UNIVERSAL

3.1.01 : Rules of Play

Current FIFA International Laws of the Game shall govern play with exceptions as noted. Coaches and other interested parties may obtain an electronic copy of the Laws from the referee section of the US Soccer Federation web site, http://www.ussoccer.com.

3.1.02 : Ball Sizes

a) Grade11/12 and Post-Graduate : Size 5

b) Grade9/10: Size 5

c) Grade7/8 : Size 5

d) Grade5/6 : Size 4

e) Grade3/4 : Size 4

3.1.03 : Uniforms and Equipment

Players on a team shall wear uniquely numbered shirts of the same color. Numbers shall be a minimum of 6" high and clearly visible. In the event of two teams of the same color playing, it is the responsibility of the AWAY team to bring shirts of a different color.

Cutoffs, jams, and visible boxer shorts are not allowed. Sweats, spandex, etc., are only allowed if weather or medical conditions dictate their use. NO JEWELRY (this also means studs) is permitted and wrist bands must be removed or taped.

Hard casts or splints on arms, legs, wrists, or fingers are not allowed. Referees have no latitude regarding casts and splints. Knee or elbow braces with exposed metal must be covered by protective padding.

Each player must wear shinguards or he/she will not be allowed to play.

3.1.04 : Playing Periods [Updated Aug2016]

a) High School Rec : Two 35 minute halves

b) Grade9/10, Grade11/12 and Post-Graduate : Two 40 minute halves

c) Grade7/8 : Two 35 minute halves

d) Grade3/4 and Grade5/6 :Two 30 minute halves

The half-time interval shall be 5 minutes.

3.1.06 : Stoppage for Player Rehydration [Updated Jul2015]

In conditions of high heat and humidity, the referee may stop play for 1 minute per half to allow the participants to rehydrate. Such stoppages may be initiated by the referee directly or pursuant to a request by either coach.

3.1.07 : Team and Spectator Location

The home team shall be allowed to select the touchline where the teams are to be located. Eligible coaches and players of both teams shall be located on the same touchline. Spectators of both teams shall be located outside the opposite touchline. Spectators are not permitted behind goal areas or lines. All coaches, spectators, and players not on the field shall remain at least 3 feet behind the touchline. When possible, the home club is encouraged to paint additional dashed lines a minimum 3 feet outside the touchlines on both sides of the field. If there is a marked team technical area, coaches and players not involved in active play must remain within its confines. The exceptions are player substitutions and a coach attending to an injured player on the field with permission by the referee to enter the field. This Bylaw shall apply unless physically impossible as determined by the referee.

3.1.08 : Substitutions [Updated Mar2016]

Substitutions shall be unlimited except where specified otherwise in the Rules and Regulations for a special competition. A substitution may take place at any stoppage of play, with permission from the Referee. The substitution rules apply to all NVYSL age groups and levels of play.

11v11 FORMAT

3.2.01 : Minimum Number of Players for 11v11 Competition

In eleven versus eleven (11v11) competition, a team shall have at least seven (7) players including the goalkeeper on the field at all times or forfeit the game.

3.2.02 : Limited Heading in Grade 7/8 [Updated Mar2016]

Consistent with the ‘Recognize to Recover (R2R)’ Player Health & Safety Campaign announced by USSF in December 2015, and further adopted by MYSA in March 2016, NVYSL requires that heading training in the Grade 7/8 Divisions be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes per week, with no more than 15-20 headers per Player per week. Grade 7/8 Players are permitted to head the ball without limit during matches.

9v9 FORMAT

3.3.01 : Modified Rules for 9v9 Play in Grade 5/6 Division [Updated Oct2021]

3.3.01(a) THE FIELD OF PLAY

The Field of Play for 9v9 matches in the Grade 5/6 Division shall have dimensions of approximately 70 yards long (Touch Line) by approximately 55 yards wide (Goal Line).

The Field of Play shall have the following markings :

1) Halfway Line with a Center Mark at its midpoint

2) Center Circle with a radius of approximately 8 yards from the Center Mark

3) Penalty Area marked by two lines drawn at right angles to the Goal Line, approximately 14 yards from the inside of each goalpost, extending into the field of play for approximately 14 yards and joined by a Penalty Line drawn parallel with the Goal Line.

4) Penalty Mark drawn 10 yards from the midpoint between the goalposts.

5) An arc of a circle with a radius of approximately 8 yards from the Penalty Mark drawn outside the Penalty Line.

6) Goal Area marked by two lines drawn at right angles to the Goal Line, approximately 6 yards from the inside of each goalpost, extending into the field of play for approximately 6 yards and joined by a line drawn parallel with the Goal Line.

3.3.01(b) GOALS

The Goals for 9v9 matches in the Grade 5/6 Division shall have dimensions of approximately 6 feet tall by approximately 6 yards wide, where available. Goals must be firmly secured to the ground.

3.3.01(c) THE BALL

The Ball for 9v9 matches in the Grade 5/6 Division shall be Size #4.

3.3.01(d) NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Each Team must field no fewer than SEVEN (7) and no more than NINE (9) Players in order for a 9v9 match in the Grade 5/6 Division to begin or continue. One Player on each Team must be a Goalkeeper. A Team is permitted to willingly and intentionally play shorthanded with fewer than NINE (9) but no fewer than SEVEN (7) Players, one of whom must be a Goalkeeper.

The maximum roster size for the Grade5/6 Division is 15 Players.

3.3.01(e) DURATION OF PLAY

All 9v9 matches in the Grade 5/6 Division shall consist of two 30 minute halves, with a half-time interval of 5 minutes.

3.3.01(f) 8-YARD RULE

Opposing Players shall be at least 8 yards from the ball on the kickoff, corner kicks, direct kicks, and indirect free kicks, rather than 10 yards as normally required for 11v11 play.

