Fall 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 are at the referee’s direction and discretion. Coaches do not just call for substitutions to occur. A referee will signal when substitutions can occur. For example, a referee may not allow substitutions during the final minutes of a game.

Substitutions can occur on kick-offs (either team), goal kicks (either team), throw-ins (either team), or corner kicks (either team). No substitutions on free kicks or drop balls.

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).

Divisions Playing at EES:
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 (e.g. a Boys 3-4 team only has 7 and can’t play 8v8).
Divisions Playing 9v9 at Freedom Park:
If one team has just 8 or 9 players, both teams will play 8v8. If one team has less than 8 players, a forfeit is called and coaches should combine teams to play a scrimmage. If both teams have less than 8 players, a double forfeit is called and coaches should combine teams to play a scrimmage.
Divisions Playing 11v11 (except High School) at Freedom Park:
If one team has just 11 players, both teams will play 10v10. If one team has just 9 or 10 players the other team can still play at 10 players. If one team has 8 or less players, a forfeit is called and coaches should combine teams to play a scrimmage. If both teams have 8 or less players, a double forfeit is called and coaches should combine teams to play a scrimmage.
High School Division:
If one team has just 11 players, both teams will play 10v10. If one team has 8, 9, or 10 players the other team can still play at 10 players. If one team has less than 8 players, a forfeit is called and coaches should combine teams to play a scrimmage. If both teams have less than 8 players, a double forfeit is called and coaches should combine teams to play a scrimmage.

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

• PreK/K – four equal quarters of 10 minutes
• 1st Grade – four equal quarters of 12 minutes
• 2nd Grade (including 1st/2nd Grade combined) through 6th Grade – two equal halves of 24 minutes
• 7th/8th Grade (including 7th/8th/9th combined) – two equal halves of 30 minutes
• High School – two equal halves of 35 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.