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Stingers Soccer Club Development Program Officials Guide

Ages U5, U6, U7, & U8

Developmental Director of Coaching- Zac Crawford

1. Officials

(Game manager, coordinator, observer, director, parent volunteer/coach).  Your job is to keep the playing environment FUN, SAFE, and focused on the child.

In addition you need to keep time, teach the rules, stop and restart the game.  When you stop the game because of a foul, ball out of play, goal or another reason, take the time to use guided discovery and help explain to they players why!  This is their first experience with soccer, too, and the BEST time to educate all on the Laws of the Game.

—  This season the club has asked for volunteer referees so players can benefit from another person offering Guided Discovery.  The referee will not tell the teams whose ball it is moreover they will ask:

—  Who kicked the ball out?

—  Whose ball is it then?

—  Is it a goal kick or corner?

—  This questioning allows the players’ to learn the rules in games not by drill command, which only has a short term benefit but by self discovery which allows long term benefits. This philosophy harks back to how children used to referee their own games in days of “street soccer” and accelerates the children’s ability to understand ethical values as they must come to agreement based on an understanding of right and wrong.

—  Another reason is to reduce the potential disagreements between coaches.  Even at the younger ages differences of opinions occur so the aim is to remove the Coach from an opportunity where the players’ copy any unsporting behavior.   The club is aware that any volunteer may favor one team but at least the coach will not be subject of their ethics.

Why add another adult to the field with a referee?

—  At the U5 age group, the coaches can go anywhere on the field and their focus should be on helping the players remain engaged.  

—  At the U6 age group, the coaches can only move around in their own defensive half. One reason for the restriction is to reduce the number of people in either half as the pace of the game increases. 

—  Another reason is within a year no U7/U8 the coach is allowed on the field.   The rational is as the child begins to expand their decision making abilities, self confidence and comfort level with the ball, their need for hands on teaching will decrease.  

—  Psychologically, the more challenging half of the field is the attacking half as the player realizes they have a chance to score a goal, thus the need for them to adjust to be self sufficient although this will vary based on the individuals skill set.

2.  Start of Play

All players must be in their own half of the field with one team kicking off.  Opponents must be 3 yards (U5/6) or 5yds (U7/8) from the center mark at the kick off. 

Before the game decide who will kick off to begin the game and then change the kick off team at the beginning of each quarter.  Kick off is intended to ensure possession and must go forward to a teammate.  The ball is not kicked to the other team. 

3. Ball In and Out of Play

When the WHOLE of the ball goes over the WHOLE of a boundary line, the ball is out of play.  Putting the ball back into play is discussed in the game format (it’s different for each age level).

Remember, the FUN of the game is movement of the ball.  When everyone has to stop to restart the game, the FUN has left the game for the moment.  Try to keep the ball moving and not be too eager to call the ball out of play.

4. Method of Scoring

A goal is scored when the WHOLE of the ball goes over the WHOLE of the part of the goal line defined by the cones or actual goal.  Scoring goals is possibly the MOST fun a soccer layer has during a game.  Give players every opportunity to score a goal.

The entire team must be above the midfield line for the goal to count.  If the goal is disallowed, play will restart with a goal kick for the defending team.  PARENTS AND COACHES SHOULD NOT FORCEFULLY INSTRUCT PLAYERS TO BE PAST MIDFIELD, BUT INSTEAD ALLOW THE COACH TO USE GUIDED DISCOVERY.

5. Offside

There is no offside is small-sided games.

6. Fouls and Misconduct

Fouls can and will occur even at this level.  All fouls shall result in an indirect free kick with opponents at least 3 yards away.

·         Kicks, trips, pushes, holds or attempts to kick, trip, or push, hold an opponent

·         Jumps or charges at an opponent

·         Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

·         Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball

·         Handles the ball deliberately

·         Plays in a dangerous manner

·         Impedes the progress of an opponent by not playing the ball.

Soccer is a contact sport and each action is dealt with at the time it occurs.  Explain the foul in simple terms, restart and let the game continue.

7. Free kicks

All free kicks will be direct until the U9 age group.  All opposing players should be 3yds (U5/6) or 5yds (U7/8) away from the ball prior to the kick.

8. Kick-in (Replaces Throw in) for U6 and U7 Only/ Throw In for U8

When the ball goes completely over one of the longer boundary lines last touched by a player on Team “A”, a player on Team ”B” shall kick the ball back into play.  This is football- let’s play the ball with the feet and get comfortable with the ball.  More touches means better technique!

U8s will be required to throw the ball in.  This is the only time that a field player may use their hands. This is used to bring the ball back in play after it has crossed out bounds on the sidelines.  Two hands must be used and the ball must be thrown from behind the player’s head.  Both feet must be on the ground and behind the sideline.

If a player makes a mistake, he/she is allowed another try after the official has spoken to the player and explain the error and how to correct it.

Coaches are encouraged to have their players make quick decisions (keeping the flow of the game) to get the ball back in to their own team.  It is important though that players learn to restart the play with the purpose of keeping possession of the ball.

9. Goal Kick

If the team attempting to score a goal kicks the ball over the goal line outside the goal posts, the opposing team puts the ball back into play with a goal kick.  The kick should be placed line marking the goal area.  Pllayers must be 5-6 yards away.

10. Corner Kick

Use an indirect free kick with the opponent 3yds away.  If the team defending against a goal being scored kicks the ball over their own goal line, the opposing team puts the ball back into play with a corner kick. 

11. NO SWEEPER RULE

To encourage proper development, our players are encouraged to support the attack and move up and down the field together.  Coaches are also not allowed to stick a player in front of the goal.  Therefore, a goal will not count unless every member on the scoring team is past midfield. 

If a goal is scored and a player is not past midfield, the goal will not count and the play will restart with a goal kick from the defending team.  Coaches, not parents, are encouraged to guide the players to the appropriate positions and not to direct the player that does not stay connected.  Allow the player to make his/her own decisions.

12. Mercy Rule

Official scores are not kept, but players and parents remember.  There is no mercy rule, but coaches that have scores that exceed by more than 8 goals the first time will meet with the Developmental DOC.  Not running up the score is not only good sportsmanship, but it’s also good coaching.  We teach our players to win, but it’s best to keep it close.

Some ideas to help not “running up the score” include:

·         As soon as you get 4 goals ahead, start to make changes.

·         Moving your attacking players to defense and vice-versa.

·         Play short by removing a player from the field. 

·         Play your less advanced players. 

·         Tell your team to make a set number of consecutive passes for a point.

13. Players Equipment

Players will want to wear a shirt, shorts, socks and a good pair of running shoes.  Some may wear soft-cleated soccer shoes.  Shin guards are required for safety reason and should be covered by a pair of high socks.  Clothing should not be restrictive.

During cold or wet conditions, it is “OK” for players to wear sweat pants, rain coats, beanies or skull caps, and gloves.  Players should be able to wear the jerseys on the OUTSIDE of their coats.

14. Game Format