Rules
Player Rules
AYSO matches are played in accordance with the current Laws of the Game, with modifications described in AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coachesfor short-sided games. For a thorough review of offside, see FIFA's interactive guide to offside law 11.
For an introduction to AYSO, rules of soccer, codes of conduct, and volunteering, see A Parent's Guide to AYSO. We also follow the FIFA Code of Conduct for Football
Spectator Rules
The national media has been focusing on the negative, even violent, behavior of players, coaches and parents involved in youth sports. In an effort to counteract this trend of violence, AYSO promotes a program called Kids Zone. All parents should read and accept the Kids Zone Parent's Pledge. They should also watch the 12 minute Kids Zone video, which introduces AYSO's principles and its Kids Zone action plan to new participants. Viewers will watch a parent intervene to change another parent's negative behavior. We also have suggested reactions to inappropriate behavior. Read Why Sideline Screaming Can Stifle Your Child's Game.
Local Rules
Field Conditions
See our rain and storm policy.
Field Conduct
- For safety and sanitation reasons, play shall cease until any and all dogs are removed from the playing field and the immediately surrounding grounds.
- Do not allow anyone to play on the goals or the nets. This is dangerous and expensive.
- Spectators should sit on the opposite side of the field from the players.
Number of players
When not many players arrive by the start of the game, coaches may want to negotiate a smaller number of players or lend players. For example, if one U14 team has only 11 players, and the opposing team has only 12, they may agree to play 9 versus 9, thus allowing some players to rest for one quarter of the game. Many people advocate for small-sided games, and Glen Buckley's research on Touches On The Ball shows that another benefit of this is that with fewer players on the field, each player actually gets more quality touches of the ball per game, even while spending less time on the field.
As we do not have sufficient volunteers to have a monitor for playing time, we only allow substitutions at half-time and at quarter breaks.
Results
The final score of matches that are at least half complete at the time play is terminated will be the score at the time of termination. A terminated match less than half complete may at the discretion of the division coordinator be considered null, recorded as a completed match, or replayed in full.
The referee will record the score on the game cards after the game. There is no tie-breaking overtime or kicks from the penalty mark in a regular season match.
Note: The winning coach must call in or e-mail the score to the division coordinator or designee within a day of the game. Otherwise, the score will be recorded as a tie.
AYSO governance
We are governed by the AYSO governing docs