Playing Rules
Read more about our playing rules by clicking on the categoriesĀ below:
Playing Up
Coach Selection
A coach that has a child participating on a Select team in another club is prohibited from coaching or assistant coaching for a LMVSC recreational team within their childās age group. The “age group” is determined by the division the child is registered. Coaches in direct violation of this policy will be reprimanded as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board. The result of this particular infraction is dismissal.A coach who plays a non-registered player or allows a non-registered player to practice with his team is subject to disciplinary action by the Rules and Discipline Committee.Ā The punishment for such an infraction may range from a warning through a life-time ban on coaching for LMVSC.
Playing Down
Equipment
Goals
Team Formation
- 7th/8th Grade division will have 18 players on the roster, with 11 v 11 with a goalkeeper. Two Halves of 35 Minutes each.
- 5th/6th Grade division will have 14 players on the roster, with 9 v 9 with a goalkeeper. Two Halves of 30 Minutes each.
- 3rd/4th Grade division will have up to 12 players on the roster, with 7 v 7 with a goalkeeper. Two Halves of 30 Minutes each.
- 2nd Grade division will have 10 players on the roster, with 6 v 6 with a goalkeeper. Two Halves of 12 Minutes each.
- 1st Grade division will have 10 players on the roster, with 5 players on the field and no goal keeper. Four Quarters of 10 Minutes each.
- Pre-K/Kindergarten division will have 8 players on the roster, with 4 players on the field. Four Quarters of 8 Minutes each.
Practices
The Pre-K & Kindergarten Division teams shall have no more than two (2) team meetings per week including a game, i.e. two practices, one practice and one game, or two games.
Number of Players
The “E” Division teams shall have no more than two (2) team meetings per week including a game, i.e. two practices, one practice and one game, or two games.
Minimum Participation
Rules Interpretation, Enforcement, and Protests
Coachās Responsibility
Each coach will insure that his team and players are in conformity with the rules herein, especially player eligibility and the leagueās Code of Conduct. The coach is responsible for notifying the club of any significant injuries or player ejection.
Code of Conduct
Red Cards
Time
Transfers
Eligibility
Coachās Behavior
Playerās Behavior
Referee/Player Assaults
Referee/Player Assaults
Build Out Line C3 & C4
Purpose – To help players develop and gain confidence playing out of the back.
Rules:
- During a Goal Kick or upon the goal keeper receiving the ball in their hands, the opposing team must drop behind the build out line
- Once the ball is passed outside of the goal box, the opposing team may pressure the ball
- The goal keeper does not have to wait for the other team to drop behind the build out line; if the goal keeper elects to play the ball before the opposing team drops behind the build out line, the ball is live
- A player is now considered offside when they are beyond the build out line and there is not an opposing player between them and the goal they are attacking; in essence the build out line is now the half field line for the purpose of offside
- There is no punting; the purpose of the build out line is to help develop the confidence of a player to play from the back
Please click below to learn more about rules governed by FIFA:
Law 1: The Field of Play
Law 2: The Ball
Law 3: Number of Players
Law 4: Players Equipment
Law 5: Referees
Please click below to learn more about our 2nd Grade Rules.
Law 1: The Field of Play
½ Width: 15 Yards/45 Feet
Length of Goals: 7×18
Length: 50 Yards/150 Feet
½ Length: 25 Yards/75 Feet
Penalty Box: 5 Yards/15 Feet
Goal Box: 8 Yards/ 24 Feet
Center Circle: 5 Yards/15 Feet
Law 2: The Ball
Law 3: Playerās Equipment
Law 4: The Number of Players/Substitutes
2. The maximum number of players on a roster should not exceed ten (10).
3. Substitutions are permitted in the following circumstances:
- In the case of an injury.Ā If the injured player is substituted, the opposing team may also substitute, one for one.
- Throw ins and Goal Kicks.
