U7/U8 Rules & Regulations

U7/U8 coaches may hold one weekday practice in addition to Saturday's 20-minute pre-game training.

This is up to your coaches discretion.

Size of Ball

Size 3

Player Equipment

Athletic shoes (with or without cleats) are allowed in all Utah North Youth Soccer games.

A player is allowed to wear tennis shoes to play.

They are NOT allowed to wear baseball or football cleats.

Players MUST wear shin guards and are completely covered by their socks to participate in any practice or match. The shin guards must be under the sock. If the shin guard is on the outside, this is NOT acceptable and the coach will ask you to switch the shin guard to be completely under the sock.

Absolutely NO jewelry is permitted during play. NO EXCEPTIONS!
This applies to the referees as well.
Tape over earrings is not permitted, even if the earrings are new and may not be removed.
If the jewelry may not be removed the player may not play.

The only jewelry allowed on the pitch is the watch worn by the referee to keep time.

Players will be inspected before the start of the match.

Duration of Matches

20 minute practice
15 minute halves
5 minute halftime

Rules of Play

4v4 or 5v5 (including goalkeeper)
Goalkeeper CANNOT punt or drop kick the ball. The ball must be thrown out, or placed on the ground and kicked.
Coaches are allowed on the field to coach and to also help 'referee' the game with the other coach.
NO offside will be called, however players should not 'cherry pick' either.
NO heading the ball
NO sliding in any form (to tackle or to kick). Players must remain on their feet.
Substitutions can be made when at any time the ball is kicked out of play.
When the ball goes wholly across any boundary, the game is restarted with the appropriate restart method. The ball is awarded to the team opposite of that of the player who last touched the ball.
- Over the sideline: A THROW-IN is performed on the line where the ball went out.
- Over the ENDLINE by the ATTACKING team: The ball is placed anywhere in the goal area and a GOAL KICK is taken.
- Over the ENDLINE by the DEFENDING team: The ball is placed in the corner where the endline meets the sideline and a CORNER KICK is taken.
If the throw-in is not performed correctly, the player MAY redo the throw-in until performed correctly.
The game is started with the ball placed within the center circle. Players of the opposing team must be eight (8) yards away when the kick is taken.
A goal can be scored directly from the kickoff.
Goals can be scored from anywhere, but the ball must pass below the cross-bar and between the goal posts for a goal.
There is no tripping, pushing, punching, holding or kicking an opponent. A player cannot pick-up, hold, stop or propel the ball with his/her hands.
- All infringements are punished by the awarding of a DIRECT FREE KICK.
- The kick is awarded to the opposite team and is taken from the spot where the foul occurred.
- Players of the opposing team must be a minimum of eight (8) yards away from the ball when a free kick is taken.
- If the foul occurred INSIDE the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded and the ball is placed eight yards from the goal line. All players except the goalkeeper and the player taking the penalty kick must be outside the penalty area and the penalty arc.
For offenses such as playing in a dangerous manner, preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his or her hands, impeding the progress of an opponent (obstruction), heading the ball, or commits any other offense for which play is stopped results in an Indirect Free Kick.
- All infringements are punished by the awarding of an INDIRECT FREE KICK
- The kick is awarded to the opposite team and is taken from the spot where the foul occurred.
- Players of the opposing team must be a minimum of eight (8) yards away from the ball when a free kick is taken.
- A goal cannot be scored directly off of an Indirect Free Kick; it must touch another player from either team to be a goal.
Build Out Line: When the Goalkeeper has the ball, whether during play from the opponent or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line, until the ball is put back into play. Once the ball is in play, then play resumes as normal. The players on the team with the ball, do not have to cross the build out line.

Balanced Teams

Every effort is made to balance teams strengths within each age division.

If a team is short on players, it is expected for the other team to share players to make equal teams on the field. A different player can be shared with the opposing team each half.