Medway Youth Soccer

Dowload the 8v8 Rules and Regulations

1. FIFA laws are in effect, except as noted below.

2. The Field of Play: 70 yards by 50 yards with 18’ x 6’ goals. The penalty area is 14 x 34 yards in area.

3. The Ball: Size 4 for U12

4. Number of Players. A maximum of 16 players per team is allowed. Eight field players plus the goalkeeper are allowed on the field. Rosters may not be changed after a team’s first tournament game. 

5. Substitutions: Unlimited substitutions are allowed with the permission of the referee after a goal, at halftime, on goal kicks, and before throw-ins by your team, or if the opposing team subs on a throw-in you may also sub.

6. Linesman: Will not be used during the Medway Cup except for the final championship matches.

7. Duration of the Game: Each game will consist of two 20-minute halves and a 2-minute halftime.

8. Off-side: OFFSIDE rules will be in effect.

9. Penalty Kicks: To be taken from a point 12 yards directly in front of the midpoint of the goal. All other players must stand at the 10 yard arc and if the arc is not present then beyond the halfway line.

10. Goal Kicks: To be taken from anywhere within 6 yards of the goal line.

11. Indirect Kicks: Indirect kicks awarded to the attacking team within the penalty area will be placed at the spot of the infraction, but no closer than six yards from the goal/goal line.

12. Fouls and Misconduct: Any player or coach given a red card will not be allowed to participate in his/her team’s next tournament game. All red cards will be reported to the Tournament Director for review and possible stronger punishment.

13. Suspended and Terminated Games:

A. Fitness of playing conditions will be determined by the Tournament Director and the referee.

B. Preliminary games suspended because of weather or serious injury will be official if at least 20 minutes of playing time has elapsed. Any games stopped prior to the first 20 minutes being played will be recorded as a 0-0 tie.

C. Playoff and Championship games that have been delayed for more than 30 minutes for the above reasons may, with the consent of the referee and the Tournament Director, result in the termination of the game. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by Rule #15. However, every effort will be made to complete these games.

14. Playoffs (U12 and older): The number of teams making the playoffs will be determined by the number of teams entered in each age group and each division. At least two teams from each division will make the playoffs. The Tournament Director will post the exact format for the playoffs before play begins, and each coach should review the playoff format before playing their first game.

15. Determination of Division Winners and Division Runners-Up (U12 and older):

A. In the preliminary games, teams will receive:

• 3 points for a win
• 1 point for a tie
• 0 points for a loss

B. At the end of the preliminary round, the winner will be the team with the most points, and the runner-up will be the team with the second highest point total. The standings of the remaining teams will also be determined by their point total.

C. In the event of a tie in the total points, the tie will be broken using the following criteria:

1. Head-to-head result (does not apply if breaking a 3 or 4-way tie)
2. Fewest goals allowed
3. Best goal differential, with a maximum of 3 GD per game
4. Most games in which your team scored
5. Most wins
6. Fewest losses
7. Coin flip at a time and location specified by the Tournament Director at the conclusion of the preliminary round. Team who scored the most goals gets to call the coin flip.

D. NOTE: If 3 or more teams have equal point totals, Criteria #1 does not apply. However, as soon as a tie is broken by going down the list, the tiebreaking procedure goes back to the top of the list and Criteria #1 is included. Decisions with regard to final placement of teams are solely up to the Tournament Director. Any team that has forfeited a game is ineligible for the playoffs.

 16. Semi-Finals and Finals (U12 and older): Games will consist of two 20-minute halves and a 2-minute halftime. In the event of a tie score at the end of regulation time, there will be two 5-minute, sudden victory overtime periods followed by kicks from the penalty mark, if necessary.

 17. Protests: No protests will be allowed except for challenging age qualifications.

 18. Sportsmanship: Field Marshals will be present to oversee the games being played. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of players, parents, and fans of their team. For any sportsmanship problems concerning the coaches and/or spectators, the referee and/or the assigned Field Marshal will direct the offender(s) to leave the area. If the offender(s) fail to leave as directed, the referee will terminate the match and report the incident to the Tournament Director who will award a 3-0 victory to the non-offending team. The BAYS zero tolerance policy will be in effect (see below).

 19. Alcoholic Beverages: No alcoholic beverages will be permitted anywhere near the fields or in the parking lots. Violators will be asked to leave the tournament by the Tournament Director or the police. Please cooperate with this regulation.

 20. Player’s Equipment: The basic compulsory equipment of a player shall consist of a jersey, shorts, stockings, shinguards and footwear. No casts, no safety hazards and no earrings will be permitted to be worn by any player during a game in which they are participating. Casts, either hard or soft, are non-negotiable.

 21. Other: The Tournament Director and his Committee will address any questions that arise from subjects not covered above. Their decisions are final.

BAYS Zero Tolerance Policy (BYLAW 12)

All persons responsible for a team and all the spectators shall support the referee.

Failure to do so will undermine the referee’s authority and has the potential of creating a hostile environment for players, the referee and all of the other participants and spectators. Consequently, BAYS has adopted the following rule:

No one is to address the referee during the game!!

A. Persons Responsible for a team (Coach & Managers)
Exceptions:

• During the Game:
• Responding to a referee initiating a communication.
• Making substitutions.
• Pointing out emergencies or safety issues.
• At half-time or at the end of the game:
• A coach/manager can ask a referee to explain rule(s) in a polite and constructive way.
• Polite and constructive feedback can be given to a referee.
• Absolutely NO sarcasm, harassment or intimidation.

Penalties:

• 1st Minor Infraction - Referee should ignore.
• 1st Serious Infraction - Caution or Ejection depending on the seriousness of the infraction (FIFA).
• 2nd Minor Infraction - A verbal warning shall be given.
• 3rd Infraction – Caution.
• 4th Infraction – Ejection.

B. Spectators
Exceptions:

• During the games:
• Referee initiating a communication.
• Pointing out emergencies or safety issues.

Penalties:

• 1st infraction - Referee should stop the game and ask the coach to quiet the offending spectator.
• 2nd Infraction - A verbal warning. The referee should stop the game and ask the coach to warn the spectator that the next infraction will be an ejection or the referee will abandon the game.
• 3rd Infraction - The referee shall instruct the coach to direct the spectator to leave the field. The referee should abandon the game if the spectator does not leave the field.

If the referee abandons the game, the referee shall file a report and BAYS may impose a forfeit on the spectator’s team.