Spring Soccer Game and Rule Related FAQs

The league will provide your child with a uniform which will consist of a uniform shirt, shorts and matching socks that we require the players wear at each game. You will need to purchase shin guards, which must be worn under the soccer socks for each game, and are mandatory. Your child should have a water bottle for games to keep them hydrated. Your child can play in sneakers, but if you wish to purchase soccer shoes/cleats you need to make sure you purchase soccer shoes that do not have a cleat located in the front toe area (no football shoes).

Players cannot wear any non-medically necessary accessories during a game, including but not limited to earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, wrist worn devices, air-pods, etc. This is a safety issue to prevent serious accidents from hooking or tangling.

If a device is medically necessary, inform your coach so they can inform the referee(s) before the game during the equipment check.

Any dangling or hoop-like earrings must be removed. Stud earrings can have a small bandage (e.g. Band-Aid) placed over it and the earring back, so they don’t have to be removed. Most coaches have bandages in first aid kits, and they are always available at the equipment area or shed at each field on game days. Glasses must be secured to prevent falling off. This does not apply to hats or gloves unless they have dangling components that cannot be secured.

As per U.S. SOCCER’S PLAYER SAFETY CAMPAIGN: CONCUSSION INITIATIVES & HEADING FOR YOUTH PLAYERS, players 11 and under shall not engage in heading, either in practice or in games.

Therefore, during a game, whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped. The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the ball with his or her head. If deliberate, the proper restart is an indirect free kick to the opposing team. If this occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If the play by the head is deemed inadvertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.

Following Small-Sided Games Player Development Initiatives (PDIs) Guideliness, Goalkeepers in small-sided games are not permitted to punt or dropkick the ball. This rule is used in games played at Eldersburg Elementary.

If the goalkeeper punts or dropkicks the ball, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team, outside of the penalty box, beyond the penalty box line that’s parallel to the goal line and closest to where the offense took place.

This is part of small-sided build-out Player Development Initiatives from FIBA and U.S. Soccer meant to encourage build out play and prevent unnecessary heading. Goalkeepers should be taught to throw/sling/roll out the ball, or drop it to their feet to play out.

More build-out rules will be implemented in the coming seasons.

Substitutions during the Spring season can occur “on the fly”, anytime, with no stoppage needed, by running a player off the field, and then running the substituting player on to the field, both through the center of the field on the sideline.

Coaches are not allowed on the field. They should not come on while the clock is running except for injuries.

An injured player does not have to leave the field unless bleeding or if a coach goes onto the field. If a substitute replaces an injured player the other team may also substitute a single player (i.e., one-for-one).

If one team has just enough players, both teams will play one less field player (e.g. 6v6 with a sub instead of 7v7). If one team doesn’t have enough players to play one less field player, coaches should combine teams to play a scrimmage until both teams can field a side.
For Coed Divisions, at least two female players should be on the field (subject to available players; don’t force if there’s only a few available). On the field players should be mixed coed, but done so as best as can be accomplished by the coach based on the team roster and without wearing out players. If there’s few female players, coaches should just do their best.

Periods of play:
FOS matches last for the following durations:

• PreK/K – four equal quarters of 10 minutes
• 1st/2nd Grade combined through 5th Grade – two equal halves of 24 minutes
• 7th/8th/9th Grade combined – two equal halves of 30 minutes

Match durations may not be extended nor changed, even by “agreement” of both coaches, nor will extra time be added, but may be reduced in the following conditions:

• Field and/or schedule availability, where a referee will inform the coaches that either one or more halves or quarters will be reduced to fit a match into a scheduled window.
• Field and/or schedule availability for make-up games, where both coaches and the referee must all agree that the total time will be reduced.
• Extreme weather conditions where the league stops play.
• Any other cause or emergency situation causing significant delay to a restart.

Intervals:
FOS matches will have half-time intervals of no longer than 5 minutes. Game matches of quarter durations will have intervals no longer than 2 minutes at other quarterly stoppages. Intervals should not be extended, and may be altered only with the referee’s permission.

Hydration breaks will be permitted during matches with half-game durations only, around the halfway point through each half, when the Heat Index is 85° or above at any point during gametime, and mandatory when the heat index is 90° or above at any point during gametime.

Hydration breaks can last no longer than 90 seconds, and will be called for by, and at the discretion of, the referee at a natural stoppage point during the half (i.e. when the ball is out of play).

The referee or FOS, can, at any time, implement a discretionary hydration break in cases where player safety is determined to be at risk.

NOTE: The clock does not stop during a hydration break.

Younger Divisions
Cards are not issued to players, but coaches will be requested to substitute players out to address instances. Players can be subbed back in on next substitution, after the Coach has addressed the situation.

5-6 Division
Yellow and Red cards will be issued as appropriate, but with restraint.
• Yellow cards will be issued to Players for blatant fouls. When a Player is issued a Yellow card, the Player must be substituted out immediately to address. The Player can be subbed back in on next substitution, after the Coach has addressed the situation.
• Red cards should only be issued in extreme, blatant foul circumstances.

Older Divisions
Yellow and Red cards will be issued whenever a referee deems necessary and appropriate.

Card Issuance
•When a Player is issued a Yellow card, the Player must be substituted out immediately to address. The player can be subbed back in during the next substitution, after the Coach has addressed the situation.
• A Player receiving Two (2) Yellow cards within the same match results in a Red Card.
• A straight Red card is issued for intentional handballs to prevent a goal.
• A straight Red card is issued for a rough tackle, where the referee believes the tackle to be violent, reckless, or uses excessive force, endangering the safety of an opponent.

Card Actions
Players:
• When a Player is issued a Red card, the Player must leave the field area immediately. Players issued a Red card also receives a minimum One (1) game suspension, to be served during the next game(s) the team or player plays, regardless of the type of game.
• A Player issued a straight Red card for violent conduct towards another Player, Referee, Coach or Spectator, also receives a minimum Three (3) game suspension, to be served during the next game(s) the team or player plays, regardless of the type of game.

Coaches or Spectators:
• When a Coach or Spectator is issued a Red card, or ejected from the game or sideline by a referee or FOS Board Member, the person must leave the field area immediately.
• Coaches issued a Red card also receive a Two (2) week suspension. The suspension is not just for games, but from all activities (practices, games, watching the game, etc.) as they are not allowed on the fields at all.
• Spectators ejected during a game may receive bans from the league based on the severity of the actions. Any bans are not just for games, but from all league activities (practices, games, watching the game, etc.) during the banned period.

NOTE: Any bans and suspensions may be reviewed and adjusted by the FOS Executive Board.