AZ Youth Soccer Game Rules

Soccer is the world's sport, therefore the rules are established and consistent. These same rules usually are modified for youth soccer and can vary somewhat from league to league. The largest youth soccer organizations in Arizona and the United States are the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and U.S. Youth Soccer. The rules within these organizations are similar if not the same, and are all researched to learn what is best for youth players.

  1. Fields and Number of Players

    • Soccer field size is reduced for youth players.

      Field size is reduced to increase the number of ball touches for the youth players. A smaller field also helps the players play longer in a game because they are not running as much. Fields can range from 20 feet wide by 30 feet long for the youngest players up to 70 feet wide and 110 feet long for 11-vs.-11 games with older players. The younger age divisions usually play with 3, 6, 8 or 9 players at a time.

    Duration of Games

    • Youth game times are modified for the benefit of the youth players.

      The length of the game is modified by age division. Games consist of two equal halves, not to exceed the maximum game time. The half-time break is a minimum of five minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes. The head referee and both coaches can agree to quarter water breaks or a longer half-time break, as needed because of the heat in Arizona.

      Game duration for teams with 5-year-olds and younger (U5) and U6 is 10-minute halves, not to exceed a 20-minute game; U8 is 20-minute halves, not to exceed a 40-minute game; U10 is 25-minute halves, not to exceed 50-minute game; U12 is 30-minute halves, not to exceed a 60-minute game; U14 is 35-minute halves, not to exceed a 70-minute game; U16 is 40-minute halves, not to exceed an 80-minute game; and U19 is 45-minute halves, not to exceed a 90-minute game

    Referees

    • Referees set the tone of the game.

      The role of the referee in a youth soccer is game is to ensure the safety of the players. Referees will enforce all the rules, but watch for dangerous play and other areas where young players need to be cautioned. The most common rule infractions to watch for in Arizona youth soccer are hand balls, kicking other players--usually accidentally--and the keeper taking more than six seconds to kick the ball into play after a save.

      An experienced referee will speak to youth players during the game, explaining the rules, cautioning them, checking on players who are upset and being equally encouraging of players on both teams. Ideally, games of U10 and above will have a head referee and two assistant referees.