REFEREE - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Laws and changes by year:

• 2022/2023: https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/xx3byxqgodqtl1h15865/file/972760101681
  
• 2021/2022: https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/xx3byxqgodqtl1h15865/folder/144128923512
• 2020/2021: https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/xx3byxqgodqtl1h15865/folder/116559765028
• 2019/2020: https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/xx3byxqgodqtl1h15865/folder/77404976289
• 2018/2019: https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/xx3byxqgodqtl1h15865/folder/50116651982
• other years: https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/xx3byxqgodqtl1h15865

Age Level Rules:

• Duration, ball, players, goal and field sizes can be found in the AYSO National Rules and Regulations. Beware that these are recommendations, and regions are free to tweak. We have tweaked number of players, permitting 5 per side at 8U. We follow the guidelines for other ages.
• Goal size: what ever is on the field ;-> If the field has multiple goals sizes, small goals are for younger divisions, large goals for older divisions. Don't make a fuss about this. If teams are happy with the goals, all is good. DO NOT PERMIT unanchored goals. All goals MUST be staked or weighted. If they can not be, both goals on the field are removed, and replaced with safe cones.
  
• 8U, 10U, 12U substitute at "quarters", monitored by referees. Substitutions ARE NOT water/coaching breaks.
  
• 14U, 16U, 18U have free substitutions, no monitoring by referees. Players need to be at halfway line, and get referee permission to enter. Player should leave, then substitute may enter.
• Water breaks. Encourage coaches to line up water bottles 1 yard behind touch line, and players may take water any time. Referee may call for water break on hot days; it is best to notify coaches of your intent to do so before game and at half. Water break should last at most 2-3 minutes, it is not a coaching break. At 8U-12U quarter/substitution breaks are perfect for water breaks.
  

Age Level Restrictions:

• Offside:
  8U: No offside. No poaching, no goal tending. Attackers and defenders in the immediate vicinity of the net should be gently shooed away.
  10U+: offside

• Keeper:
  8U: No keepers.
  10U+: Keepers.

• DFK/PK:
  8U: No DFK/PK. All infractions are IFK. Because no PK, there is no penalty area. On GK, the required distance is 5 yards, the same size as the center circle
  10U+: Both DFK and PK

• Heading:
  8U, 10U, 12U: No heading. Heading is dangerous play, and thus an IFK for opponents
  14U+: heading is permitted

• Keeper punt:
  8U: No keepers, thus no keeper punt
  10U: No keeper punt, it encourages heading. Offense is dangerous play, restart is IFK where punt occurred.
  12U+: Keeper punt permitted

• Ball put into play incorrectly:
  8U: Retake twice, let play continue if bad on the third (errors are trifling).
  10U+: As per laws.

• Build out line:
  8U: None. Not needed as no offside, nor penalty area.
  10U: Build out lines half way between penalty area and halfway line. Opponents must retreat behind build out line for GK and keeper distribution. Players may elect to put ball back into play before opponents have made it past build out line, the equivalent of a quick kick. If they do so, and opponents get ball, play continues, as kicker/keeper could have chosen to wait.

Fields in Belmont: https://www.ayso108.org/Default.aspx?tabid=939989

Fields in Area 2N: https://www.area2n.org/fields

Pet Policy: https://www.ayso108.org/Default.aspx?tabid=939989

Here is Belmont's policy regarding pets in the spectator area or otherwise nearby AYSO soccer games:
 
AYSO’s first duty is to maintain a safe playing environment for our youth soccer games.  AYSO Region 108 plays on City of Belmont fields and City of Belmont schools.  While the City of Belmont permits dogs in these public areas as long as they are properly controlled with a leash, during AYSO practices and games, dogs are not permitted on the fields.

Click here for more information on AYSO's policy regarding pets on the field.

Food and Drink:

• Crystal Springs: I believe, but am not sure, that NO food or drinks are permitted.
• All other Region 108 fields permit food and drinks
• Area 2N fields: I'm unaware of any restrictions.
  

Other Guidelines:

contact us at [email protected].