4. Each player shall play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.
Law 5: Referee
Law 6: Assistant Referee (Linesmen)
Law 7: Duration of the Game
Law 8: Start of Play
Law 9: Ball In and Out of Play
Law 10: Method of Scoring
Law 11: Offside
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
1.Ā Ā All fouls shall result in an indirect free kick with the all opponents at least 5 yards away.
2.Ā Fouls shall only be called for the following actions:
- Kicking – intentional, not simply a miss when attempting to kick the ball.
- Tripping – intentional with no attempt to play the ball.
- Charging – running into an opponent intentionally without attempting to play the ball.
- Jumping at – intentionally jumping at an opponent without attempting to play the ball.
- Holding an opponent with the hands or arms.
- Hitting or spitting at an opponent
- Pushing an opponent to prevent them from playing the ball.
- Handling the ball, intentionally.
3.Ā The coach/referee must explain all infractions to the offending players.
4.Ā There are no cautions or ejections.
Law 13: Free Kicks
Law 14: Penalty Kicks
Law 15: Throw-Ins
Law 16: Goal Kick
Law 17: Corner Kick
Please click below to learn more about our 1st Grade Rules.
5 v 5
4 X 10 Minute Quarters
Law 1: The Field of Play
Markings:
1.Ā Distinctive lines of not more than 5 inches wide shall mark the field.
2.Ā A halfway line shall be marked across the center of the field.
3.Ā The center of the field will be marked with a circle with a radius of 4 yards.
4. There is no penalty area.
5.Ā An arc with a radius of 5 yards shall be marked off from the center of the goal.Ā The purpose of this arc to designate the area where Defensive players may not stand.Ā This is to prevent a team from designating players to specifically defend the goal, which effectively circumvents the purpose of not having a goalkeeper in the āD1ā Division.Ā Defensive players may run across this area in an attempt to get to the ball or to compete for the ball.Ā The concept here is to not allow players to ācamp outā in front of the goal.
Goal:Ā Portable practice goals provided by LMVSC are to be used where possible. The goals MUST be anchored to the ground.Ā If a net(s)/goal is missing, cones may be substituted for the goal and the referee/coach is the sole judge as to whether or not a goal has been scored.
Corner Markers:Ā Cones shall mark the corner.
Law 2: The Ball
Law 3: Playerās Equipment
Law 4: The Number of Players/Substitutes
2. The maximum number of players on a roster should not exceed ten (10).
3. Substitutions are permitted in the following circumstances:
- In the case of an injury.Ā If the injured player is substituted, the opposing team may also substitute, one for one.
- The mechanics of substitution are basically on they fly.
4. Each player shall play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.
Law 5: Referee
Law 6: Assistant Referee (Linesmen)
Law 7: Duration of the Game
Law 8: Start of Play
Law 9: Ball In and Out of Play
Law 10: Method of Scoring
Law 11: Offside
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
1.Ā Ā All fouls shall result in an indirect free kick with the all opponents at least 3 yards away.
2.Ā Fouls shall only be called for the following actions:
- Kicking – intentional, not simply a miss when attempting to kick the ball.
- Tripping – intentional with no attempt to play the ball.
- Charging – running into an opponent intentionally without attempting to play the ball.
- Jumping at – intentionally jumping at an opponent without attempting to play the ball.
- Holding an opponent with the hands or arms.
- Hitting or spitting at an opponent
- Pushing an opponent to prevent them from playing the ball.
- Handling the ball, intentionally.
3.Ā The coach/referee must explain all infractions to the offending players.
4.Ā There are no cautions or ejections.
Law 13: Free Kicks
Law 14: Penalty Kicks
Law 15: Roll ins
Law 16: Goal Kick
Law 17: Corner Kick
- 4 v 4
- 4 X 8 Minute Quarters
Law 1: The Field of Play
Markings:
1.Ā Distinctive lines of not more than 5 inches wide shall mark the field.
2.Ā A halfway line shall be marked across the center of the field.
3.Ā The center of the field will be marked with a circle with a radius of 4 yards.
