REMEMBER - All Coaches, Referees, and Board Members are volunteers donating of their free time to make this opportunity possible for our players. Region 148 encourages every parent to consider giving some of their time to make the program the best it can be.

TEAM STRUCTURE

Each team must have an adult volunteer present at every team function. Each volunteer must:

• Be registered with AYSO.
• Complete and pass a Sterling Volunteers Background check.
• Complete and pass Live Scan Fingerprinting.
• Complete Safe Haven, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and Concussion Awareness Certification.
• Complete SafeSport certification.
• Complete the 8U Coaches Training (COACHES ONLY).

In addition, each team will be assigned volunteer responsibilities at various times throughout the season. These responsibilities will the length of their team’s game and consist of things such as helping at the team table, monitoring fields to make sure no assistance is needed, or making sure that teams are keeping their sidelines neat and orderly, or help setup fields in the morning, or take them down at the end of the day.

Besides a Coach, each team may also want to have an Assistant Coach, Team Parent, and a trained 8U Referee or Regional Referee.

FIELD FORMAT

** First teams of the day on each field are responsible for field set-up (your team should arrive at least 30 minutes early as your field time cannot be extended). Each field has (2) goals with nets, and corner flags. Field lines may need to be sprayed. Additionally, the Kids Zone sign needs to be placed in a visible location.

Last teams of the day on each field are responsible for field takedown and storage (your team should understand that this is an embedded responsibility). All field equipment must be prepared to be return to the storage container, along with the Kids Zone sign. Any trash and/or recycling must be picked up and dealt with appropriately.  

8U DIVISION GUIDELINES

GAME Minutes 40: GAME ON FULL FIELD (6v6, NO GOALKEEPERS)

• Each team may have 1 person trained & registered, on the field to teach and help officiate the game in the event no 8U referees are available.
• Coaches – please do not call every foul. The players are young and will inadvertently cause fouls.
• The two teams play against each other utilizing the “rules of play” as established by the 8U Guidelines and the game structure below:

GAME STRUCTURE:

Game is (4) 10-minute periods with a 1-minute break for water and substitutions after the 1st and 3rd period, and a 5-minute halftime break.

Each quarter will start with a kickoff from midfield with the teams alternating each quarter.

No player shall play a (4) quarters until all players have played (3) quarters.

Ball Size is size 3.

Player Equipment: Shoes and shin guards, covered by the socks are mandatory at all practice and game activities. Soccer shoes, tennis shoes, or similar type athletic shoes are recommended. The type and condition of cleated shoes must be inspected for safety before use.

8U Officials: AYSO certified 8U Officials or higher for 8U games. The 8U Official should briefly explain any infringements to the player(s) and encourage proper play and sporting behavior. As with all games, every effort should be made to keep the game moving and free from stoppages for doubtful infractions. Let them play and enjoy.

Assistant Referees/Club Linesmen: If available, qualified assistant referees who have completed Assistant Referee Certification may be used to assist the referee. This is an opportunity for new assistant referees to begin getting experience. If qualified assistant referees are not available, club linesmen (untrained volunteers who may be affiliated with one of the teams/clubs) may be recruited from the spectators to assist the referee with calling the ball in and out of play only. This is an opportunity for parents to get involved.  

8U RULES OF PLAY

The Start of Play: The game should be started with a kick-off in the middle of the field.

The Kick-off: A coin toss is used to determine which team kicks off to start the game and the other team kicks off to start the second half. Opponents must be eight yards from the center mark while kick-off is in progress.

Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play in all age group games when it completely crosses the touch line (sideline) or goal line (endline), either on the ground or in the air.

Method of Scoring: A goal, in all age groups, is awarded when the ball completely crosses the goal line into the goal.

Fouls: The opposing team must be at least ten feet from the ball when free kicks are taken in 8U games. The following, if done deliberately, are the fouls most likely to occur in 8U games: kicking, tripping, pushing, holding, handling the ball and dangerous play. Officials must remember that there is no need to stop play for technical violations that do not interrupt the flow of the game. It's a player’s game and not a game of how many infractions can be identified, so keep the fun going and let them play.

Misconduct: Misconduct should be rare in 8U games. There is no need for the public cautioning and sending off young players (leave the red and yellow cards at home). Officials should work cooperatively with the coach when a player may need a 'time out'.

Free Kicks: All free kicks in 8U are indirect kicks. Opponents must be at least ten feet from the ball or on the goal line between the goal posts during free kicks. Free kicks awarded to the attacking team inside the defending teams goal area are to be taken from the nearest point on the goal area line parallel to the goal line.

Offside: There is no offside in 8U.

Throw-In: Throw-ins are replaced with pass-ins/kick-ins at 8U. Opponents should be ten feet from the ball.

Goal Kick: A goal kick is awarded to the opposing team when the attacking team is last to touch the ball before it crosses the goal line but without scoring a goal. The goal kick may be taken from any point inside the goal area. The opposing team must move past the build-out line when the goal kick is taken in 8U games..

Corner Kick: A corner kick is awarded to the opposing team, in 8U and older, when the defending team is last to touch the ball before it crosses the goal line but not scoring a goal. The opposing team must be at least ten feet from the ball when the corner kick is taken in 8U games.

Hand Ball: A hand ball infraction occurs when a player handles the ball deliberately. The 'hand' includes the entire arm up to the top of the shoulder. Instinctive, self-protective reactions are not penalized at this young age. Accidental contact (ball striking hand or arm with no intent by the player) is not an offense and should not be penalized.

Drop Ball: In the event of an un-natural stoppage, the ball is dropped by the game official to a player of the team that last touched the ball at the position where it last touched by a player, outside agent or match official. All other players (of both teams) must be 4.5 yards from the ball until it is in play.

Build-Out Line: The build-out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting. The build-out lone shall be placed across the field equal distance between the top of the penalty area and the halfway line.
The opposing team must move back behind the build-out line for a goal kick. The player taking the goal kick does not have to wait for the opposing players to move behind the build-out line. The play from the goal kick does not need be played to a teammate behind the build-out line. After the ball is put into play, the opposing team can cross the build-out line and play may resume as normal. The first touch is from the goal kick.

No Heading: Consistent with the US Soccer mandates on heading the ball, heading is banned for all division 14U and below in both practices and matches. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team if a player deliberately touches the ball with his/her head during a match (taken where the player touched the ball with his/her head).

** Games should involve “healthy competition” not “aggressive competition”. The “score” of a game is meaningless. REMEMBER, Development over Winning!