Youth Soccer Rules

Scoring Points

According to youth soccer rules, to score points, athletes must successfully get the ball into the other team’s goal. This means that the ball must go between the posts and under the bar before being stopped by the goalie. The net in the goal will catch the ball if it goes past the goalie, whose job it is to stop the ball from crossing the invisible line between the goalposts.

Recommended Resource

Discover 28 Fundamental Drills for Developing a Top-Notch Soccer Team!

Engage your players. Improve their skills. Win more soccer games starting today!

Inside the Essential Soccer Skills and Drills eBook, you'll discover 28 simple, fun and EFFECTIVE drills for dribbling, ball control, passing, receiving, defense and shooting.

All explained with simple, step by step instructions and detailed diagrams.

Click here to download the ebook today!

Contact with the Ball

One of the primary youth soccer rules deals with contact with the ball. Youth soccer players are not allowed to use their hands or arms to touch the ball while it is in play. An exception to this rule would be if a player is throwing the ball back into play after it has gone out of bounds. Players usually use their feet to maneuver the ball, but they are also allowed to use their bodies, chests, and heads to move the ball along.

Goalies, however, are allowed to touch the ball with their hands when they are attempting to stop the ball from scoring a goal while in the penalty area surrounding the goal.

Fouls and Misconduct

If a player breaks a rule listed in the Laws of the Game while the ball is in play, that player may be called by the referee for a foul. Activities that constitute fouls include touching the ball with the hands or arms or tripping, kicking, or pushing another player. Depending on the severity of the offense, the referee can award the other team with a penalty kick or a lesser indirect free kick.

When a player acts in a manner that the referee deems unacceptable, that player may get a yellow card or red card. The yellow card is a Caution card and warns the athlete that their behavior is unacceptable. If a player gets two yellow cards in one game, they are required to leave the game for good. If an offense is serious enough, a referee can issue a red card without first issuing a yellow card.

Equipment and Clothing

The usual equipment for a soccer game is a shirt, shorts, long socks, specialized shoes or cleats, and shin guards to protect the athletes’ legs. Athletes may be required by their leagues or school associations to wear protective headgear or mouth guards. Players should never wear jewelry or any other dangerous article of clothing that could injure themselves or another player or referee. Goalkeepers often wear gloves as well to help them grip the ball and keep it from going into their goal.

Officials

In youth soccer rules, the game is monitored by a referee, who manages the clock, determines when the ball is in and out of play, and calls fouls on players acting inappropriately or breaking the rules. The referee is clearly distinguished from players and is in constant movement with them to ensure that they are always aware of the game’s movements. The referee determines when and where the ball comes back into play and officiates in the case of a tie-breaker.

eSoccerDrills.com> Youth Soccer > Youth Soccer Rules

Soccer Moves | Soccer Skills | Basic Soccer Skills
Youth Soccer Skills | 1v1 Soccer Moves