The CISL Game Rules follow the current guidelines of the Iowa Soccer Association and US Youth Soccer, with a few minor modifications. These rules are designed to be age-appropriate, in terms of the size of the field, the number of players on the field, the length of the game, and sophistication. It is expected that every player will be given at least 50% playing time. There is no limit to the number of substitutions that may be made in the game.

Sportsmanship: (adapted from Alliance4All). All coaches, parents, and players are expected to remember the game is played for the fun and benefit of youth. Parents should act as a positive role model and never place the value of winning over the fun and safety of the players and by teaching their child to practice better sportsmanship. Parents should not criticize any player on the field nor the referee. The referee will typically be a young person just starting out and should be treated with respect and civility. It is never a good idea for coaches to discuss the referee’s performance nor rules at half-time or after the game. If you have concerns, please contact the CISL Director, Lowell Davis.

At the end of the game, it is tradition to thank the referee and for the players to congratulate and thank one another.

Following the guidelines from US Youth Soccer, NO headers are allowed in practice nor games throughout CISL. Referees will award an indirect free kick for intentional headers.

It is recommended that if a player makes an incorrect throw-in, they should be informed of the breakdown and given another chance to correct. If on the 2nd chance the player makes an incorrect throw-in, the opposing team will be awarded the throw-in (no 3rd chances).

U7/U8 Rules summary

The game is 4 v 4 on a small field. No keepers are used. The length of the game is two twentyminute halves. On a goal kick, the defending team must wait behind the halfway line until the ball is kicked. No offside violations are called, nor are any penalty kicks. All free-kicks and kick-offs are indirect. No defending player should loiter by their own goal while the ball is in their offensive half. Substitution is allowed at:

• Throw-ins in your team’s favor (both teams can sub if both teams have players on line).
• Goal Kicks.
• After goals are scored.

U8 games should and will almost all have a certified referee, often a teenager learning the trade. However, parents should be ready to step in, if need be, since we prioritize referees for older games over younger games. U8 players use a size 3 ball.

U9/U10 Rules summary

The game is 7 v 7 on a mid-sized field. Keepers are used and offsides can be called. The length of the game is 2 25-minute halves. On a goal kick, the defending team must wait behind the halfway line until the ball is kicked. Free kicks are direct or indirect as appropriate, and penalty kicks are awarded for fouls or handling in the box. The goalkeeper is not allowed to punt or drop-kick. Substitution is allowed at:

• Throw-ins in your team’s favor (both teams can sub if both teams have players on line).
• Goal Kicks.
• After goals are scored.

U10 games must have a certified referee, often a teenager learning the trade. Assistant referees are optional. U10 players use a size 4 ball.

Build-out line: Goalkeeper possession (hands) and goal kicks as per US Soccer: “the build-out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting.” CISL requires that the opponent “drops off” to the build-out line (which will be the half way line at all CISL locations) when the goalkeeper has the ball in his or her hands, and on all goal kicks. The defending team may not release from the half line until the ball has been played. Referees will be instructed to strictly enforce this rule and be flexible with the “6 second rule” as the goalkeeper may need to wait longer for the defending team to drop off. This rule is designed to encourage the development of building to play out of the back. Goalkeepers don’t have to wait for the defending team to “drop off” they can distribute the ball at their own discretion.

About Jewelry

All jewelry must be removed for games. This includes earrings and watches, in addition to things like necklaces. This is a matter of safety. We cannot deny that “taping” of earrings occurs on occasion, but it is not officially allowed, is not as safe, and a referee is well within her/his rights to insist that earrings (whether just recently pierced or not!) come out for games.

By and large, we conform to the US Youth Soccer Rules that simplify the game of soccer for our younger players. This document highlights several points, and points out a few
special “CISL EXCEPTION” Rules.

NO headers are allowed in practice nor games throughout CISL. Referees will award an indirect free kick for intentional headers.