4. There is no penalty area.
5.Ā An arc with a radius of 5 yards shall be marked off from the center of the goal.Ā The purpose of this arc to designate the area where Defensive players may not stand.Ā This is to prevent a team from designating players to specifically defend the goal, which effectively circumvents the purpose of not having a goalkeeper in the āD1ā Division.Ā Defensive players may run across this area in an attempt to get to the ball or to compete for the ball.Ā The concept here is to not allow players to ācamp outā in front of the goal.
Goal:Ā Portable practice goals provided by LMVSC are to be used where possible. The goals MUST be anchored to the ground.Ā If a net(s)/goal is missing, cones may be substituted for the goal and the referee/coach is the sole judge as to whether or not a goal has been scored.
Corner Markers:Ā Cones shall mark the corner.
Law 2: The Ball
Law 3: Playerās Equipment
Law 4: The Number of Players/Substitutes
2. The maximum number of players on a roster should not exceed ten (10).
3. Substitutions are permitted in the following circumstances:
- In the case of an injury.Ā If the injured player is substituted, the opposing team may also substitute, one for one.
- The mechanics of substitution are basically on they fly.
4. Each player shall play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.
Law 5: Referee
Law 6: Assistant Referee (Linesmen)
Law 7: Duration of the Game
Law 8: Start of Play
Law 9: Ball In and Out of Play
Law 10: Method of Scoring
Law 11: Offside
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
1.Ā Ā All fouls shall result in an indirect free kick with the all opponents at least 3 yards away.
2.Ā Fouls shall only be called for the following actions:
- Kicking – intentional, not simply a miss when attempting to kick the ball.
- Tripping – intentional with no attempt to play the ball.
- Charging – running into an opponent intentionally without attempting to play the ball.
- Jumping at – intentionally jumping at an opponent without attempting to play the ball.
- Holding an opponent with the hands or arms.
- Hitting or spitting at an opponent
- Pushing an opponent to prevent them from playing the ball.
- Handling the ball, intentionally.
3.Ā The coach/referee must explain all infractions to the offending players.
4.Ā There are no cautions or ejections.
Law 13: Free Kicks
Law 14: Penalty Kicks
Law 15: Pass-Ins NOT Throw-Ins
For D1 Division, the restarts for the ball crossing the touchline or the goal line are Pass-Ins by a player of the team gaining possession of the ball.
1)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The ball should never be āPassed inā, near a defending teamās goal area.
2)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā After a team has scored, play will be restarted with a Kick-Off.
3)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āPass insā should take the place of goal kicks and corner kicks. NOT AT THE START OF EACH GAME OR THE RESTART OF EACH QUARTER.
āPass-insā should also take the place of any balls that have been kicked out of bounds.Ā All āPass-insā are free āpass-insā to the team that has gained possession meaning that they are to be free of interference by the opposing team.
A team cannot score from a kick-off, kick in, or pass in.
Law 16: Goal Kick
Law 17: Corner Kick
LMVSC has adopted the following new guidelines that restricts players from engaging in heading at U13 and younger.Ā These guidelines apply to all players and coaches.
U11 and Younger
U12 & U13 age groups
At age group divisions U11 and younger
POLICY:
LMVSCās Recreational League emphasizes participation, teaching basic soccer skills, good sportsmanship, and team play.Ā The objective of LMVSC recreational soccer is to provide an atmosphere in which players can enjoy the game for its own sake without an undue emphasis on winning or losing.Ā The Recreational League does not keep won-loss records during the season and does not use goal-differentials to determine divisions, player assignments, or post-season tournament play.Ā Accordingly, blow-out games are contrary to the objectives of the Recreational League, and LMVSC Recreational League coaches shall make reasonable efforts to avoid blow-outs.
RULE:
A.Ā DEFINITION:Ā For the purposes of this rule, a blow-out situation shall be deemed to exist in an LMVSC Recreational League game at any time and under any circumstances when the goal-differential between the two teams then playing reaches five (5) or more goals.
