Laws of the Game
Mini-Soccer
(Under 7, 8, 9, & 10)
League Rules, Directions & Procedures Season 2024-25
This is not a
comprehensive ‘Laws of Mini Soccer’ as published by the Football Association. In
August 2018 the FA introduced an electronic Mini Soccer Handbook which included
the Laws of Mini Soccer. The Law Numbers quoted below (which differ slightly from
previous versions) are taken from that Handbook
Set out below
are the rules, directions and procedures of the League, the variations are as
permitted.
1. COMPETITION:
Under
7 & 8:- 5 aside playing
development games and trophy events.
Under
9 & 10:- 7 aside playing development games and trophy events.
2. ELIGIBILITY:
a) Both boys and girls may participate in
all age groups, qualifying ages;
Under 7 after 31st August in the
current year, youngest players must be 6 before 1st September in the
current year, together with those who attain the age of 6 during the playing
season will be classed as Under 7 players for that playing season.
Under 8 after 31st August in the
current year, youngest players must be 6 before 1st September in the
current year.
Under 9 after 31st August in the
current year, youngest players must be 7 before 1st September in the
current year.
Under 10 after 31st August in
the current year, youngest players must be 8 before 1st September in
the current year
b) The team sheet must
be taken to each game and shown to the opposition manager prior to kick off;
the registration process for U7 – U10 can be found on the League Website under
League > Procedures > U7-U10 Registrations.
c) Each Under 7 or 8
team may register 10 player’s maximum, whilst Under 9 & 10 teams may
register 14 player’s maximum.
3. GENERAL:
a) The Laws of Associated Football applying
to Mini-Soccer shall apply unless detailed herein.
b) The Rules of the Tandridge League shall
apply to registration of players and pre-match checks.
4. RESULTS & MATCH CARDS:
Results for the Under 7,
Under 8, Under 9 and Under 10 age groups must be submitted to the League Website, using the Electronic Match Card
on the Tandridge App, no later than 6.00 p.m. on the Sunday of the match, as
directed by League Rule 21.B in the handbook. Emergency Match Cards must be
sent to the Match Card Secretary to arrive by the Friday following the match.
5. REFEREE:
It is the responsibility of
home teams to provide a suitable person. The visiting team can be offered the
option of supplying a referee.
PLAYING
AREA (Law 1):
Under 7 & 8 the recommended pitch size is 40 x 30 yards
at Under 9 & 10 the recommended pitch size is 60 x 40 yards.
The 5 aside pitch will be divided into two halves with a centre
spot on the halfway line. The penalty area will extend 9 yards from the
goal-line and be 16 yards wide. A penalty mark shall be 7 yards from the goal
line opposite the centre of the goal.
The 7 aside pitch will be divided into
two halves with a centre spot on the halfway line. The penalty area will extend
10 yards from the goal line and be 18 yards wide. A penalty mark shall be 8
yards from the goal line opposite the centre of the goal.
THE
BALL (Law 2):
The ball should be size three (3), it
should be safe and made of leather or other suitable material.
NUMBER
OF PLAYERS (Law 3):
An Under 7 & 8 team will consist of
five (5) players with a maximum of five (5) substitutes. A minimum of four (4)
players will constitute a team. An Under 9 & 10 team will consist of seven
(7) players with a maximum of five (5) substitutes. A minimum of five (5)
players will constitute a team.
Any number of substitutes may be used at
any time, with the permission of the referee. Substitutions may be made on a
‘roll on’, ‘roll off’ basis. i.e. once a player has been substituted, they may
be allowed back on the field of play at a later time. All substitutions must be
made with the prior knowledge of the referee and whilst the ball is out of
play.
PLAYING EQUIPMENT (Law 4):
Players
must wear shin guards and goalkeepers must wear a distinguishing playing top.
Shin guards must be covered entirely by the socks. Players must wear the
appropriate clothing depending on the weather, but hoodies are not allowed. Correct
footwear must be worn for the surface of the pitch e.g. no metal studs on
artificial pitches. Shirts numbering is not compulsory.
MATCH OFFICIALS (Law 5):
The authority of the
referee:- Any person
who referees a game of Development Football has full authority to apply the
Laws of Mini-Soccer even if they are not a fully qualified referee.
The
referee should always help the players to learn the game by explaining their
decisions and to facilitate the learning of the players, should, for example,
allow young children to take a second attempt at throw-in if the first is not
within the Laws. Assistant referees are not required.
