12U Rules and Regulations

We follow and comply with the AYSO National Rules and Regulations. You can find these complete rules and regulations here. Below are key highlights, better clarification, or specific adaptions for our region of the rules and regulations. 

I. Match Conduct

B. Duration of Matches

1. Match times

A game is split into 4 quarters to allow water breaks and substitution of players.  The table show the maximum time allowed for 2 quarters, each quarter is ~15 minutes long.

2. Half-time periods shall be a minimum of five and a maximum of ten minutes as designated by the referee.


3. Player Safety is paramount. Water breaks are allowed at the referee’s discretion when heat conditions warrant this consideration.


4. Where necessary due to scheduling time constraints, the duration of the 4 quarters is to be reduced by an equal amount to allow for substitution in accordance with Article I.C.1.  If the game starts late, then time will be reduced to keep within the allotted 1 hour time slot.

C. Playing Time and Substitution 

1.  Except as noted in Article I.C.3 all eligible team members in attendance at AYSO matches must play at least half of the match, excluding overtime.
   Such participation is controlled as follows: 
   
1. At the end of a quarter the referee shall permit substitution. This normally occurs during a regular stoppage in play, and the match is resumed with the appropriate restart (i.e. throw-in, goal kick, corner kick, kick-off, free kick, penalty kick or dropped ball). On occasion the referee may need to stop play for substitution while the ball is in play, in which case the match is resumed with a dropped ball. The end of a quarter is for substitution and the game to restart. This should not take longer then 1-2 minutes.

E. Duties and Responsibilities of Coaches, Referees, Officials, Other Volunteers, Spectators, Team Members and Other Participants

1. It shall be the duty of each coach, referee, official, other volunteer, spectator, team member and other participant to:


• Prohibit and abstain from making negative comments and complaints about officiating. Our referees are volunteers also and most of them are kids learning the laws of the game as well. If there is an issue with the officiating the concern needs to be brought up to the ref admin and not the referee. 
  
  
2. It shall also be the duty of each coach to:
   


• Remain within the coaches’ technical area (Article I.G.2) during the match; a maximum of two coaches is permitted for each team. 
  
• Limit his/her sideline participation during AYSO matches to comments that are positive and/or encouraging, with limited supportive instruction. 
  

F. Size of Ball

Ball size for each division shall be as follows:

G. Field of Play

2. The coaches’ technical area, the area shall be as long as the diameter of the center circle. Coaches are not to be walking down to the goal line on either side to coach their team.


3. The team listed FIRST on the schedule will sit on the NORTH side of the field and the team listed SECOND will sit on the SOUTH side. Spectators are to sit to the LEFT of the half line on their assigned side.
   


4. Spectators shall not be allowed behind the goal lines.

I. Heading the Ball

1. Consistent with the US Soccer mandates on heading the ball, heading is banned for all division players 12U and below.


2. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team if a player deliberately touches the ball with his/her head during a match. The indirect free kick is to be taken from the place where the player touched the ball with his/her head.

II. Teams

C. Team Size

1.  The following are the recommended team sizes:

VI. Players Equipment

C. Athletic footwear (with or without cleats) are permissible in all AYSO competitions.  A player is allowed to wear tennis shoes to play.

D. Team members must wear shinguards that provide a reasonable degree of protection, and that are completely covered by their socks, to participate in any practice or match.  The shinguard must be under the sock, this means you cannot put on the sock first, then the shinguard, then pull the soccer over the shinguard. This is NOT acceptable and a coach will ask you to switch the shinguard to completely under the sock.