute halves for overtime. The ball should be a size 5 and each team should field 11 players.

The soccer field for under 13’s & 14’s games should be the same size as a senior soccer field, with a length of 100-130 yards and a width of 50-100 yards. In meters this is 91.4-118.9 meters long and 45.7-91.4 meters wide, and in feet it is 300-390 x 150-300.

Under 15 & 16’s

For under 15 and 16’s games, the games should consist of 2 x 40 minute halves, with overtime divided into 2 x 15 minute halves. The ball should be a size 5.

The recommended soccer field size for Under 15 & 16’s teams is in line with a full-size senior soccer pitch, which as mentioned above means a width of between 50-100 yards and a length of 100-130 yards.

Under 17s & Older

Senior soccer games are divided into 2 x 45 minute halves, with 2 x 15 minute halves for overtime. The ball should be a size 5.

Senior soccer games should be played on a pitch with a width that is between 50-100 yards and a length of 100-130 yards.

For IFAB and FIFA regulated soccer games, a senior international soccer field should be between 110 yards (100m) and 120 yards (110m) long and between 70 yards (64m) and 80 yards (73.15m) wide.

FIFA Soccer Field Size Regulations for International Senior Games
	Length	Width
Minimum	110 yards (105.6m)	70 yards (64.0m)
Maximum	120 yards (109.7m)	80 yards (73.2m)

High School Soccer Field Dimensions

Guidelines published by The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), state that high school soccer fields should have a width of 55 to 80 yards, and a length that’s between 100 and 120 yards.

Measured in meters, this equates to: 50.3-73.2m x 91.4-109.7m