In the age divisions who play mini soccer a special rule concerning goal kicks and goalkeeper possession is in effect. 

On goal kicks the opposing team will retreat over the halfway line and be unable to challenge for the ball until it crosses the halfway line.  (There is no restriction on the team taking the goal kick from going into the oppositions half).

This will have a double effect of allowing the goalkeeper to take a kick without pressure and to allow a sequence of passes to occur.  On goalie possession, (I.E. when she or he has made a save and has the ball in their hands), the other team again must retreat over the halfway line allowing the goalkeeper to throw or drop kick the ball into play, starting a sequence of passes before the ball crosses the halfway line.

In order to keep the game going, as long as the players are headed in the general direction of the line and are not going to interfere with the play, the referee can tell the goalkeeper to start play before all players are over the halfway line.  This will be at her/his discretion.

Coaches are being asked to cooperate in this matter.
THERE IS NO OFFSIDE RULE IN MINI SOCCER.

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Simplified Playing Rules

Unlimited Substitutions - Injury, half time, goal scored, goal kick, and own throw in, ask the referee's permission.

Goal Scored - Ball must completely cross the line between the goal posts.

Goal Kick - Ball crosses the goal line, and not between the goal posts, and is touched last by an attacking player.

Corner Kick - Ball crosses the goal line, and not between the goal posts, and is touched last by a defending player.

Throw In - Ball crosses the touchline.  The team that did NOT touch the ball last gets the throw in.

Free Kicks. Indirect Free Kicks - Player is off side, obstructed opponent, or has feet to high.  Opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick, (ball must be touched by two players).

Direct Free Kick -  Player Trips, pushes, kicks opponent, deliberately handles ball.  Opposing team is awarded a direct free kick, (ball can be directly kicked at goal without a second player having touched it).

Penalty Kick - Player trips, pushes or kicks opponent, deliberately handles ball inside penalty area.  Opponent is awarded penalty kick.

Kick Off - Ball must be kicked ahead and touched by second player before first player can touch the ball again.  Opposing players must be in own half and outside the centre circle.

Drop Ball - If an injury occurs while the ball is in play a drop ball will be used to restart the game.

Goalkeeper - Can handle the ball only inside his own penalty area.

Pass back - If a member of the goalies own team passes the ball back to her/him, she/he must play the ball with their feet.

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Heading in Soccer

Due to the potential for injury to developing children, the following guidelines should be followed.

Under 7 and Below - NO HEADING

Under 8 to Under 12 - No repetitive heading drills, work on proper technique using light plastic balls before progressing to proper soccer balls.

Under 14 and Above - Teach proper heading technique use, limited repetitive heading drills.

                                A:  Eyes open
                                B:  Attack the ball
                                C:  Strike the ball with the middle of the forehead

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Ball Size & Game Duration

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- All teams are guaranteed two games.

- There will be a champion and consolation section for each division.

- Teams will be seeded within their division for the tournament.  For example, in an eight
   team division, 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5.

- The playoff schedule will be placed on the web after the final week of play. Any makeup
   games played after the final week of play will not be included in the seeding for the
   playoffs.

- U12 All round robin playoff games will be two 30 minute halfs, no tie breakers.  If three games
   are required in one day the games will be two 25 minute halfs.   
- U14/U18 All round robin playoff games will be two 30 minute halfs, no tie breakers.

- U12 All regular playoff games will be two 30 minute halfs.  If tied after regulation time the tie
   will be broken by a shoot out.  If three games are required in one day the games will be two
   25 minute halfs.
- U14/U18 All regular playoff games will be two 30 minute halfs.  If tied after regulation time the tie
   will be broken by a shoot out.

- The shoot out. Each team selects five players to shoot (goalie can be one of the 
   shooters). It is alternate shot. If at the end of the five players per team one team has 
   more goals, then that team is the winner. If they are still tied, each team selects one 
   more player and this process continues till one team scores and the other does not,
   (Note: some refs might ask for the next five shooters to save time, however, from
   the sixth sooter on, once one team scores and the other does not the winner is 
   declared).

   Note that all players in the shoot out must be on the field at the end of the regular 
   game, and no player can shoot twice before all other players have taken a turn.
   Note that the goalie does not have to shoot.

- U12 will not exceed 150 minutes of playing time per day.
- U14/U18 will not exceed 180 minutes of playing time per day.

- There will be a minimum of one hour between games for all teams.

- Round Robin:
   Standings are determined by: 
                  3 points for a win
                  1 point for a tie
                  0 point for a loss

- Seeding
  Position in standings is determined follows: 
                  Point standings
                  Head to head results
                  *Retrogression
                  Coin Toss

            * Retrogression will determine the winner as the first team that has a win and the other team a loss.
                   In week 9 both team win and are still tied. In week 8 ABC wins and XYZ loses. Therefore, ABC
                   is seeded above XYZ. Note that retrogression and the coin toss are used to discourage coaches
                   from running scores up during the regular season. This was the case in the past when goals for and
                    against differential was used to break the tie after the head to head was tied.

                   Week   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points
                    ABC   3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3 3    18
                    XYC   3 0 3 0 3 3 3 0 3    18

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