Age                 Players                      Goals            Ball                Field size

Jr.                    5 vs 5                         No                  3                      25x30 yds

5-6                 5 vs 5                         Yes                 4                      30x25 yds

7-10               7 vs 7                         Yes                 4                      50x30 yds

11-16             7 vs 7                         Yes                 5                      50x30 yds

Play Time

N Zone Sports was created to allow children of all skills levels the opportunity to play soccer in our community. Each player shall be given the opportunity to play 50% of each game if feasible. Coaches must allow all children to play the game regardless of the desire to win. This will be monitored periodically throughout the season by the league and/or referees.

The Field of Play

            The field of play shall be rectangular; the length in all cases shall  exceed the width.

• Recommendation: smaller fields should fit within existing full-size fields. If no existing field follow “quick reference guide.”
• The field of play is bounded by touch lines (side lines) and goal lines (end lines). These boundaries should be marked with 12” tall cones.
• A center mark is placed in the middle of the field at the halfway mark to show kickoff location. This can be marked with disc style cones (the referee may place ball in middle of field when there is no center mark).

There re no goal or penalty areas.

• Games that reach a score of 10-0 before end of regulation will automatically end with a mercy rule in effect for league play ages 5 and up.
• Teams should remain on opposite sidelines unless both coaches agree to be on the same sideline. The choice sideline will be on a first come first serve basis and chosen by the team’s head coach that arrives first.

The Ball

The size of the ball must be age appropriate.

            • Size 3 for Ages 4 and under

            • Size 4 for Ages 10 and under

            • Size 5 for Ages 16 and under

Number of Players

Jr Division

            • Teams play 5 vs 5 with goalie.

            • Each team may, at their own discretion, place a last defender near                        their own goal, but that player may not use his/her hands and is not             permitted inside the arc near the goal.

The goal of this division is to provide children with an introduction to basic soccer skills and concepts along with the team concept. There is no score recorded for these games and records are not kept. As the season progresses there will be scrimmage games. Games consist of two (2), twelve (12) minute periods with a teaching halftime break. Coaches are encouraged to apply help and teaching to all children, not just their team. This is a cooperative venture and requires the understanding that kids participating may not have the attention span necessary to play an entire half with a positive disposition. There are no officials, so coaches are able to stop play for substitutions or for any other reason when necessary. Every player in this division will receive an achievement medal at the conclusion of their final game of the season. 

5 & 6 year olds

            • Teams play 5 vs 5 with a goalie.

            • If a ball is touched inside the arc by a defending player other than the       goalie, a goal is automatically awarded.

Teams may substitute players on any stoppage of play with the referee's approval and each player shall play approximately 50% of the total playing time.

Players' Equipment

None Sports will supply each player with a game jersey and soccer socks.

Parents supply black shorts, shin guards and footwear. Shin guards are mandatory for all age groups. Footwear may be sneakers or cleated (non-metal) soccer shoes.

Game duration, over time

       Ages 5 & Older (League Play)

            • Games will be played in two 15-minute halves.

                5-minute halftime

            • No overtime in regular season

            • Playoff overtime will be a shootout. Each team will take 5 shots. The

            • team with the most goals wins. If a tie still exists, one additional kick                      will be given to each team until a winner is decided. All players must  receive a kick before the original selection of 5 players may kick again.

Referees

       •   One official will be provided for each game or coach from each team will      

             Officiate.

       •   Referees should avoid interfering with the course of play but are        considered part of the field

       •   Referees will briefly explain all rule infractions to the offending player.       More coaching of rules should be provided at the younger ages.

The Start of Play

•          The winner of a coin toss at the beginning of the match will elect either                to kick or to select which goal to defend during the first half. Teams will      switch sides of the field at half time.

•          Play is restarted at the beginning of each half -- and following a goal -- by           means of a kick off taken at midfield. All players must be on their own         half of the field. All kick offs shall be indirect kicks, meaning that a goal   cannot be scored unless the ball is touched by another player of either                    team before it goes in the goal. If the ball enters the non-kicking team's             goal before being touched by another player, a goal kick is awarded to               the non-kicking team.

•          If an infringement occurs during a kick off, retake the kick and coach                      the players on the correct procedure.

•          The referee shall award ball possession and a free kick to restart play                       after a temporary stoppage for any reason not otherwise mentioned in                 these rules.

Ball In and Out of Play

The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line (end line) or touch line (side line) on the ground or in the air; or when play has been stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times, including when it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar, corner flag post, coach or referee and remains in the field of play.

