NOTE: Rule changes effective 2/22/2002:

1. There will no longer be a sit-out rule for players receiving a "Yellow Card". The player can keep playing in that period. However, a second Yellow Card equates to a Red Card and the player is out for the rest of the game (the team plays short and the player sits out the next game).

2. There will no longer be a Yellow Card displayed to coaches. Instead (per FIFA), a verbal caution if misconduct occurs will be given to the coach (the Field Marshall will be notified). If misconduct persists the coach is subject to being asked to leave (out of sight and sound of the playing field). This is the equivalent to a red card and the coach must sit out the next game.

ECSA Laws of the Game will be modified in regards to these two areas.

GENERAL: Eastern Carolina Soccer Association adopts the Laws of the Game as published by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association for all ECSA sanctioned competitions with the following modifications:

LAW I: THE FIELD:

A: Dimensions:

1. U6, U8, GU8: The field of play shall be rectangular, its length being not more than 65 yds nor less than 55 yards and its width not more than 42 yds nor less than 32 yds. The length in all cases shall exceed the width.

2. U10, GU10: The field of play shall be rectangular, seventy (70) to eighty (80) yards in length by forty (40) to fifty (50) yards wide. The length in all cases shall exceed the width.

3. U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16: The field of play shall be rectangular, its length being not more than 130 yds nor less than 100 yds and its width not more than 75 yds nor less than 50 yds. The length in all cases shall exceed the width.

4. U19, GU19: The field of play shall be rectangular, seventy (70) to eighty (80) yards in length by forty (40) to fifty (50) yards wide.  Field widths of sixty (60) to sixty-five (65) yards are encouraged. The length in all cases shall exceed the width.

B. Markings:

1. Distinctive lines not more than five (5) inches wide.

2. A halfway line shall be marked out across the field.

3. A center circle:

• U6, U8, GU8: Five (5) yard radius.
• U10, GU10, U19, GU19: Eight (8) yard radius.
• U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16: Ten (10) yard radius.

4. Four corner arcs with a one (1) yd radius.

5. Goal Area:

• U6, U8, GU8: Goal kick spot - a spot six (6) yds out into the field directly in front of the left and right goal upright.
• U6, U8, GU8: Goalie clearance line - a line extending from touchline to touchline ten (10) yds in from the two goal lines.
• Goal areas for all other age groups shall conform to FIFA.

6. Penalty Area:

• U6, U8, GU8 - There is no penalty area.
• U10, GU10, U19, GU19 - The penalty area shall extend from the edge of the goal post along the end line fourteen (14) yards and extend out into the playing field fourteen (14) yards.
• Penalty areas for all other age groups shall conform to FIFA.

C. Goals:

1. U6, U8, GU8: Six (6) feet high and twelve (12) feet wide.

2. U10, GU10, U19, GU19: Seven (7) feet high and twenty-one (21) feet wide or eight (8) feet high and twenty-four (24) feet wide.

3. U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16, U19, GU19: Eight (8) feet high and twenty-four (24) feet wide.

D. Coach's area:

1. U6, U8, GU8: Coaches must stay in the area from the ten (10) yd line to ten (10) yd line and are free to move within this area outside the touchline on both sides of the field.

2. All Others:

a. Teams on the same side of the field: Coaches must stay in the area from the top of the penalty area to midfield and are free to move within this area outside the touchline on their end of the field.

b. Teams on opposite sides of the field: Coaches must remain in the area from the top of the penalty area to the top of the penalty area on their side of the field.

E. Coaches are permitted to confer with the referee at the end of each period in a gentlemanly manner. This is not an opportunity to dispute calls but rather a time to obtain a simple explanation of rules.

LAW II: THE BALL:

A. U6, U8, GU8: Size Three (3)

B. U10, GU10, U12, GU12: Size Four (4)

C. U14, GU14, U16, GU16, U19, GU19: Size Five (5)

LAW III: NUMBER OF PLAYERS:

A. U6, U8, GU8, U19, GU19:

1. Maximum number of players on the field at any one time: seven (7), one of whom shall be the goalkeeper.

2. Maximum number of players on the roster will not exceed twelve (12).

B. U10, GU10:

1. Maximum number of players on the field at any one time: eight (8), one of whom shall be the goalkeeper.

2. Maximum number of players on the roster will not exceed twelve (12).

C. U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16:

1. Maximum number of players on the field at any one time: eleven (11), one of whom shall be the goalkeeper.

2. Maximum number of players on the roster will not exceed eighteen (18).

D. Substitution:

1. U6, U8, GU8, U10 (Recreation), GU10 (Recreation):

a. Substitutions are permitted at the quarter break and at halftime.

b. An injured player tended to on the field must be substituted and may return at the next substitution opportunity. (See a.)

c. A player cautioned must be substituted and will remain out of the game through the end of the period.

2. U10 (Challenge), GU10 (Challenge), U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16, U19, GU19:

a. A team may substitute on its own throw in or either team may substitute on a goal kick, after a goal is scored, or at halftime.

b. An injured player tended to on the field must be substituted and may return to the game at the next substitution opportunity. (See a.)

c. A player cautioned must be substituted and will remain out of the game through the end of the period.

d. In either b or c above the other team may make a like number of substitutions.

e. Substitutes must have made their intention to substitute known to either the referee or linesman prior to the substitution opportunity and be standing at the midfield line one (1) yard off the touchline.

E. Playing time:

1. U6, U8, GU8, U10 (Recreation), GU10 (Recreation):

Each player SHALL play in a minimum of two quarters. (Exceptions are defined in ECSA Recreation Policy: III. Participation)

2. U10 (Challenge), GU10 (Challenge), U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16, U19, GU19:

a. Each player SHALL enter play in each half. The intent of ECSA is for players to share maximum playing time. (Exceptions are defined in ECSA Recreation and Challange Policy: III Participation)

b. Intent to enter by standing at midfield as time expires is not sufficient, each player must enter the game.

