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Recreational Soccer FAQs, Rules & Guidelines

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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A: If you register on time, we charge $150 per child with a $375 family cap. Late registration, we charge $175 per child and no cap.

A: The following is included in this price. Referee fees, Uniform, Field maintenance, Trophy and Insurance.

A: At the parents request, a refund may be granted on a case-by-case basis to determine the amount of refund. There will be a $25 cancellation/processing fee for all refunds. Late Registration fees are non refundable. Additional uniform fee and trophy fee may be applied. No refunds will be granted after rosters have been finalized.

A: Email is the best option. Click on the 'About Us' tab at top of page and select a board member to email your questions.

A: Generally, we try to keep all games to Friday nights and Saturday during the day with most games occurring on Saturday. However, occasionally, we have to schedule a U12 or U15 game on a weekday Monday-Thursday, depending on the season. Some Sundays can be used if needed due to weather or special circumstances.

A: Unfortunately no. Children must have turned 5 on or before September 1st and must be enrolled in Kindergarten. Our insurance does not allow us to play children that do not meet these requirements. But we do have a Little Feet program for children under 5. (here)

A: For the spring, practices will begin generally during the first week of April, with games starting the first week in May. For the fall, practices will begin generally during the first week of August, with games starting shortly following Labor Day. Please note, the weather can impact the starting dates.

A: When the fields first become available, kids will have 1 one hour practice during the week and 1 one hour practice on Saturday. Once the games begin, the Saturday practice will be dropped and you will only have 1 practice per week.

A: Unfortunately, we do not honor any requests for friends or neighbors to be on the same team. While we recognize that this can be burdensome to families, this was a common excuse used in years past to try to get the same 5 or 6 kids or in some cases entire teams to be put together. The ONLY way for children to be on the same team as their friend is if a parent from each player is willing to be a coach or an assistant coach.

A: Once the teams have been assigned and the uniforms have been ordered, we will not move the children off of a practice day. You are allowed at registration to select one day your child cannot practice. That is the only request we will honor.

A: No, they cannot. Absolutely no jewelry is allowed during practices or games. This is specifically addressed under Laws of the Game. The referees and coaches are told to look for this specifically at each practice and game. If the coach or referee sees this, your child will be asked to remove the jewelry and will not be allowed to play until the jewelry is removed. This is for the safety of the players.

A: NLSA has a strict policy about children playing in their age group. We do not allow players to play up for any reason.

EQUIPMENT

Required Equipment
Soccer Ball, Shin Guards, Water Bottle, Safety Glasses (if needed). Designer wire frames have been known to cause serious injury.

Soccer Ball Sizes: U6, U7 & U8 Size 3, U10 & U12 Size 4 & U14 Size 5.

Recommended Equipment
Soccer cleats/spikes. (No football or baseball cleats/spikes).

NLSA will supply jersey/shirt, shorts and soccer socks.

Sizing Information
YXXS similar to 3-4;  YXS similar to 4-5;  YS similar to 5-6;  YM similar to 7-8;  YL similar to 10-12;  AS similar to 14-16

NEW LENOX SOCCER RULES & GUIDELINES


The following rules and guidelines are required to be followed by all coaches, players, and referees.


Players Equipment
All players are required to wear shin guards under their socks during all practices and games. We highly suggest that the players wear soccer shoes although tennis shoes are acceptable. Baseball spikes (which have a front toe cleat) are not acceptable.

Goalies are required to wear a goalie jersey to differentiate them from the field players. Goalie gloves are optional.

Absolutely no jewelry is allowed.  This includes earrings, rings, bracelets, wristbands, barrettes, necklaces, or any other items the referee or coaches feel could cause injury to the player or other players.   We do not allow taping over training stud earrings.  They should be removed before all practices and games.

We do recommend sport frames for players that require glasses.

Hard billed hats are not allowed.  We do allow winter hats and gloves during colder conditions.  We recommend non-hooded sweatshirts for wear under the jersey.  Hooded sweatshirts must have hood tucked under jersey if worn.

