Soccer

Lake View Athletics Laws of the Game

LVA Soccer Rules Overview

Instructional Division:

Field Size:  teams will play their games on one of the mini sized fields at the Burke Road Athletic Complex.  The general dimensions for the fields are approximately 25 yards X 20 yards each.

Ball Size:  Size 3

Game Duration:

  • The first part of the session will be dedicated to teaching the game of soccer and skill work involved in playing the game
  • Teams will then play mini sessions of ten to fifteen minutes. Teams are permitted to play as many of these sessions as they desire and can fit into the seventy-minute session of the Lake View Athletics game period.
  • Teams are free to decide on the break time between mini sessions. Both teams must agree before the instructional period begins.
  • Game time may be shorted to allow for the match to be played in sunlight when necessary.

 

Players on field: 5 field players plus goalie

Subbing: there will be substitutions for injured players and after each mini session (10-15 minutes in length each).

  • Each coach should attempt to ensure equal game time for all players
  • No player should sit two mini sessions in a row unless they are injured or sick
  • No player should play every mini session unless the team is short players
  • Coaches should encourage player rotation and position experimentation

 

Goalies: Should not play more than 2 quarters, totaling no more than 24 minutes of play in net.  Coaches must use a minimum of two (2) different goalkeepers in each game.  Goalies can be subbed at any time.

Heading:  In the Instructional and Squirt Divisions, coaches have full responsible for their safety of their players and enforcing this rule during practice and mini-game sessions.

 

Squirt Division:

Field Size:  teams will play their games on one of the mini sized fields at the Burke Road Athletic Complex.  The general dimensions for the fields are approximately 25 yards X 20 yards each.

Ball Size:  Size 3

Game Duration:

  • The first part of the session will be dedicated to teaching the game of soccer and skill work involved in playing the game
  • Teams will then play mini sessions of ten to fifteen minutes. Teams are permitted to play as many of these sessions as they desire and can fit into the seventy-minute session of the Lake View Athletics game period.
  • Teams are free to decide on the break time between mini sessions. Both teams must agree before the instructional period begins.
  • Game time may be shorted to allow for the match to be played in sunlight when necessary.

 

Players on field: 5 field players plus goalie

Subbing: there will be substitutions for injured players and after each mini session (10-15 minutes in length each).

  • Each coach should attempt to ensure equal game time for all players
  • No player should sit two mini sessions in a row unless they are injured or sick
  • No player should play every mini session unless the team is short players
  • Coaches should encourage player rotation and position experimentation

 

Goalies: Should not play more than 2 quarters, totaling no more than 24 minutes of play in net.  Coaches must use a minimum of two (2) different goalkeepers in each game.  Goalies can be subbed at any time.

Heading:  In the Instructional and Squirt Divisions, coaches have full responsible for their safety of their players and enforcing this rule during practice and mini-game sessions.

Rookie Division:

Field Size:  teams will play their games on one of the youth sized fields at the Burke Road Athletic Complex.  The general dimensions for the fields are approximately 60 yards X 40 yards each.

Ball Size:  Size 4

Game Duration: Four 12-minute quarters with a 2-minute break after the 1st and 3rd quarters and a 5 minute break for halftime.  Game time may be shorted to allow for the match to be played in sunlight when necessary.  Players switch sides after the 2nd quarter.  Loser of the coin toss takes the kick in the 1st and 3rd quarters, winner of the coin toss takes the kick in the 2nd and 4th quarters.

Players on field: 7 field players plus goalie

Subbing: all players on the bench MUST BE SUBSTITUTED AT THE SAME TIME unless a player is sick or injured, at which point that player will not be forced onto the field of play. 

 *6-Minute RuleThe referee will stop play every 6 minutes to force a substitution to take place.  The coach must follow the substitution procedure regardless of the imposed rule.  Players must be ready to enter every 6-minutes.

 *The 6-Minute Rule will be utilized automatically in the Rookie Division.  Referees should stop the game at the next stoppage of play as close to 6 minutes as possible and call for the mandatory substitution from both teams. There is an understanding that this may not be exactly at 6 minutes, but within one-minute of 6 minutes into play (between minute 5 and 7).

Goalies: Should not play more than 2 quarters, totaling no more than 24 minutes of play in net.  Coaches must use a minimum of two (2) different goalkeepers in each game.  Goalies can be subbed at any time.

Kicks: All kicks in this age group are indirect.  If a penalty occurs in the penalty area, the ball will be moved outside to the nearest boundary line of the penalty area.

Heading:  Players will no longer be permitted to head the ball in practice or during matches.  The referee will enforce this rule with the nationally accepted penalty of an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

Throw in: All players get a second chance to make a valid throw (until Labor Day).  Games played after Labor Day will allow players only one chance. 

Goal Kicks: The opposing team must retreat to center line until ball is put in play.

Please note that in this division many of the referees will be our youngest and will be learning as the players do.   Please have NO contact with the referees after your match.