Game length

• U5-U6: 4 players on a side[no goalie]; 16 minute halves; size 3 ball. Max roster size 6 players.
• U7-U8: 4 players on a side [no goalie]; 20 minute halves; size 3 ball. Max roster size 6 players.

Field size

• Age USSF Recommended Length x Width
• 5U-6U 25-35 x 15-25
• 7U-8U 25-35 x 15-25

Playing time:

All players are expected to receive at least 50% playing time.

Before the game:

The referee will check for proper equipment: shirts, shorts, shoes, socks, and shin guards. No jewelry. Home team wears the primary team color if the uniforms are not distinct from one another. The referee chooses a game ball. The referee will have a coin toss and the winner chooses which goal to attack. The other team kicks off. The other team kicks off for the 2nd half.

Seating Locations:

Parents from both teams should be on one side of the field. Players and coaches from both teams should be on the other side. No one should stand or sit behind the goals.

Substitutes:

Substitutes may be made at any stoppage of play, at the discretion of the referee.

Violations:

THE OFFSIDES RULE IS NOT USED IN U6 OR U8 GAMES. The usual fouls (kicking, tripping, jumping, charging, striking, tackling, pushing, holding, handballs, impeding) should be called. All free kicks at U6 and U8 are INDIRECT (a goal can be scored from an indirect kick only if the ball touches another player before it enters the goal).

Kick-off:

Kick offs at the beginning of the half and after a goal are INDIRECT.

Throw-ins (CISL EXCEPTION):

We play with a normal throw-in. The referee should explain a foul throw and allow the thrower a second chance. After a second foul throw, a throw in should be awarded to the other team.

“No Goalie” rule (CISL EXCEPTION):

No player may loiter in the quarter of the field closest to his/her defensive goal when the ball is in his/her team’s offensive half. The referee should warn the player, and may award an indirect free kick to the other team.

Goal Kicks:

When a goal kick is awarded, the defending team’s players must retreat into their own defensive half and may not move past the half-line until the goal kick is taken. The kicking team may take the goal kick before the defending team has retreated completely into their defensive half.

By and large, we conform to the US Youth Soccer Rules that simplify the game of soccer for our younger players. This document highlights several points, and points out a few special “CISL EXCEPTION” Rules.

NO headers are allowed in practice nor games throughout CISL. Referees will award an indirect free kick for intentional headers.

Game length:

U9-U10: 7 players on a side; 25 minute halves; size 4 ball

Max roster size:

12 players

Field size:

USSF Recommended Length x Width (55-65 x 35-45)

Playing time:

All players are expected to receive at least 50% playing time.

Before the game

The referee will check for proper equipment: shirts, shorts, shoes, socks, and shin guards. No jewelry. Home team wears the primary team color if the uniforms are not distinct from one another. The referee chooses a game ball. The referee will have a coin toss and the winner chooses which goal to attack. The other team kicks off for the 2nd half.

Seating Locations

Parents from both teams should be on one side of the field. Players and coaches from both teams should be on the other side. No one should stand or sit behind the goals.

Substitutes:

Substitutions may be made at any stoppage of play, at the discretion of the referee.

Violations:

THE OFFSIDES RULE IS now USED IN U9 and U10 GAMES. The usual fouls (kicking, tripping, jumping, charging, striking, tackling, pushing, holding, handballs, impeding) should be called. Kicks can be indirect or indirect.

Throw-ins:

(CISL EXCEPTION). We play with a normal throw-in. The referee should explain a foul throw and allow the thrower a second chance. After a second foul throw, a throw in should be awarded to the other team.

Goal Kicks:

When a goal kick is awarded, the defending team’s players must retreat into their own defensive half and may not move past the half-line until the goal kick is taken. The kicking team may take the goal kick before the defending team has retreated completely into their defensive half.

Punting:

Goalkeepers are not allowed to punt or drop-kick, and training should be focused upon throwing and using their feet with the ball on the ground to transition play to the attack. If a goal-keeper punts or drop-kicks the ball, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the punt or drop-kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.

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