3.3.01(g) GOALKEEPER DISTRIBUTION

After a Goalkeeper takes possession and distributes the ball (e.g., by throw, punt, dropkick, etc.), the ball must next touch a Player or the Field prior to entering the Penalty Area of the opposing Team, or there is a loss of the ball and play restarts with an indirect free kick at the Halfway Line.

3.3.01(h) GOAL KICK [Updated Oct2021]

The Goal Kick shall be taken from anywhere in the Goal Area. Opposing Players must stand outside the Penalty Area until the ball is in play, or the Goal Kick shall be retaken. After the Goal Kick is put in play, the ball must next touch a Player or the Field prior to entering the Penalty Area of the opposing Team, or there is a loss of the ball and play restarts with an indirect free kick at the Halfway Line.

3.3.01(i) NO HEADING IN MATCHES IN THE Grade 5/6 DIVISION [Updated Mar2016]

NVYSL prohibits heading by Players during matches in the Grade 5/6 Division. Coaches are permitted to train Players in the Grade 5/6 Division proper technique for heading the ball only during practice, and must ensure that training is limited to a maximum of 30 minutes per week with no more than 15-20 headers per Player per week. Referees shall penalize any Player who deliberately heads or attempts to head the ball by awarding an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the spot of the infraction. If the heading infraction is committed by a defending Player inside the Goal Area or the Penalty Area, the indirect free kick shall be taken from the point on the Penalty Line nearest the spot of the infraction. An apparent goal scored as a result of deliberate heading shall be disallowed.

7v7 FORMAT

3.4.01 : Modified Rules for 7v7 Play in Grade 3/4 Division [Updated Oct2021]

3.4.01(a) THE FIELD OF PLAY

The Field of Play for 7v7 matches in the Grade 3/4 Division shall have dimensions of approximately 60 yards long (Touch Line) by approximately 50 yards wide (Goal Line).

The Field of Play shall have the following markings :

1) Halfway Line with a Center Mark at its midpoint

2) Center Circle with a radius of approximately 8 yards from the Center Mark

3) Penalty Area marked by a Penalty Line extending from one Touch Line to the other, approximately 12 yards from and parallel to the Goal Line. No Goal Area is required.

4) Penalty Mark drawn approximately 9 yards from the midpoint between the goalposts.

3.4.01(b) GOALS

The Goals for 7v7 matches in the Grade 3/4 Division shall have dimensions of approximately 6 feet tall by approximately 4 yards wide, where available. Goals must be firmly secured to the ground.

3.4.01(c) THE BALL

The Ball for 7v7 matches in the Grade 3/4 Division shall be Size #4.

3.4.01(d) NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Each Team must field no fewer than FIVE (5) and no more than SEVEN (7) Players in order for a 7v7 match in the Grade 3/4 Division to begin or continue. One Player on each Team must be a Goalkeeper. A Team is permitted to willingly and intentionally play shorthanded with fewer than SEVEN (7) but no fewer than FIVE(5) Players, one of whom must be a Goalkeeper.

The maximum roster size for the Grade3/4 Division is 11 Players.

3.4.01(e) DURATION OF PLAY

All 7v7 matches in the Grade 3/4 Division shall consist of two 30 minute halves, with a half-time interval of 5 minutes.

3.4.01(f) 8-YARD RULE

Opposing Players shall be at least 8 yards from the ball on the kickoff, corner kicks, direct kicks, and indirect free kicks, rather than 10 yards as normally required for 11v11 play.

3.4.01(g) PENALTY KICK

A Penalty Kick shall be taken from a stationary ball placed at the Penalty Mark within the Penalty Area. All Players except the Goalkeeper and Kicker must be outside the Penalty Area until the ball is kicked.

3.4.01(h) GOALKEEPER DISTRIBUTION

After a Goalkeeper takes possession and distributes the ball (e.g., by throw, punt, dropkick, etc.), the ball must next touch a Player or the Field prior to entering the Penalty Area of the opposing Team, or there is a loss of the ball and play restarts with an indirect free kick at the Halfway Line.

3.4.01(i) GOAL KICK [Updated Oct2021]

The Goal Kick shall be taken from anywhere in the Penalty Area, up to and including the Penalty Line. Opposing Players must stand no closer than the Halfway Line until the Goal Kick is taken, or the Goal Kick is re-taken. After the Goal Kick is put in play, the ball must next touch a Player or the Field prior to entering the Penalty Area of the opposing Team, or there is a loss of the ball and play restarts with an indirect free kick at the Halfway Line.

3.4.01(j) INDIRECT KICKS

Indirect kicks by the offensive Team due to a foul by the defense within the Penalty Area shall be taken from the point on the Penalty Line nearest the spot of the infraction.

3.4.01(k) DROP BALLS

A drop ball due to an event within the Penalty Area shall be taken from the point on the Penalty Line nearest the spot of the infraction.

3.4.01(l) OFFSIDE LAW

The Offside Law shall be enforced only for 7v7 matches in the Rec1 Flight of the Grade 3/4 Division. The Offside Law shall not apply in any other matches in the Grade 3/4 Division.

3.4.01(m) NO HEADING [Updated Mar2016]

NVYSL prohibits heading by Players in in the Grade 3/4 Division. Coaches must not instruct, encourage, or permit Players in the Grade 3/4 Division to head the ball during any practice, match, or other soccer activity. Referees shall penalize any Player who deliberately heads or attempts to head the ball by awarding an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the spot of the infraction. If the heading infraction is committed by a defending Player inside the Penalty Area, the indirect free kick shall be taken from the point on the Penalty Line nearest the spot of the infraction. An apparent goal scored as a result of deliberate heading shall be disallowed.