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MWFA SUB JUNIOR FOOTBALL

GUIDELINES FOR GAMES AND RULE INTERPRETATIONS

This is not an official rulebook, but in the absence of a fully ratified rules publication, this document will be a useful guide to coaches, managers and interested parents who find themselves officially or unofficially holding the whistle on the day. These notes are based on the principle that players in these young age groups who infringe the rules have not done so deliberately. The aim is to let the game flow with as few stoppages as possible in this non-competitive environment. In the same spirit all indiscretions are penalised only by indirect free kicks. There are no yellow or red cards.

Under Nine Format

General Principals
Season Structure
Playing Area
The Ball
Number of Players and Interchange
Playing Equipment
Volunteer Referees
Linespersons
Duration of the Game
Start of Play
Kick Off
Dropped Ball
Ball In and Out of Play
Throw In
Goal Kick
Corner Kick
Method of Scoring
Free Kicks
Penalty Kick
Fouls and Misconduct
Rules Applying to the Goalie
Offside
Restarts

Variations for Under 6 - Under 8

General Principals
Playing Area
Number of Players and Interchange
The Ball
Volunteer Referees
Duration of the Game
Dropped Ball
Throw In
Corner Kick
Free Kicks
Penalty Kick
Fouls and Misconduct
Rules Applying to the Goalie
Offside

UNDER NINE FORMAT

GENERAL PRINCIPALS

The Under 9 age group represents a transition from mini-soccer to regular full field soccer. To that end, the game is played on a field that is approximately three-quarters the size of a full field, with nine players per team on the field at any one time.

No competition points will be awarded and no competition tables will be kept.

The age group teams are divided into four groups according to soccer playing ability:

1/4 to the top group - red
1/4 to the next group - blue
1/2 to the remaining 2 groups, yellow and green.

Identity cards will not be required.

SEASON STRUCTURE

The season is 17 weeks long, the first 16 games will be played as a round robin between teams in the same group. Washed out and unplayed games will not be rescheduled.

On the 17th week of the season Gala Days are played involving all teams. Allocation is based on results recorded from four games nominated by the Association during the season. These results will be kept by the Association only and will not be published. The results of these four games are used to divide the teams into groups of five or six to play in a competitive round robin gala day. All games for each Gala Day take place at the same field.

Round robin points are awarded as 3 for a win,1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. Goals for and against will be considered where game points are equal.

THE PLAYING AREA

These are general only. All fields are approved and allocated by the MWFA.

The ideal field is approximately 70 metres in length and 50 metres in width. Fields should have four corner flags. The goal size is 1.8 metres by 5.5 metres. The goal area is marked with a 9 metre radius semicircle, centred on the goalmouth and is used to define the area where the goalkeeper may handle the ball. Goal kicks are taken anywhere in this area.

The field is divided into two equal halves by a halfway line. A centre circle with 9 metre (10yard) radius is only used to keep the opposing team this distance from the ball at kick-off.

THE BALL

The Under 9 age group uses size four balls. The match ball is to be provided by the home team, which is the first team named on the official draw. The ball should be firm, but not too hard. There should be some give under firm adult thumb pressure.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND INTERCHANGE

A maximum of nine players from each team can be on the field at any time. Arrangements to increase this number should NOT be entered into with the opposition.

Players may be freely interchanged at any time throughout the game. There is no limit to the number of times a player can be interchanged.

All interchanges should take place at the halfway line. A new player cannot enter the field until the substituted player has left the field of play. The referee’s permission does not have to be obtained, and ‘flying’ substitutions are allowed.

When a team is short, players may be borrowed from any other Under 7, Under 8 or Under 9 teams within the team’s Club.

Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper provided that the referee is informed and the change is made during a stoppage in play.

Under no circumstances should an unregistered player be used, they are not covered by NSWASF insurance.

PLAYING EQUIPMENT

The basic compulsory equipment of a player is a shirt, shorts and socks in the Club colours, shin pads and boots. A player shall not wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player. Particularly no watches or caps. Check boots for sharp studs. Players cannot wear plaster casts. Ear rings, studs or any other jewelry must be removed. Glasses may be worn provided they are securely fixed to the child’s head by tape, rubber strap attached to the legs of the frame. A letter from a parent/guardian must be available stating the need to wear the glasses at all times. Only prescription spectacles shall be worn.

Goalkeepers shall wear colours, which distinguish them from the other players and from the referee. Goalkeepers may wear gloves and a soft brimmed cap.

Make sure you check the safety of players' equipment BEFORE the game starts.

VOLUNTEER REFEREES

At all times common sense should prevail!

It is not possible to put all situations in these guidelines.

The duty of a referee is to ensure a safe, fair and enjoyable game for all concerned by correctly and impartially administering the laws of the game, to keep the time and keep a written record of all goals scored. There are no official referees' cards.

