Coaching Resources

These Policies are the play policies for each age group division. LNYSA adheres to FIFA Rules and US Youth Soccer Rules of Play.

In addition, coaches, referees and parents are reminded of the simple principles of play for for every LNYSA match:

Is it safe? Is it Fair? Is it Fun?

(Click here to download the Play Guidelines in PDF format)

Under 6 - Boys and Girls

Number of Players on Field: 4v4, or 5v5 if 12 players on roster. Always have the same number of players per team on the field(s)

Field Size: 2 micro-fields

Ball Size: 3

Schedule/Start Time: Scheduled time is start of warm up. Plan on 30 minutes warm up, then match

Match Duration: 30 minutes; two 15 minutes halves, 5 minute break between halves; , a short water break at 7.5 minutes

Referee: No referee; one coach from each team on the field helping guide players

Penalties/Fouls/Offside: No penalties or fouls called, including offside or handling the ball. Coaches on the field should look for 'coachable moments', but don't overemphasize the law of the game.

Re-starts: Corner kicks - give about 5 yards between defenders and player taking the kick. Goal kicks - defending team should go back to mid-line of field. Throw-ins - coaches' choice - it is suggested that early in the season, let players re-start by having a 'free-kick' from the touch line - give kicking player 5 yards.

Goal Keeper: No goalkeeper

Substitutions: Try to substitute at 'quarter' breaks, but keep an eye on players - at this age they need frequent breaks, but they will re-charge quickly

Line-up Card: no line up card

Parents: Parent on sideline, not behind goals or behind end line.

Under 7 - Boys and Girls

Number of Players on Field: 4v4, or 5v5 if 12 players on roster. Always have the same number of players per team on the field(s)

Field Size: 2 micro-fields

Ball Size: 3

Schedule/Start Time: Scheduled time is start of warm up. Plan on 30 minutes warm up, then match

Match Duration: 40 minutes; two 20 minutes halves, 5 minute break between halves; , a short water break at 10 minutes

Referee: No referee; one coach from each team on the field helping guide players

Re-starts: Corner kicks - give about 5 yards between defenders and player taking the kick. Goal kicks - defending team should go back to mid-line of field. Throw-ins - allow players to 'throw-in' - teach them to keep their feet on the field, but don't call a penalty if the player lifts their feet.

Goal Keeper: Introduce Goalkeepers after the fifth week of the season - rotate goalkeeper each quarter. NO player should play keeper for an entire match.

Substitutions: Try to substitute at 'quarter' breaks, but keep an eye on players - at this age they need frequent breaks, but they will re-charge quickly.

Line-up Card: No line up card required

Parents: Parent on sideline, not behind goals or behind end line.

Under 8 - Boys and Girls

Number of Players on Field: 8v8. Always have the same number of players per team on the field(s)

Field Size: Small Field - approx. 70X40

Ball Size: 3

Schedule/Start Time: Scheduled time is start of match. Plan on warm up time prior to published time so that match can start on time

Match Duration: 40 minutes; two 20 minutes halves, 5 minute break between halves; a short water break/substitution break at 10 minutes

Referee: A coach or knowledgeable parent shall 'referee'. Home team shall referee the first half; visiting team shall referee the second half. Coaches are not on the field during match - they should stay on the sideline, near the center line of the field.

Penalties/Fouls/Offside: Penalties/fouls called, including intentional handling of the ball. Offside should not be called, but do not plant an attacking player in front of the goal. Referee on the field should look for 'coachable moments' and explain in a positive instructive way why certain calls are being made. Infraction on throw-ins (lifting foot, throw not over head) should not be called, but play should be stopped at appropriate moment and player given a second try to do re-start correctly.

Re-starts: Corner kicks - give about 7.5 yards between defenders and player taking the kick. Goal kicks taken from the six yard line - defending team should go back ten yards (not marked on field). The ball should travel at least six yards before being played by either team after a goal kick. Throw-ins - allow players to 'throw-in' - teach players proper technique.

Goal Keeper: Goalkeepers on both teams, in a vest or shirt that distinguishes them from field players. Rotate goalkeeper each quarter. NO player should play keeper for an entire match. Coaches/referee to take special care to not allow kicking when keeper has even a single hand on the ball.

Substitutions: Substitute at 'quarter' breaks. All players to play at least ¾ of the match.

Line-up Card: No line up card required

Parents/Sideline: Parent on sideline, not behind goals or behind end line. When possible, have teams w/parents on opposite sides of the field, but allow for shade, etc. Coaches should not run up and down the entire touchline - stay toward the center line of the field.

Under 9 - Girls & Boys

Number of Players on Field: Girls will play 8v8. Boys will play 9v9. Minimum 5v5. If less than 5 player present, match is forfeited by team that does not field enough players.

Field Size: Medium Field - approx. 90X40 - FIFA Marking on fields.

Ball Size: 4

Schedule/Start Time: Scheduled time is start of match. Plan on warm up time prior to published time so that match can start on time.

Match Duration: 50 minutes; two 25 minutes halves, 5 minute break between halves; a short water break/substitution break at 12.5 minutes - the clock continues to run during the 'substitution break' If the match starts late, the referee should shorten the match so that there are equal halves and that the next match can start on time.

Referee: LNYSA certified center referee, and Assistant Referees where available. If ARs are not available, each team shall volunteer a knowledgeable parent or referee that can assist. The game will not proceed without a certified center referee.

