Under-10 Rules and Procedures
Under-10 games use the full FIFA Laws -- with a few
modifications to accommodate the age and size of the players. Since a
full size field is a bit of physical challenge for
children this age, U10 games in Region 26 are played on reduced size
fields (roughly, 60% of full size). To keep everything to scale, the
distances in the Laws of the Game are all reduced proportionately. (For example, the 10-yard distances at free
kicks, corner kicks, etc. are reduced to 8
yards.) Slightly smaller goals are also used.
Also, proportional to the reduced size fields, U10
teams consist of 7 players each rather than the full sized teams of 11
players used
in the older divisions. This allows players to get more "touches" on
the ball than they would if 11-player teams were used.
A match may not start if a team consists of less
than 5 players. However, since team records and division standings are
not
kept in U10, referees
should allow the team that is short to "borrow" a player from the other
team so that the game can still be played.
Region 26 U10 Goal Kick Law
Beginning in 1997, U10 players in Palo Alto had
been permitted to take goal kicks from any point within their
own penalty
area. As of 2002, goal kicks will be taken from within the goal
area,
but the size of the goal area relative to the penalty area will be
changed
to make it easier for U10 players to put the ball into play. Moreover,
when a free kick is taken by a team from within its own
penalty area, all opponents must remain at least 8 yards away from the
ball.
No other changes are made to the full FIFA Laws,
other than
those mandated for all of AYSO (see AYSO Rules and
Regulations ) and the changes of "scale" noted above.
Referee Assignment in U10
U10 games are typically refereed by certified parent
referee volunteers
from each team. However, U10 games are played using the full Laws of
the Game (with
some minor changes), rather than the abbreviated ones used in U7
through U9. It is important that all the referees officiating at this
level actually know
the full Laws, otherwise the players get very confused. Since in the
past we have had difficulty getting trained referees from all U10
teams, the
Region 26 Board has decided that each U10 team will be required to
provide a certified Regional Referee for each game for which
they are the Home team. (The Home team is the team listed first in the
schedule.) If the Home team cannot provide a certified Regional Referee
for the game, it will be
considered to have forfeited the game.
Since most parent referees will occasionally be
unavailable for a home game (e.g., due to business travel, illness,
etc.), it is strongly recommended that each team obtain (i.e., train) two
Regional referees, so they have a
backup. These two officials can serve as Assistant Referees on away
games. For more
details, contact our Regional
Referee Administrator.