DURATION OF PLAY (Law 6):
In
any one day, no Under 7 or Under 8 shall play more than 40 minutes. It is the
responsibility of the parent /carer or organisation to ensure that a child does
not exceed this.
In
a day, no Under 9 or Under 10 shall play more than 60 minutes. It is the
responsibility of the parent/carer or organisation to ensure that a child does
not exceed this.
It
is permitted during development matches that periods of play can be split into
equal quarters. The half time interval must not exceed 5 minutes
All
team members should receive equal playing time where possible, with the best
practise recommendation of at least 50% per player for each game.
Under 7 & 8 will play
20 minutes each way with a 5-minute break.
Under 9 and Under 10 will
play 25 minutes each way with a 5-minute break.
START AND RESTART OF GAME
(Law 7):
A
kick-off is taken at the centre of the playing area to start the game and after
a goal has been scored. The ball can be kicked in any direction. Opponents must
be 5 yards away from the ball and in their own half of the field. In
Mini-Soccer a goal cannot be scored directly from a start or restart of play.
A
dropped ball to restart the match, after play has been temporarily stopped
inside the penalty area, takes place on the penalty area line parallel to the
goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when the play
stopped. No goal can be scored direct from a dropped ball.
BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
(Law 8):
Normal
rules apply, as per Laws of Associated Football
METHOD OF SCORING (Law 9):
Normal
rules apply, as per Laws of Associated Football.
OFFSIDE (Law 10):
There
is no offside.
FOULS AND MISCONDUCT (Law 11):
Normal
rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football. In Mini-Soccer all free kicks
are direct, except at U7–U9 when a deliberate header has occurred.
At
U7-U9 if a player deliberately heads the ball, the opposing team will be
awarded an indirect free kick from the spot where the header occurred. If the
header happens within the player’s own penalty area, the free kick will be
taken from the nearest point on the penalty line area.
A
free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the goalkeeper;
a) Takes
more than 6 seconds to release from his/her hands
b) Touches
the ball again with his/hers hands after it has been released from his/hers
possession, and has not touched any other player.
c) Touches
the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by
a team mate.
d) Touches
the ball with his/her hands after he/she has received it directly from a throw
in taken by a team-mate.
For all these offences,
the free kick should be taken from the penalty area line, parallel with the
goal, at the nearest point to the offence
FREE KICKS (Law 12):
For
all free kicks opponents must be five (5) yards from the ball.
PENALY KICKS (Law 13):
Normal
rules apply as per Laws of Association Football
Positioning of the Ball
and the Players
All
players except the defending goalkeeper and kicker must be outside the penalty
area and at least five yards from the penalty mark. The ball must be kicked
forward.
THROW INS (Law 14):
At U10 normal rules apply as per Laws of Association
Football.
At
U7-U9 traditional throw-ins are replaced with pass-ins or dribble-ins. When the
ball goes out of play over the touchline, players can either pass or dribble
the ball back into play from the touchline.
The role of the referee is to allow
young players to learn the game. This may involve letting the player take
throw-ins again, if incorrect technique is used. The referee should ensure the
same player attempts a second time, with guidance and help from the match
official.
GOAL KICKS (Law 15):
A player of the defending teams kicks
the ball from any point within the penalty area.
Opponents must retreat to their own half
until the ball is in play.
The Defending Team does not have to wait
for the opposition to retreat and has the option to restart the game before should
they choose to.
CORNER
KICKS (Law 16):
The opposing player must remain at least
five yards from the ball until it is in play.
The Kicker may not touch the ball again
until it has been touched by another player. If he/she does, a free kick is
awarded against them.
The Ball is in play immediately when it
enters the field of play.
POWER
PLAY (Applies unless
both teams mutually agree, before kick-off, not to use it)
Development
football is designed to create the best learning and fun experience for young
players. To ensure an imbalance in ability does not spoil this, the FA has
approved 'Power Play'.
– Power Play is
available through all mini soccer football formats 5v5 and7v7
– If a team is losing by a four goal
difference they can put an additional player on – so 5v5 becomes 6v5.
– If the score
returns to less than a four goal difference the team takes off a player. It
does not have to be the last player to come on.
- If a team
goes on to be losing by a six goal difference a further additional player can
be added – so 6v5 becomes 7v5. If the score returns to less than a six goal
difference the team takes off a player
– The main aim
of the Power Play option is that all players are being challenged and enjoying
the game.