General Guidelines for all levels

  • No official score is kept.
  • All players must play at least half of the game (2 quarters). Also, no player may play all 4 quarters unless every other player has played 3 quarters. 
  • Substitutions only enter the field of play at the halfway line and only during a stoppage of play.  Example:  Goal Kick, Throw-in, kick-off.
  • Discuss with the Referee before the game about notifying him/her regarding substitutions.
  • Visiting team starts the kickoff of the game.
  • The referee will keep track of scoring only to institute the 3/5 rule when needed.
  • 3/5 Rule:  If one team goes up by 3 goals, the opposing team must add 1 additional field player to the game.  If the team with the extra player scores, the additional player must be removed.  If a team goes up by 5 goals, the opposing team must add a second additional player on the field.  This second player is in addition to the player that was added when the team was down by 3 goals.

Divisional Guidelines

Select from the tabs below for guidelines for each Division.

Common Laws that occur at an NLSA match

All 17 Laws of the Game can be found at the following website:  www.ussoccer.com


The Referee (FIFA – Law 5)
Each match is controlled by a referee who has FULL authority to enforce the Laws of the game in connection to the match to which he has been assigned.

Offside (FIFA – Law 11)
Offside is when a player is past the halfway line, involved in active play, and closer to an opponents goal than the ball or the second to last defender, without possession of the ball.

  • There is no offside awarded for U6, U7, & U8 divisions.
  • Offside offense will be awarded for U10, U12, & U15 divisions.

Penalty Kick (FIFA – Law 14)

  • No penalty kicks are awarded for U6, U7, & U8 games.
  • Penalty kicks are awarded for U10, U12, & U15 games.


Throw-In (FIFA – Law 15)
Is awarded when the whole ball passes over the touch line, either on the ground or in the air.

  • A second Throw-In will be allowed if the player commits a foul on the initial attempt. (U6, U7 & U8 only)
  • Coach or referee should explain the proper method before allowing the player to re-throw.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a Throw-In.

Goal Kick (FIFA – Law 16)
Is awarded when the whole ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal was not scored.

  • The ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team. All opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
  • The kick is retaken if it does not go beyond the penalty area.
  • The ball cannot be touched by any player until it has left the penalty area.

A goal can only be scored directly against the opposing team off a Goal Kick.

Corner Kick (FIFA – Law 17)
Is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air.
 

  • The ball is placed inside the corner arc at the nearest corner.
  • The ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.
  • The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it is touched by another player.

Fouls and Misconduct (FIFA – Law 12)
All fouls will result in an Indirect Free Kick for U6, U7, & U8 games.

  • U10, U12, & U15 follow FIFA – Law 12 to award Direct and Indirect Free Kicks.
  • Coach or referee should explain all infractions (fouls) to the players.

Unsporting behavior by players will not be tolerated (i.e., “trash-talking”, name calling, pushing, tripping, elbowing, etc.).  Players will receive a warning from the referee. Repeat offense will result in player being removed from the game for a period of five (5) minutes or more at the discretion of the referee.

Direct Free Kick
A Direct Free Kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offenses in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

  1. kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
  2. trips or attempts to trip an opponent
  3. strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
  4. jumps at an opponent
  5. charges an opponent
  6. pushes an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offenses:

  • tackles an opponent 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 (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

A goal can be scored directly from a Direct Free Kick.

Indirect Free Kick
Indirect Free Kick – A goal cannot be scored until the ball is touched by a second player of either team.

The following offenses result in an indirect free kick to the opposing team when committed by a goalkeeper inside his own penalty area.

  • Takes more than 6 seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession.
  • Touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player.
  • Touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate.
  • Touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in take by a team-mate.

An Indirect Free Kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee

  • Plays in a dangerous manner.
  • Impedes the progress of an opponent
  • Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
  • Commits any other offense, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player.
     

Last revised: January 20, 2009

Printable Version of the Recreational Soccer Rules & Guidelines