Offsides

Offsides penalties will not be called. Offsides is explained as follows: An offensive or attacking player can't be ahead of the ball and involved in the play unless there are two opponents between them and the goal. Usually, 1 of these two is a goalkeeper. However, if the official deems a player remains in the offensive zone and is not part of the play, he/she may blow the whistle and issue a change of possession. This is referred to as the cherry-picking rule.

Fouls and Misconduct

The following are infractions and result in a free kick for the opposing team.

                        • Grabbing and holding another player's shirt.

                        • Intentional tripping, pushing or shoving.

                        • All rule infractions should be explained to the offending player.

                        • Any handball. ("handball" occurs when a player intentionally                                     makes contact with the ball using any part of the hand or arm                                from the top of the shoulder to the tips of the fingers).

                           Unintentional contact with the hand or arm (i.e., "ball to hand")                                     is not a foul.

                        • Fouls and misconducts shall be awarded a free kick.

Carded Penalties

Excessive unsportsmanlike conduct, repeated and intentional infractions of tackling, tripping, and/or pushing may result in a Carded Penalty at the discretion of the referee

• Yellow Card - 3-minute bench. Timing and player return must be approved by the referee
• Red Card - Game bench. Player must remain benched for entirety of game

Free-Kicks

All free kicks shall be indirect kicks, meaning that a goal cannot be scored unless the ball is touched by another player of either team before it goes into the goal. If the ball enters the non-kicking team's goal before being touched by another player, a goal kick is awarded to the non-kicking team. If the ball enters the kicking team's goal before it is touched by another player, a corner kick is awarded to the non-kicking team.

Free kicks are awarded to the non-offending team at the spot of an infraction.

If the defending team commits an infraction inside their own goal area, the free kick is taken from the nearest point parallel to the goal line and outside the goal area. If the attacking team commits an infraction inside the goal area of the defending team, the free kick is taken from any point within the goal area. The non-kicking team must yield no less than 5 yards from the kicker.

The ball is in play when it is touched by the attacking team

Penalty Kick

Penalty kicks are not taken in our games.

Throw-in

•          A throw-in is the method of restarting play and is awarded when the           whole of the ball goes out of bounds or crosses the touch line (side line)          in the air or on the ground. Proper technique must be used when  throwing the ball in. Back foot must remain on the ground

•          Throw-ins on smaller fields shall be taken from a point on the sideline       nearest where the ball went out of bounds, but no closer to the goal.

•          The ball is in play immediately as it enters the field of play.

•          A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in.

•          If an infringement occurs on a throw-in, coach the players on the proper      technique and retake the throw-in.

Headers

•          In an effort to reduce the occurrence of head injuries/concussions, we          will enforce headers, with the exception of players ages 10 and up.    Players in age groups 9 & Under are not permitted to use their heads to             stop redirect a ball. If a player does intentionally use his/her head to          contact the ball, the whistle is blown. The player will be warned. If an        attempted header occurs again the player will be ejected from the             game.

Goal-Kick

•  A goal kick is the method of restarting play and is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, crosses the goal line on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored.

                        Procedure:

• The ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a member of the defending team.
• Opposing players must remain outside of the goal area until the ball is kicked
• The ball is in play when it is played outside of the goal area.

Corner-Kick

•          A corner kick is the method of restarting play and is awarded when the       whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team,     crosses the goal line on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored.

                        Procedure:

• The ball is placed within 2 feet of the closest corner cone. The cone cannot be moved for the kick.
• Opposing players must remain no less than 5 yards away from the ball until it is kicked
• The ball is kicked by a member of the attacking team.
• The ball is in play when it is touched by an attacking player.

The Two Touch Rule

• A player cannot touch the ball twice in row when bringing a ball back into play.  
• A player cannot touch the ball twice or dribble during a shoutout (playoffs/championship games)

Practice

At N Zone Sports, we recognize that you have a busy schedule and strive to be as convenient as possible. This is why we leave practices optional. At the discretion of the coach, practices can be held, but they are not to be made mandatory. If a child misses a practice for any reason, they are not to be excluded from playing in the game. 

We have found that the easiest and most convenient time to hold practice time is 30-60 minutes before the regularly-scheduled game time. This way you are able to get everything accomplished in 1 trip to the venue. If you would like to hold one additional weekday practice, Coaches are asked to discuss this with parents to determine the best possible time for the entire team. Practices are not mandatory.