Youth Soccer Rules

Many adjustments in the standards have been made in order to suit the abilities of those who are under sixteen or over thirty five. The reason being they are not as fit, agile and skillful as the ones who are in between these age groups.

The official soccer rules are called by the name of “Laws of the Game” and are modified every year by FIFA. However, many of the youth organizations normally tend to regulate the rules considering the needs of the children who are playing under them. This provides a safe and considerate opportunity for the children of any ability.

According to FIFA the difference between the professionals’ and youth’s soccer rules lays in different areas, the children usually play on fields which are smaller in size than the ones on which the international tournaments are organized by FIFA. Thus the field dimensions are also different. For the kids under the age of twelve years to fifteen years the standard dimensions are; field size 100x 70, goal line, 210’, width of the goal is usually around twenty four yards and height is eight yards, penalty area lies between 132x54 yards.

The kids use a different sized ball than the one used by the professionals. The official sizes of the soccer ball are as follows.

1. Under Eight Years; Size 3

2. B/W 8 To 12 ; Size 4

3. From 12 To Up; Size 5

The ball of three weigh sizes around 11-12 ounces, the size four from 12 to 13 and five from 14 to 16 ounces. It is important that the right sized ball is chosen for the children according to their age groups other wise it would be difficult for them to handle the ball. All these balls also have different circumference starting from twenty three inches and ending at twenty eight. The length of game varies from club to club, however, the officially organized under twelve and fifteen soccer matches are normally of sixty minutes, with each half of thirty minutes. Each side of eleven players is not a must for the youth soccer and can have a team of six, seven or eight players. The number of substitutions is more than three, some times five and sometimes as many as a coach wants.

The offside rule is not strictly followed in youth soccer. The reason being it is very difficult for the kids to sometimes follow or even understand it. Even the slide tackling is considered highly dangerous for the children and is considered as an offensive foul. Because of slide tackling there is a high chance of children getting seriously injured.

The basic youth soccer rules are almost similar to the ones used for the international matches organized under FIFA. However, every youth organization has a different style of preparing their players for the international matches. These variations allow them to adjust to the needs of the children who are playing under them.

The parents, especially those who are working as coaches for their own children must also learn the youth soccer rules. Otherwise, they could easily misguide their children which can prove fatal for the career of those children who want to pursue soccer as a professional. However, they must make sure that what ever youth rules and regulations they follow are strict and good enough to prepare their children for the future.