The game should be played with as little interference as possible, consistent with the above. Constant whistling for trifling or doubtful offences should be avoided. The spirit should be that young children do not deliberately break the rules.

The referee should blow the whistle clearly to signal all stoppages of play. Sometimes there will be the need to use the whistle to restart the play after a stoppage.

Ideally coaches should not referee since their job is to assist the teams by coaching. If they do referee they should avoid the temptation to coach their players during play. This of course does not exclude even handed advice to these young players on the reasons for free kicks or to explain the rules during the course of the game.

Maintaining adequate separation of players at the taking of free kicks is one of the difficulties at this level. The referee should assist by indicating a point 9 metres back from all kicks. The referee should keep well clear of the likely flight of the ball.

All infringements during the taking should be handled by taking the kick again after appropriate instruction.

An official referee may be appointed to Under 9 games. When an official referee is not present, a referee with a current Sub junior Referee's card should officiate. The home team should provide this referee, otherwise the opposition referee with a card should run the game.

When a player is injured or appears injured, the play must be stopped promptly. You do not necessarily have to wait for a stoppage in play. It is assumed at this level that players do not feign injury for advantage. Please ascertain the seriousness of the injury before moving an injured player. Start play again with a drop ball.

The game should be stopped promptly if a dangerous situation develops. For example, a player down on top of the ball, with a group of surrounding players trying to kick the ball free. The players should be separated and play recommenced with a drop ball.

A coach or a parent can enter the field of play to tend an injured player.

Coaches can offer encouragement and constructive instructions to the team from the sideline but not from around the goal area.

Where necessary a single parent may encourage an inexperienced goalkeeper from next to the goals. The appropriateness of this help is left to the discretion of the referee, but assistance should only be given if clearly required.

Other spectators should refrain from standing in the vicinity of the goals. It is distracting to the players and referee.

Ensure all spectators are outside the field of play, and that no unauthorised persons enter the field of play.

The decisions of the referee regarding the facts of play are final. Any decision, incorrect or not, cannot be reversed once play has recommenced.

Don't try to make up for a bad decision by being lenient or giving a doubtful free kick later to the affected team.

LINESPERSONS

The responsibility of linespersons is to indicate when the ball goes out of play over the sidelines and to assist the referee in determining which team last touched the ball. The referee may overrule the linesperson's decision.

Linespersons will not be asked to signal offside or free kicks.

A ball out of play should be signaled by first raising an arm above the head and then pointing it along the sideline in the direction that the team taking the throw is attacking.

DURATION OF THE GAME

Matches are for 20 minutes each half with five-minute half time break. The game ceases at the end of each half immediately the time has expired. Play does not continue until a logical stopping point or to allow a goal scoring opportunity to be completed. There shall not be any allowance for time lost during the game. The referee is responsible for trying to maximise the time available for play by instruction of the players.

Games must start on time. When they do not each half must be reduced so the game ends on time.

START OF PLAY

At the beginning of the game the choice of ends is decided by the toss of a coin. The team winning the toss chooses the goal it will attack in the first half. The team losing the toss must kick-off first. An alternative to a toss is conceal a whistle and offer choice of hands.

Make a note of which team kicked off first at the start of the game!

After a goal has been scored the game is restarted by a kick-off by a player of the team conceding the goal.

At the start of the second half, ends are changed and the kick-off is taken by a player of the opposite team to that which started the game.

KICK-OFF

All players must be in their team's own half of the field at kick-off. All players in the team not taking the kick-off must also be outside the centre circle. When the referee gives the signal to start, the kick-off must be a place kick from the centre of the centre circle.

The ball is in play once it has been touched and moves in a forward direction into the opposition half. The person who takes the kick cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it. Opposing players may not enter his opponents half or the centre circle until the ball is in play.

In the spirit of sub junior soccer any infringements of these rules should be dealt with corrective instruction and then another kick-off.

A goal can be scored directly from the kickoff: that is it can go straight into goal whether or not it touches another player.

DROPPED BALL

At times the game has to be stopped by the referee when the ball is in play, but no infringement has occurred for example when a player is injured or spectator interference or dangerous situations where no team is at fault. When this occurs, the game is restarted with a dropped ball from where the ball was situated when play stopped. If this is in the goal area, the ball should be dropped outside of the goal area.

For safety try and use only two players who should stand either side of the referee and not so close as to cause injury when attempting to play the ball.

The ball should be dropped from about waist height. As soon as the ball touches the ground the ball is in play. Each side challenges for the ball. If any player touches the ball before it hits the ground or the ball goes out of the field of play after it makes contact with the ground but is not touched by another player, play must be stopped and the ball dropped again.

BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

The ball is out of play when is has wholly crossed the goal line or side line either on the ground, or in the air. A common mistake is to rule the ball out of play when it rolls onto the line. Also note the ball is still out of play if it wholly crosses the line in the air but curves back into play.

