U10 By-Laws
Before the game: The HYSA U10 Soccer Program uses Size 4 ball at all times. Cones/flags
should be used to mark the corner positions of the field. At the beginning of a game, choice of
halves and the kick-off shall be decided by a toss of a coin. The team that wins the toss shall
decide which goal to attack in the first half. The other team will take the kick-off. The game
shall be started by the referee giving the signal. Maximum allowable players a team is allowed to
have on the field is 6 (including Goalie). Minimum allowable players a team is allowed to have
is 5 (including Goalie)
Substitutions: At any time with the permission of the referee, prior to throw-in that is in your
favor. Prior to a goal, kick, by either team or after a goal, by either team, before the kick-off and
at half-time. You can also make ONE substitution if a player from the opposite team is injured
and needs to come out.
Players Equipment: Players may not wear any item of equipment that may be dangerous to
themselves or others, such as necklaces, earrings, rings, hair beads etc. Tennis shoes or soft
cleated soccer shoes are recommended. Shin guards are required and will be worn under the
socks.
Duration of the Game: The game shall be divided into two (2) equal halves of twenty-five (25)
minutes each. There shall be a half-time break of five (5) minutes.
Number of Players: A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than six
players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer
than five players
The Start of Play: At a kick-off, all players shall be in their own half of the field of play. All
players opposing the team taking the kick-off shall be not less than 6 yards from the ball until it
is kicked-off. Ball will be in play when it is kicked forward into the opponent’s half of the field.
Any infringement of this rule, the kick-off shall be retaken. Should the player taking the kick-off
play or touch the ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another player, a
free-kick shall be awarded to the opposing team. A goal can be scored directly from a kick-off.
Ball in and Out of Play: Ball must completely cross line to be “out of play”. Ball is “in play” if
any part of the ball is on or above the line.
Method of Scoring: ball must completely cross goal line, between posts and beneath crossbar to
count.
Throw-Ins: A throw-in is a method of restarting the play when the whole of the ball passes over
the boundary line either on the ground or in the air. It is awarded to the opposing team and taken
at the point where the ball crossed the touch –line.
Free-Kick: For any infringement of the soccer rules when the ball is in play, the referee may
award a free kick to the non-offending team. The free kick shall be taken from the place where
the infringement occurred, unless a penalty kick is awarded (see below), or an indirect free kick
is awarded to the attacking team within its opponents’ goal area. In this case, the kick shall be
taken from that part of the goal area line that runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to
where the offence was committed. At the taking of a free-kick, the ball shall be stationary and
all opponents shall be not less than 6 yards from the ball until it has been kicked. The ball shall
be in play when it is kicked and moved. A player taking a free-kick shall not play or touch the
ball a second time until it has been played or touched by another player. For any infringement of
this rule, an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.
Direct Free Kick: A player who, in the opinion of the referee, intentionally commits any of the
following offences, shall be penalized by the awarding of a direct free-kick to the opposing team:
Spits at an opponent
Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
Jumps at an opponent
Charges an opponent
Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
Holds an opponent
Pushes an opponent
Handles the ball deliberately, (except a goalkeeper from within his/her own penalty area)
Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before
touching the ball
A goal may be scored directly on a direct free kick.
Should a player commit one of the above offenses within his/her own penalty area, a penalty
kick shall be awarded.
Goal Kicks: A goal kick is a method of restarting the play when the ball, having last touched a
player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air but not
between the goal posts and under the crossbar. All goal kicks will be taken within the goal box
and all opponents shall be outside the penalty area until it has been kicked into play. The ball
shall be in play when it has traveled directly beyond the penalty area. If the player taking the
goal kick plays or touches the ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another
player, an indirect free-kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.
Corner-Kick: When the whole of the ball has crossed the goal-line, either on the ground or in
the air, excluding that portion between the goal-posts, having last been played or touched by a
member of the defending team, a corner-kick shall be awarded to the attacking team. The
corner-kick shall be taken from within the corner-arc nearest to where the ball crossed the goal
line. All opponents shall be not less than 6 yards from the ball until it has been kicked. The ball
is in play when it is kicked and moves. If the player taking the corner-kick plays or touches the
ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another player, a free kick shall be
awarded to the opposing team. A goal may be scored directly from a corner-kick.
The Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use his/her hands to handle the
ball in the penalty area. The goalkeeper cannot handle the ball outside the penalty area. If the
goalkeeper handles the ball outside the penalty area, a direct free kick will be awarded to the
attacking team and taken at the location where the offence occurred. The only time a goalkeeper
is NOT allowed to use his/her hands is when receiving the ball from a teammate. The
goalkeeper may put the ball back into play within the penalty area either by kicking or throwing
the ball. The goalkeeper has six seconds to release the ball (loosely enforced). No ball may be
kicked or punted from one penalty area DIRECTLY IN THE AIR into the opponent’s penalty
area. Meaning that if the ball is not played or bounces before reaching the opponent’s penalty
area, it is an infraction punished by awarding an indirect free kick to the opponent to be taken
from the kick-off spot at mid-field.
Penalty Kick: The ball is placed 8 yards from the goal line in the middle of the goal, on the
penalty mark. The goalkeeper cannot move forward until the ball is kicked. No other players
can enter the penalty area until the ball has been played.