 

Midget Division:

Field Size:  teams will play their games on one of the youth sized fields at the Burke Road Athletic Complex.  The general dimensions for the fields are approximately 60 yards X 40 yards each.

Ball Size:  Size 4

Game Duration: 2, 30 minute halves with a 5-minute half time break.  Halves will be shortened to allow for the match to be played in sunlight when necessary.

Players on field: 6 field players plus goalie

Subbing: all players on the bench MUST BE SUBSTITUTED AT THE SAME TIME unless a player is sick or injured, at which point that player will not be forced onto the field of play. 

Goalies: Should not play more than 1 half, totaling no more than 30 minutes of play in net.  Goalies can be subbed at any time.

Kicks: Hand balls or direct freek kick penalties inside goal area will result in a penalty kick.  All other kicks are indirect taken from the spot where the penalty occured.

Heading:  Players will no longer be permitted to head the ball in practice or during matches.  The referee will enforce this rule with the nationally accepted penalty of an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

Throw in: Players are not given a chance to re-throw the ball in this age group.

Please note that in this division many of the referees will be our youngest and will be learning as the players do.   Please have NO contact with the referees after your match.

 

Minor Division:

Field Size:  Minor teams will play their games at the Nike Base Athletic Complex soccer fields.  The fields will be established and communicated to all teams and participants once LVA is assigned fields.  The general dimensions are:

o U-12: Approximately 80 yards X 50 yards

Ball SizeSize 4

Game Duration: 2, 30 minute halves with a 5-minute half time break.  Halves will be shortened to allow for the match to be played in sunlight when necessary.

Players on field: 8 field players plus goalie

Subbing: A substitution may (notwill”) take place at ANY stoppage in play provided the substitution procedures are strictly adhered to AND the referee verbally and audibly acknowledged that he is permitting the team to substitute.  Referees will permit substitutions at their discretion, not at the coach’s immediate will and desire! It is a right to sub, but a privilege of when to do so.

Goalies: Should not play more than 1 half, totaling no more than 30 minutes of play in net.  Goalies can be subbed at any time.

Heading:  Players will no longer be permitted to head the ball in practice or during matches.  The referee will enforce this rule with the nationally accepted penalty of an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

Throw in: Players are not given a chance to re-throw the ball in this age group.

Major Division:

Field Size:  Major teams will play their games at the Nike Base Athletic Complex soccer fields.  The fields will be established and communicated to all teams and participants once LVA is assigned fields.  The general dimensions are:

o U-16: Approximately 100 yards X 80 yards

Ball SizeSize 5

Game Duration: 2, 30 minute halves with a 5-minute half time break.  Halves will be shorted to allow for the match to be played in sunlight when necessary.

Players on field: 10 field players plus goalie

Subbing: A substitution may (notwill”) take place at ANY stoppage in play provided the substitution procedures are strictly adhered to AND the referee verbally and audibly acknowledged that he is permitting the team to substitute.  Referees will permit substitutions at their discretion, not at the coach’s immediate will and desire! It is a right to sub, but a privilege of when to do so.

Goalies: Should not play more than 1 half, totaling no more than 30 minutes of play in net.  Goalies can be subbed at any time.

Throw in: Players are not given a chance to re-throw the ball in this age group.

Heat and Hydration Policy

Lake View Soccer takes the safety of its players very seriously. We follow the guidelines put forth by the USSF (United States Soccer Federation).

For your convenience, there is a water fountain located near the rest rooms by the Hopp Stop.

At times we may find it necessary to cancel practices, clinics and even games. The threshold for Heat Warnings is 95 degrees – when temperatures hit 90 and/or rise above, Lake View Soccer will issue a heat advisory to its coaches and instruct them to take precautions. This heat advisory may in fact dictate that coaches cancel any planned activities for that day. Other factors may be utilized to issue this advisory, such as warnings issued by the authorities which may be issued at temperatures even less than 90 degrees. The league will also factor in ages of players, time of day that activities such as games are scheduled to be played and even the surface that players are scheduled to play on.

Before prolonged physical activity, the players should be well hydrated. During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced even if the player does not feel thirsty. Each 15-20 minutes players should consume: − 5 ounces of fluid for a player weighing 90 lbs or less − 9 ounces of fluid for a player weighing more than 90 lbs. To ensure that players are not dehydrated before the start of the practice session or game, players should drink 12-16 ounces of fluid approximately 30 minutes before getting to the field. Once the activity is over, players should drink water or a sports drink every 15-20 minutes for the first hour after activity.

During games, coaches will monitor the well-being of all players. Please note, that if a coach feels that a player may need to sit an additional shift to allow the player additional time to recover between shifts, the league supports them. We understand that some players need additional encouragement to play when compared to other players, but their safety and well-being is the primary concern of the coaches and the league, not their playing time. Ultimately, parents have the final say on the participation of their child – the league will make its best decisions for the entirety of the league but parents know their children best.