B.Ā REQUIRED ACTION:Ā At any time that a blow-out situation begins to develop, goal differential of 3 to 4 goals, in an LMVSC Recreational League game, the coach of the dominating team shall actively endeavor to preclude increasing the goal differential.Ā LMVSC recognizes that a coach cannot definitively control all of the dynamics of play in any given game, but the coach of the dominating team shall at a minimum make the following efforts to relieve the blow-out situation and preclude increasing the goal-differential:
- If substitutes are available on the dominating team, the coach of the dominating team shall make substitutions, when permitted to do so by the Referee, so as to give more playing time to the teamās less skilled players, but subject to the over-riding requirement of the Recreational League that all players shall play as close as possible to at least one-half of each game;
- The coach of the dominating team shall rotate player positions on the dominating team so as to assign goal-scorers to positions on defense;
- The coach of the dominating team shall direct players on the dominating team to play with an objective of ball control rather than scoring; and
- The coach of the dominating team shall take any other actions that he or she deems to be reasonable under the circumstances and within the spirit of this Rule.
If the goal differential increases to five (5) goals, the coach of the dominating team shall remove one player from the field.Ā If the goal differential increases by another goal, the dominating team will remove an additional player.Ā This player removal for a goal scored will continue until the following limits are reached:Ā D2 Division down to 5 players, C Division down to 6 players, B Division down to 6 players, A division down to 7 players.
If the weaker team scores and reduces the goal differential, the dominant team may return a player to the field.
C.Ā SANCTIONS:Ā Existence of a blow-out situation, of itself, shall not be cause for sanctions.Ā The sanctionable action, or lack of action, shall be the failure of a coach of a dominating team to take the actions described above to relieve a blow-out situation or the direct action of such a coach to ārun up the scoreā and exacerbate a blow-out situation.
First violationsĀ of this rule shall be reported to the Boysā or Girlsā Commissioner, as may be appropriate.Ā If the Boysā or Girlās Commissioner believes that a violation occurred and that sanctions are warranted, he or she may caution or suspend the violating coach.Ā Suspensions shall be for one (1) game and shall apply to the dominating teamās next game, regardless of whether that game is a regularly scheduled or post-season tournament game.Ā Suspensions incurred as a result of the last game of a season shall be served at the first game of the next season, if the coach of the dominating team is coaching at the next season.Ā A suspended coach shall not serve as an assistant coach while suspended.
Second or subsequent violationsĀ of this rule shall be referred to the LMVSC Rules and Discipline Committee and if a violation is found to have occurred, the R&D Committee shall impose such sanction as it deems appropriate.
D.Ā APPEALS:Ā Findings of first violations and/or sanctions imposed as a result of first violations may be appealed to the Club Commissioner.Ā Findings of second or subsequent violations and or sanctions imposed by the R&D Committee may be appealed to the LMVSC Executive Board.
E.Ā HEARINGS:Ā Ā Nothing in this Rule shall be interpreted to mean that a coach alleged to have violated this Rule shall be entitled to a hearing in person.Ā The Boysā or Girlsā Commissioner acting on a first violation, the R&D Committee acting on a second or subsequent violation, the Club Commissioner acting on an appeal of a first violation, or the LMVSC Executive Board acting on an appeal of a second or subsequent violation shall conduct such inquiry, by such means, as he, she, or they deem to be appropriate to the circumstances, including, but not limited to, inquiries by email, by telephone, by written reports, or by in-person hearings.
REFEREES:Ā This Rule is not a part of the FIFA Laws of the Game and is not a Playing Rule of LMVSC intended to modify the Laws of the Game.Ā Referees are to advise the coach of the dominant team that a player is to be removed from the field as the goal differential increases to 5 and above.Ā Referees cannot force the coach of the dominating team to follow these actions.Ā However, Referees at LMVSC Recreational League games shall be asked to include in their game reports to LMVSC blow-out situations and, in the opinion of the Referee, whether reasonable action was taken by the coach of the dominating team to relieve the blow-out situation and whether or not the number of players was reduced as directed above.Ā Whether or not any action shall be taken thereafter shall be at the discretion of LMVSC as stated in this Rule
Comments are closed.