The ball is still in play when it rebounds from the goal posts, corner posts, referee or linespersons in the field of play.

If a player in the field of play touches the ball after it has already left the field of play in the air, he is not the last player to have touched the ball before it went out of play.

Spectators should stand well back from the sideline.This is for their own safety and that of the players and also to stop interference with the course of the ball and with players trying to keep the ball in play. If the path of the ball is interfered with by a spectator in the field of play, rule the ball out if it was obviously going out, but allow play to continue if there is doubt and no obvious advantage to either team. If there is confusion or advantage results from spectator interference halt play and restart with a dropped ball. If the opportunity arises, ask the spectators to move back if interference occurs.

THROW-IN

Most players in the U/9 age group have probably played two or three seasons of soccer. For this reason the policing of the throw-ins should be reasonably strict regarding the technique used for the throw. This section gives the complete rule that should be applied.

When the ball goes out of play over the sideline, play is restarted by a throw-in by a player on the opposite team to that of the player who last touched the ball.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

A throw-in is awarded

When the whole of the ball passes over the touch line, either on the ground or in the air
From the point where it crossed the touch line
To the opponents of the player who last touched the ball

Procedure

At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:

Faces the field of play
Has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line
Uses both hands
Delivers the ball from behind and over his head

The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

The ball is in play immediately it enters the field of play.

The ball must be thrown and not dropped.

Punishment:

If the ball is improperly thrown in the throw-in shall be taken by a player from the opposite team.

Whilst strictly enforcing this rule is advised it may become necessary because of continual poor throw-ins that leniency should be practised to let the game flow.

Opposition players cannot wave their hands or jump about to distract the thrower and must not be so close to the thrower to impede the throw-in.

GOAL KICK

If the ball goes out of play over the goal line, but does not enter the goal, and is last touched by the attacking team, a goal kick is awarded to the defending team. Any member of the team can take the kick.

The kick can be taken from anywhere within the goal area, including the opposite side to that from where the ball went out.

The kick should be taken promptly. Where stalling becomes obvious reprimand the player and use your whistle to start play.

The ball must leave the goal area before it is in play. Once the kick has been taken no player can touch the ball until it has left the goal area. The kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it. The opposition cannot enter the goal area before the ball has passed out of it and should stand back 5 - 10 metres from the goal arc until the kick is taken. The ball cannot be kicked to another teammate within in the area (e.g. the goalie). Infringement of any of the above results in the goal kick being retaken.

A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick

A player cannot be offside if he receives a ball direct from a goal kick. See later section for further expansion.

CORNER KICK

A corner kick is awarded when the ball goes out of play behind the goal line, but does not enter the goal, having last been touched by a defender.

For the Under 9 age group the corner kick is taken at a point on the goal line halfway between the corner flag and the edge of the goal circle. The side of the field used is the one nearest where the ball went out of play. The player may strike the ball standing inside or outside the field of play.

The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.

All opposition players must be at least 9 metres from the kicker BUT this does not apply to the attacking team members. If the opposition do encroach the kick must be retaken.

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

The kicker does not have to kick the ball at goal, and it is quite common for the player to kick the ball softly to a teammate.

The kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player. This infringement results in an indirect free kick to the defending team.

A player cannot be offside if he receives a ball direct from a corner kick. See later section for further expansion.

Any mis-kick by the kicker where the ball goes over the goal line and not into the field of play results in a goal kick.

METHOD OF SCORING

For a goal to be awarded, the whole of the ball must cross the line, either on the ground or in the air, between the goal posts and under the cross bar. The referee cannot award a goal if it has not wholly crossed the line. If a spectator (such as one leaning on the goal post) makes contact with the ball and prevents a certain goal, the game must be stopped and restarted with a dropped ball with no goal awarded.

If there are no nets in the goal, pay particular attention when the ball is near the goal, as it is sometimes hard to see if the ball has gone through the goals against the background.

FREE KICKS

Free kicks are given for various breaches of the rules. These breaches must occur while the ball is in play. In senior soccer there are ten offences for which a direct free kick is given and three for which indirect free kicks are given. These are listed in a later section.

At this level all free kicks are INDIRECT. For Indirect free kicks the ball cannot be kicked directly into goal. Another player from EITHER team must have first touched it after the kick is taken. If the ball is kicked directly into goal from an indirect free kick the referee should award a goal kick if it is the attackers goal, or a corner if it is kicked by the player into the goal he is defending.

Certain conditions apply for a correctly taken free kick:

The ball must be stationary.

The kick must be taken where the incident occurred except if the infringement occurs in the goal area. If a free kick is awarded to the defending team in their goal area, it can be taken anywhere in the goal area. If a free kick is awarded to the attacking team in the goal are it is taken at the nearest point to the infringement outside the goal area.

The ball is in play and can be touched by another player once it has been kicked and moves. