Mt Gravatt Hawks Soccer Club

OPTUS SMALL-SIDED FOOTBALL RULES

NOTE: Implementation of Optus Small-Sided Football only covers U6-10 only in 2010.

Under 11 in 2010 will be playing full field rules and regulations, but from 2011, U11 playing the revised format and this will be the final stage of small-sided football.

1. The Field of Play

Dimensions

The field of play should be rectangular in shape. Sizes for each age group are as follows:

Under 6 and 7 years of age ...........................................30m x 20m

Under 8 and 9 years of age ...........................................40-50m x 30-40m

Under 10 and 11 years of age .......................................60-70m x 40-50m

2. Markings

Markers or painted line markings.

3. Goal Size

The size of the goal should be:

Under 6 and 7 years of age .............................. Minimum 1.50m x 0.90m - Maximum 2.00m x 1.00m

Under 8 and 9 years of age............................... Minimum 2.50m x 1.80m - Maximum 3.00m x 2.00m

Under 10 and 11years of age............................ Minimum 4.50m x 1.80m - Maximum 5.00m x 2.00m

4. Goal Type

Goals, markers, poles or flags can be used as goals.

5. Penalty Area

Under 6 and 7 years of age ..........................................No penalty area

Under 8, 9, 10 and 11 years of age................................Rectangular � 5m length x 12m width

6. The Ball

Under 6, 7, 8 and 9 years of age ....................................Size 3

Under 10 and 12 years of age .......................................Size 4

7. The Number of Players

Under 6 and 7 years of age ..........................................4 v 4 � no goalkeeper

Note: Maximum of two substitutes who may rotate during the entire game. The coach or parent is allowed to make the substitutions while the ball is in play, but must wait until the substituted player has left the field.

Under 8 and 9 years of age ..........................................7 v 7 � inc. goalkeeper

Note: Maximum of three substitutes who may rotate during the entire game. The coach or parent is allowed to make the substitutions while the ball is in play, but must wait until the substituted player has left the field.

Under 10 and 11 years of age ......................................9 v 9 � inc. goalkeeper

8. Duration of the Game

Under 6 and 7 years of age ..........................................2 x 15 minutes (half-time break 5 minutes)

Under 8 and 9 years of age ..........................................2 x 20 minutes (half-time break 5 minutes)

Under 10 and 11 years of age ......................................2 x 25 minutes (half-time break 7.5 minutes)

9. Player's Equipment

A player taking the field of play should not wear anything which is dangerous to themselves or to another player. Boots (or training shoes) and shin pads must be worn.

10. Goalkeeper

Under 6 and 7 years of age ..........................................no goalkeeper

Under 8, 9, 10 and 11 years of age ...............................goalkeeper

11. Referees

Under 6 and 7 years of age ...........................................Game Leader(see role below)

Under 8, 9, 10 and 11 years of age ................................Instructing Referee(see role below)

12. The Start of Play and Restart After a Goal

Under 6 - 11 years of age

Pass forward to a team mate from the middle of the half way line. All players must be in their own half of the field of play. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play.

The ball must touch a team mate before a goal can be scored.

13. Ball In and Out of Play

The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or the touch line on the ground or in the air, or when play has been stopped by the referee.

14. Ball Crossing the Touch Line

Under 6 and 7 years of age

There is no throw in. A player from the opposing team to the player that touched the ball last before crossing the touch line will place the ball on the touch line and pass or dribble the ball into play. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play. The ball must touch a team mate before a goal can be scored.

Under 8, 9, 10 and 11 years of age

Throw-in: Player faces the field of play, has part of each foot on the ground either on or behind the touch line, uses both hands and delivers the ball from behind and over their head. The thrower must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play once it enters the field of play. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in.

15. Ball Crossing the Goal Line after Touching the Defending Team Last

Under 6 & 7

There is no corner kick. Regardless of which team touched the ball last, a player from the team whose goal line the ball has crossed will place the ball anywhere along the goal line and pass or dribble the ball into play. Opponents must retreat to the half way line and can move once the ball is in play. The ball must touch a team mate before a goal can be scored.

