Referee General Rules for Intramural Games

West-Mont United Soccer Association (WMUSA) plays under the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) Laws Of The Game.

As a member organization of the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) we are permitted to modify certain rules to compensate for players' ages and abilities. 

  1. All players must wear shin guards, with socks pulled up over the top.
     
  2. Players must be on their own half of the field prior to the start of play, after each goal, and prior to starting the half or quarter.
     
  3. No jewelry, watches, necklaces, hair clips (except soft material type) may be worn. The exception is medical alert tags.
     
  4. The goalkeeper should wear a different jersey than all other players to clearly identify him/her.
     
  5. No player may play with a hard cast or splint, unless a doctor's note has been provided, and the cast is completely covered in one inch thick foam. The decision to play is up to the discretion of the referee.
     
  6. The referee keeps the official time.
     
  7. Coaches, players and spectators must be on opposite sides of the field. Coaches and players are restricted to 10 yards on either side of midfield and 2 yards off the touch line. NO ONE IS PERMITTED BEHIND THE GOALS.
     
  8. The home team will be on the side closest to the parking lot. They will be responsible for supplying the game ball.

Blow Out Rule
Any team leading by 4 goals must take measures to reduce the likelihood of additional scoring. The coach can rotate players, remove a player, require the players to be creative when shooting, etc. The referee may terminate a game for failure of a coach to follow this rule. 

U5 Nipper Division - small sided play, size 3 ball
No referee is assigned. No Goalkeeper. Number 1 rule is to have fun! Laugh! Allow the players to play. For teaching purposes, players should understand when the ball is in or out of play. Throw-ins can be taken but are not encouraged and not corrected. Players should understand that only a goalkeeper can use their hands; no penalties are given for any type of ball handling. For infractions such as tripping or pushing, gently guide the children towards proper conduct and restart play by throwing the ball in randomly, or letting one of the children take a kick.

U6 and U7 Divisions - small sided play, size 3 ball
No referee is assigned. No Goalkeeper. One coach, assistant, or parent from each team should volunteer to officiate. 

  1. U7 plays 4v4, small sided games. General fouls such as tripping, striking, charging, intentionally handling the ball, should restart with an indirect kick from the point of infraction. There are no penalty shots, or offside violations.
     
  2. When the ball completely crosses over the touchline, play is restarted with a throw-in. If taken incorrectly, give instruction, let them retake, and then continue playing regardless of the outcome.
     
  3. When the ball completely crosses the end line last touched by a defender, an indirect corner kick is taken.
     
  4. When the ball completely crosses the end line last touched by an offensive player, a goal kick is taken. The ball should be placed within 3 yards of the end line, in front of the goal.
     
  5. Substitutions should be made frequently, and at any stoppage in play.

U8 Division - 7v7 play, size 4 ball
Referees are assigned. A coach, assistant coach, or parent from each team should referee one half if no referee arrives by the scheduled start time. Games are played in four 12 minute quarters, 2 minute quarter breaks, 5 minute halftime. All players should have equal playing time. 

  1. Rule number one is to have Fun.
     
  2. Players should learn how to correctly start and restart the game after a goal or prior to a quarter/half.
     
  3. Ball going over the sideline is to be restarted with a proper throw-in. If taken incorrectly, give instruction, let them retake, and then continue playing regardless of the outcome.
     
  4. When the ball completely crosses the end line last touched by a defender, an indirect corener kick is taken.
     
  5. When the ball completely crosses the end line last touched by an offensive player, a goal kick is taken by the defending team. The ball may be placed anywhere within the goal area. No offensive players may be in the penalty box when the kick is taken.
     
  6. General fouls such as tripping, pushing, charging, intentionally handling the ball should restart with an indirect kick from the point of infraction. There are no penalty shots or offside violations. Any free kicks within the penalty area should be taken from the nearest point outside of the penalty area. All restarts are INDIRECT.
     
  7. Substitutions can be made at any stoppage in play after the approval of the referee, and at the start of the quarter or half.
     
  8. If a team is short players, the other team must play down to their number.
     
  9. Coaches are not allowed on the field except to attend to an injury.

U9 and U10 Divisions - 8v8 play, size 4 ball
Referees are assigned. A coach, assistant coach, or parent from each team should referee one half if no referee arrives by the scheduled start time. Games are played in four 12 (U9) and 14 (10) minute quarters, 2 minute quarter breaks, 5 minutes halftime. All players should have equal playing time.
 

  1. Rule number 1 is to have Fun.
     
  2. Throw-ins - Ball going over the sideline is to be restarted with a proper throw-in. If taken incorrectly, give instruction, let them retake once. If still improper, the throw-in is awarded to the other team.
     
  3. When the ball completely crosses the end line last touched by a defender, an indirect corner kick is taken. Place the ball anywhere on or inside the corner arc.
     
  4. When the ball completely crosses the end line last touched by an offensive player, a goal kick is taken by the defending team. The ball may be placed anywhere within the goal area. No offensive players may be in the penalty box when the kick is taken. The ball is in play when it leaves the penalty area.
     
  5. Fouls and Misconduct - Fouls against an opposing player such as kicking, striking, pushing, jumping at, or charging are penalized as direct kicks at the point of the foul. Fouls committed within the penalty area by the defensive team are penalized with a penalty kick.
  6. Substitutions are permitted after approval by the referee. A team may request a substitution at the following:
    • Either team's goal kick
    • Your own team's throw-in
    • After a goal is scored
    • After an injury
    • Quarter or half time
  7. Offside - A basic understanding of the offside rule is expected. There must be two players between the attacker and the goal when the ball is passed to that player. The receiving player must be actively involved in play or seeking to gain advantage to be called Offside. The referee determines this and their word is final in all matters relating to this and all other laws of the game. The restart for Offside is an indirect kick to the defending team.
  8. If a team is short players, the other team must play down to their number.
     
  9. Coaches are not allowed on the field except to attend to an injury.

U12 Division (size 4 ball) and U14 & U17 Divisions (size 5 ball)
Referees are assigned. A coach, assistant coach, or parent from each team should referee one half if no referee arrives by the scheduled start time. Games are played in four 14 minute quarter, 2 minute quarter breaks, 5 minutes halftime. All players should have equal playing time.

All of the above rules for U10 are strictly enforced. In addition, the referee may play the "advantage" rule in cases where the referee recognizes the foul, but allows the player to "play on" in order to not lose the advantage.
Fouls & Misconduct - In addition to the fouls described in U10, the following will also be enforced:

  1. Dangerous play, charging fairly but not within playing distance of the ball, and obstructing another player from playing the ball when they are not in possession of the ball themselves, are all penalized with the awarding of an indirect free kick.
     
  2. If a player enters the field of play without the referee's permission, continuously infringes the laws of the game, shows dissent by word or action to the referee or opposing team, they will be penalized with an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
     
  3. If a player is guilty of violent conduct, serious foul play, foul or abusive language or actions, or receives a second caution (yellow card) within the same game, that player will be shown a red card and ordered off the field of play, with no substitution.

The opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick.