League Rules
Camp Living Water: Instructional Youth Soccer League Handbook
Instructional League Philosophy
Welcome to the Camp Living Water Youth Soccer League! Our league is instructional, prioritizing Christ-like character, fundamental skills, and sportsmanship. Coaches act as teachers and mentors first and officials second.
Detailed Rule Explanations & Guidelines
1. Age Group Framework & Formats
U6 & U8 (4v4, No Goalkeeper): Maximizes touches on the ball and eliminates spatial confusion. Small pop-up or training goals are recommended.
U10 (7v7 with Goalkeeper): Introduces goalkeeping, positions, the build-out line, and modified offside.
U12 (9v9 with Goalkeeper): Bridges small-sided play to full soccer with standard offside, full wall distances, and penalty kicks.
2. Ball Size
Size 3: U6 and U8. Lightweight to protect developing joints and build basic foot skills.
Size 4: U10 and U12. Standard youth intermediate size.
3. Slide Tackling (Strictly Prohibited)
The Rule: All players must remain on their feet when contesting or tackling the ball. Any slide toward an opponent is an automatic foul.
Instructional Purpose: Protects camp participants from cleat punctures, joint hyperextension, and turf/grass abrasions.
Restart: Indirect Free Kick for the opposing team.
4. Substitutions
U6 / U8: "On the fly" open substitutions. Coaches can swap players during active play to manage fatigue or emotional needs.
U10 / U12: Allowed only during dead-ball stoppages (throw-ins, goal kicks, after goals, injury). The coach signals the referee, and the exiting player leaves before the substitute enters.
5. Sideline Restarts (Throw-ins & Kick-ins)
Kick-ins (U6): The ball is stationary on the line and passed/dribbled into play to keep action moving.
Second-Chance Throw-ins (U8 & U10): Must be a two-handed overhead throw with both feet planted on or behind the sideline. If done incorrectly, the referee pauses, demonstrates proper form, and gives the same child one re-do.
Standard Throw-in (U12): Strict compliance; an illegal throw turns possession over to the opponent.
6. Penalty Kicks
U6 / U8: No penalty kicks. Any foul near the goal results in an indirect kick backed up 5 paces.
U10 / U12: Awarded when a defending player commits a direct foul inside their own penalty area. Taken from the designated penalty spot. Only the kicker and the opposing goalkeeper may be inside the box.
7. Defensive Walls
U6 / U8: No organized walls. Defenders simply yield 5 paces of space so the kicker can play.
U10: Defenders must set up at least 8 yards back from the ball.
U12: Defenders must set up at least 10 yards back from the ball. Players may protect their chest/groin with arms held tightly against the body without extending them outward.
8. Intentional Heading (Strict Prohibition)
The Rule: Deliberate heading is barred for all players U12 and under.
Enforcement: If a player purposefully uses their head to play the ball, play stops immediately.
Restart: Indirect Free Kick for the opposing team at the spot of the infraction.
9. The Build-Out Line (U10 Specific)
What it is: A line marked across the pitch halfway between the penalty box and the midfield line.
Operation: Whenever the goalkeeper gains possession with their hands or a goal kick is awarded, the opposing team must drop back behind this line.
Release: The opposing team may cross the line once the goalkeeper rolls, throws, or passes the ball to a teammate. Goalkeepers are not allowed to punt or drop-kick the ball.
10. Offside
U6 / U8: No offside calls.
U10: Offside is enforced only between the Build-Out Line and the end line. Attackers cannot be called offside between the two build-out lines.
U12: Full offside rules apply across the entire attacking half. An attacker is offside if they are closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball and the second-to-last opponent at the precise moment the ball is passed to them.
Exemptions: A player can never be offside directly from a throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick.
11. Goalkeeper Handling (Back-Pass & 6-Second Rule)
Back-Pass Rule (U10 & U12): If a field player intentionally kicks the ball back to their own goalkeeper, the goalkeeper cannot touch it with their hands.
6-Second Limit: Once the goalkeeper controls the ball with their hands, they have roughly 6 seconds to release it.
Restart: An Indirect Free Kick inside the penalty area for an intentional back-pass violation.
12. The Mercy Rule
4-Goal Deficit: The trailing team may add an extra player to the field (e.g., playing 8v7 in U10).
6-Goal Deficit: The leading team removes one player until the deficit falls back under 6 goals.
13. Jewelry & Safety Gear
Jewelry: No rings, watches, necklaces, or earrings (taping earrings is not permitted). Only medical alert tags, taped flush to the skin, are allowed.
Mandatory Gear: Shin guards are required for all participants and must be completely covered by socks.
14. Free Kicks (Direct vs. Indirect)
Direct: A goal can be scored directly without touching another player.
Indirect: The ball must make contact with at least one other player (teammate or opponent) before entering the goal to count. The referee signals this by raising one arm vertically until the ball touches another player or goes out of bounds.
Referee Signal Guide for Volunteers
Point Toward a Goal: Indicates a Goal Kick (pointing to defending goal) or Corner Kick (pointing to corner arc).
Arm Straight Up: Indicates an Indirect Free Kick.
Point Along Sideline: Indicates throw-in direction (toward the goal the throwing team attacks).
Hand Raised Open (Stop): Halts play for an injury, explanation, or substitution.