Under 8 - 11

Corner kick. A player from the attacking team places the ball inside the corner arc nearest to the point where the ball crossed the line. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

16. Ball Crossing the Goal Line after Touching the Attacking Team Last

Under 6 & 7

Regardless of which team touched the ball last, a player from the team whose goal line the ball has crossed will place the ball anywhere along the goal line and pass or dribble the ball into play. Opponents must retreat to the half way line and can move once the ball is in play. The ball must touch a team mate before a goal can be scored.

Under 8 - 11

Goal kick from anywhere within the penalty area. Opponents remain at least 5m outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. The ball is in play once it is kicked directly out of the penalty area.

17. Method of Scoring

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar. When goal posts are not available and cones are used for goals, a goal is scored when the ball passes between the cones without touching them, below shoulder height of the player.

18. Offside

There is no offside for the Under 6�11-year-old age groups.

19. Fouls and Misconduct

Under 6 & 7

Most acts of handball or fouls and misconduct at this level are caused by a lack of coordination, with no intent. In this case try and give the advantage to the attacking team and continue play. If you decide a deliberate or serious act of handball, foul or misconduct has occurred, explain to the child they have done the wrong thing and that they should not do this again.

Under 8 � 11

Indirect free kicks are awarded for all acts of handball or fouls and misconduct. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball when the indirect free kick is taken. (An indirect free kick is where a goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal). For deliberate or serious acts of handball or fouls and misconduct in the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded from an 8m penalty mark with only a goalkeeper in position. All other players must be outside the penalty area and be at least 5m behind the penalty mark.

Fouls and misconduct are:

� kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

� trips or attempts to trip an opponent

� jumps at an opponent

� charges an opponent

� strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

� pushes an opponent

� tackles an opponent from behind to gain possession of the ball

� making contact with the opponent before touching the ball

� holds an opponent

� spits at an opponent

� handles the ball deliberately

� plays in a dangerous manner

� impedes the progress of a player.

20. Game Leader

The main role of the game leader is to keep the game moving fluently, limit stoppages and assist players with all match re-starts. Most importantly, they must make every effort to create an environment that ensures that all players have fun and have maximum involvement. The children are learning the game at this level, be flexible and patient. The game leader can be a club official, parent, older child or player or beginning referee and should always be enthusiastic and approachable.

The Game Leader should:

� Encourage all children to have fun and different children to take re-starts.

� Ensure the correct number of players are on the field.

� Discourage players from permanently over-guarding the goal.

� Use a �Ready, Set, Go� prompt to encourage quick decisions when restarting play.

� Encourage children to dribble or pass ball into play from all re-starts rather than a big kick.

� Ensure opposing team is back to the half way line, for all goal line restarts.

� Ensure team officials and parents create a safe, enjoyable and positive playing environment for the children and do not emphasise winning or losing.

� Encourage children to be involved in all aspects of the game, attacking and defending.

� Remember most acts of handball or fouls and misconduct at this level are caused by a lack of coordination, with no intent. If you decide a deliberate or serious act of handball or foul and misconduct has occurred, explain to the child they have done the wrong thing and that they should not do this again.

21. Instructing Referee

The main role of the instructing referee is to control the game to ensure it is played fluently and instruct and correct the players (with minimal blowing of the whistle) on how to behave and what the rules are, e.g. what a foul is, what a free kick is and how to throw in etc... Should these indiscretions happen a second time the referee should stop the game and apply the appropriate action and decisions. This person can be a club official, capable parent, older child or player, beginning or official referee from the federation or association.

The Instructing Referee should:

� Encourage all children to have fun and different children to take re-starts.

Ensure the correct numbers of players are on the field

� Discourage players from permanently standing in blatant offside positions and instruct them to move into onside positions. In the Under 10 & 11 age groups children should be made aware of the offside rule during training and be encouraged to adopt this philosophy during the game at all times.

� Let the game flow and give instruction to all players on the run where you can

� Instruct players in the first instance before blowing the whistle where possible

� Ensure team officials and parents create a safe, enjoyable and positive playing environment for the children and do not emphasise winning or losing

� Be enthusiastic, consistent and approachable