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‘Mini Soccer’ is now so well established that
it looks after itself. The idea of a ‘more touches, greater
skills and greater enjoyment’ philosophy has indeed worked, with
reduced player numbers on a small pitch meaning that all
participants become involved. It is estimate that a third of
all youth football now being played is ‘Mini Soccer’.
In the under 11 age group, teams can choose
between ‘full 11-a-side’ and ‘9 v 9’ (i.e. 9-a-side
matches using the same Laws of the Game as ‘full 11-a-side’)
and ‘Mini Soccer’. Mixed teams of boys and girls are allowed
up to the under-11 age group in any of these formats.
Players in the under-10 age group and below can
only play ‘Mini Soccer’.
Players in the under-8 age group can play ‘Mini
Soccer’ either on a League basis and or in a ‘Fun Festival’
format. The FA however strongly recommends the ‘Fun Festival’
format, in which all players should receive certificates for
playing and no tournaments, cups, leagues and competitions are
allowed.
Players in the under-7 age group can only play
‘Mini Soccer’ in the ‘Fun Festival’ format.
Players under the age of 6 on 1st September in the
playing season may not take part in organised football in any
format, including ‘Mini Soccer’.
So, what are the ‘Mini Soccer’ Laws of the
Game?
‘Mini Soccer’ is designed to be simple yet
still incorporate all the features of “real football” that are
recognised by children. Each ‘Mini Soccer’ Law is numbered to
correspond with the appropriate Law of the Game: the main
variations from the 11-a-side provisions are summarised below.
LAW
1 - Playing Area
Recommended
size of pitch:-
- maximum
60 yards by 40 yards; minimum 50 yards by 30 yards recommended
for u10/9;
- maximum
50 yards by 30 yards; minimum 30 yards by 20 yards recommended
for u8/7;
but,
as the different sizes are difficult to mark out, in practice most
pitches are marked out at a uniform size.
Penalty
area - 18 yards wide by 10 yards from the goal line, with a
penalty mark 8 yards from the goal.
Halfway
line, with a centre mark.
Goals
(normally plastic or metal) are 6 feet high by 12 feet wide. As
goals are portable, GOALPOST SAFETY is paramount and officials
MUST ensure that the goals are properly staked down: one child a
year is killed by falling goalposts!
The
goal areas, the arc outside the penalty areas, the centre circle
and the corner quadrants are NOT compulsory but, to replicate the
usual pitch markings, are normally included.
LAW
2 - The Ball
- No
larger than size 4, with size 3 recommended for u8’s.
LAW
3 - Number of Players
- U9/10:
six-a-side or seven-a-side.
- U8/7:
four-a-side or five-a-side or six-a-side or seven-a-side.
- 2
year ‘age banding’ but players must be at least 6 years
old BEFORE 1st September.
- ‘Roll
On Roll Off’ allowed for any number of substitutes without
being named.
- A
squad must not be double (or more) than the size of the team.
LAW
6 - Timekeeper/Scorer/Assistant Referee
- Only
to be used for timekeeping, recording scores and supervising
substitutions.
LAW
7 - Duration of Game
- Each
organiser may determine its own time within the permitted
timescales (as below).
- 8/7s:
total of 45 minutes play per day per player.
- 9/10s:
total of 60 minutes play per day per player.
LAW
8 - Start and Restart of Play
- Opponents
must be 5 yards away from the ball.
- The
ball must be played forward.
- A
‘Dropped Ball’ restart within the penalty area takes place
on the penalty area line parallel to the goal line at that
point nearest to where the ball was located when play was
stopped.
LAW
11
- Offside
LAW
12
- Fouls and Misconduct
- All
free kicks are DIRECT.
- Any
‘Indirect’ free kick fouls INSIDE the penalty area become
‘Direct’ free kicks OUTSIDE the penalty area at the point
nearest to the offence.
LAW
16
- Goal Kick
- May
be taken from any point within the penalty area.
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