F. Teams and games may be Co-ed except GU games which will only have female participants and U19 which will only have male participants.

LAW IV: PLAYER'S EQUIPMENT - Conform to FIFA with the following exceptions:

A. Footwear: Tennis shoes or cleated soccer shoes approved by FIFA and NCYSA.

B. Shin-guards are mandatory.

C. Shirts must have a distinctive one (1) or two (2) digit number.

LAW V: REFEREE:

A. U6, U8, GU8:

1. Registered Referee
2. Associate Referee
3. Parent/Coach or Assistant

B. U10, GU10, U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16, U19, GU19: Registered Referee

C. Referees's decision on points of fact connected with the game shall be final.

D. All rule infractions may be briefly explained to the offending player.

LAW VI: LINESMAN:

A. U6, U8, GU8: None

B. U10, GU10, U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16, U19, GU19:

1. Registered Referee
2. Associate Referee
3. Parent/Coach/Club Linesman

LAW VII: DURATION OF GAME:

A. U6, U8, GU8: The game shall be divided into four equal ten (10) minute quarters.

B. U10, GU10 (Recreation): The game shall be divided into four equal twelve (12) minute quarters.

1. There shall be a four (4) minute break between the first and second quarters and the third and fourth quarters.

2. There shall be a six (6) minute halftime break between the second and third quarters.

C. U10 (Challenge), GU10 (Challenge), U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16, U19, GU19: The game shall be played in two equal halves of the following duration:

	Recreation	Challenge
1. U10, GU10:	N/A	Twenty-five (25) Minutes
2. U12, GU12:	Thirty (30) Minutes	Thirty (30) Minutes
3. U14, GU14:	Thirty-five (35) Minutes	Thirty-five (35) Minutes
4. U16, GU16:	Forty (40) Minutes	Forty (40) Minutes
5. U19, GU19:	Twenty-five (25) Minutes	N/A
6. There will be a halftime break of ten (10) minutes except U19 and GU19, which will have a break of five (5) minutes.

D. The teams will only exchange ends of the field at the halftime break.

LAW VIII: THE START OF PLAY - Conform to FIFA with the following exceptions:

A. U6, U8, GU8, U19, GU19: Five (5) players for each team must be present to begin the game. Each team must maintain a minimum of five (5) players on the field to continue play once the game has started. PENALTY: Forfeit of Game Note: U19 and GU19 teams may borrow U19 and GU19 NCYSA registered players in their age bracket in order to compete. There are no forfeits in U19 and GU19 brackets.

B. U10, GU10: Six (6) players for each team must be present to begin the game. Each team must maintain a minimum of five (5) players on the field to continue play once the game has started. PENALTY: Forfeit of Game.

C. U12, GU12, U14, GU14, U16, GU16: Eight (8) players for each team must be present to begin the game. Each team must maintain a minimum of seven (7) players on the field to continue play once the game has started. PENALTY: Forfeit of Game.

D. The game shall start within ten (10) minutes of the scheduled starting time. A team not prepared to start within this time shall forfeit the game.

E. U6, U8, GU8 - Opponents must be five (5) yards from the center mark while the kickoff is in progress. For U10, GU10, U19, GU19 - Opponents must be eight (8) yards from the center mark while the kickoff is in progress.

LAW IX: BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY - Conform to FIFA

LAW X: METHOD OF SCORING - Conform to FIFA

LAW XI: OFFSIDE - Conform to FIFA with the following exception:

U6, U8, GU8: Offside shall not be penalized.

LAW XII: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT - Conform to FIFA with the following exceptions:

A. No one shall stand behind the goal line during the course of the game. The referee may halt the game to enforce this rule and take further action if necessary.

B. U6, U8, GU8: Goalies may carry the ball unmolested to the ten (10) yard line and return the ball to play, thus avoiding the four (4) step limitation.

C. No cautions nor ejections shall be issued to players except by an independent, neutral referee.

LAW XIII: FREE KICKS - Conform to FIFA with the following exceptions:

A. U6, U8, GU8: All free kicks are indirect.

B. U6, U8, GU8: Opponents must be five (5) yards from the ball during the taking of the free kick.

C. U10, GU10, U19, GU19: Opponents must be eight (8) yards from the ball during the taking of the free kick.

LAW XIV: PENALTY KICKS - Conform to FIFA with the following exception:

U6, U8, GU8: There shall be no penalty kicks.

LAW XV: THROW IN - Conform to FIFA

LAW XVI: GOAL KICK - Conform to FIFA with the following exceptions:

U6, U8, GU8:
A. The ball will be placed on a marked spot six (6) yds out into the field directly in front of either the left or right goal upright.

B. Opponents must be four (4) yards from the ball during the taking of the goal kick and the ball must clear the ten (10) yard line prior to being played by either another player on the kicking team or an opponent.

LAW XVII: CORNER KICK - Conform to FIFA with the following exception:

U6, U8, GU8: Opponents must be five (5) yards from the ball during the taking of the corner kick.

U10, GU10, U19, GU19: Opponents must be eight (8) yards from the ball during the taking of the corner kick.

ADDITIONAL:

• Opposing parent/coaches/players should shake hands after each game.
• Parent/Spectators should not coach nor instruct the players during the game.
• All spectators should remain at least six (6) yards away from the touch line and twenty (20) yards from the goal line during the game.
• No alcoholic beverages will be consumed on or allowed near the playing area.
• The use of tobacco and tobacco products by official team personnel during a match is prohibited.