Penalties/Fouls/Offside: FIFA Law of the Game, including handling the ball and offside. At the start of the season, referees will be lenient on certain areas, including throw-ins and offside and will instruct players on the law of the game. However, during playoffs, referees will make all applicable calls.

Re-starts: FIFA rules.

Goal Keeper: Goalkeepers on both teams, in a vest or shirt that distinguishes them from field players. Rotate goalkeepers, giving each player the opportunity to play at goalkeeper position.

Substitutions: Substitute at 'quarter' breaks. All players to play at least ¾ of the match.

Line-up Card: Coach must provide a pre-printed line up card to the referee at the start of the match. Lineup cards can be downloaded here. During playoffs, if a coach does not provide a lineup card, the match is subject to forfeit at referee's discretion.

Parents/Sideline: Home team decides which side its team will sit on. Parent shall cheer from the sideline only on the side of their team. Parents must cheer from the area between the 18 yard lines of the field. Parents are not allowed to sit or cheer behind goals or behind end line. If a parent is taking pictures from behind goal line or beyond 18 yard line, care must be taken to not interfere with the match or to cheer.

Coaches: One head coach, one assistant coach - no more than two coaches during the match. Coach and assistant must wear official LNYSA coaches' shirt (red or white). Any individual not identified as a coach shall not give instructions to players. Coach must stay in 'technical area'. The technical area is 10 yards from either side of the center line, usually marked by the center circle on the field. See Field Diagram for details.

Under 10 - Girls & Boys

Number of Players on Field: Girls will play 8v8. Boys will play 9v9. Minimum 5v5. If less than 5 player present, match is forfeited by team that does not field enough players.

Field Size: Medium Field - approx. 90X40 - FIFA Marking on fields.

Ball Size: 4

Schedule/Start Time: Scheduled time is start of match. Plan on warm up time prior to published time so that match can start on time.

Penalties/Fouls/Offside: FIFA Law of the Game, including handling the ball and offside. For dangerous play or unsportsmanlike conduct, referee will escort the player from the field and talk to the coach, but a card will not be shown. A substitution for the player removed from the field will be allowed. After a few minutes, the player can re-join the match at referee's discretion.

Re-starts: FIFA rules.

Goal Keeper: Goalkeepers on both teams, in a vest or shirt that distinguishes them from field players. Rotate goalkeepers, giving each player the opportunity to play at goalkeeper position.

Substitutions: Substitute at 'quarter' breaks. All players to play at least ¾ of the match.

Under 12 - Girls & Boys

Number of Players on Field: 11 v 11, minimum 7 player per side. If less than 7 player present, match is forfeited by team that does not field enough players.

Field Size: Medium Field - approx. 100X50 yards - FIFA Marking on fields.

Ball Size: 4

Schedule/Start Time: Scheduled time is start of match. Plan on warm up time prior to published time so that match can start on time.

Match Duration: 60 minutes; two 30 minutes halves, 5 minute break between halves; a short water break/substitution break at 15 minutes - the clock continues to run during the 'substitution break' If the match starts late, the referee should shorten the match so that there are equal halves and that the next match can start on time.

Penalties/Fouls/Offside: FIFA Law of the Game, including handling the ball and offside. Players will be shown yellow card or red card pursuant to the Law of the Game. If a player is shown a yellow card, the player must be immediately substituted, but can be substituted back in to the match at a stoppage and at the referee's discretion.

Re-starts: FIFA rules.

Goal Keeper: Goalkeepers on both teams, in a vest or shirt that distinguishes them from field players. Rotate goalkeepers, giving each player the opportunity to play at goalkeeper position.

Substitutions: Substitute at 'quarter' breaks. All players to play at least ¾ of the match.

Coaches: One head coach, one assistant coach - no more than two coaches during the match. Coach and assistant must wear official LNYSA coaches' shirt (red or white). Any individual not identified as a coach shall not give instructions to players. Coach must stay in 'technical area'. The technical area is 12 yards from either side of the center line, usually marked by the center circle on the field. See Field Diagram for details.

Under 14 - Girls & Boys

Number of Players on Field: 11 v 11, minimum 7 player per side. If less than 7 player present, match is forfeited by team that does not field enough players.

Field Size: Medium Field - approx. 110X60 yards - FIFA Marking on fields.

Ball Size: 5

Schedule/Start Time: Scheduled time is start of match. Plan on warm up time prior to published time so that match can start on time.

Match Duration: 70 minutes; two 35 minutes halves, 5 minute break between halves. If the match starts late, the referee should shorten the match so that there are equal halves and that the next match can start on time.

Re-starts: FIFA rules.

Goal Keeper: Goalkeepers on both teams, in a vest or shirt that distinguishes them from field players. Rotate goalkeepers, giving each player the opportunity to play at goalkeeper position.

Substitutions: Free substitutions - coach may substitute players during a stoppage of play with the referee's permission. Players must leave the field of play before substitutes are allowed on the field. All players must leave the field and enter the field at the center line of the field on the players' teams side. All players to play at least ¾ of the match.

Coaches: One head coach, one assistant coach - no more than two coaches during the match. Coach and assistant must wear official LNYSA coaches' shirt (red or white). Any individual not identified as a coach shall not give instructions to players. Coach must stay in 'technical area'. The technical area is 12 yards from either side of the center line, usually marked by the center circle on the field. See Field Diagram for details.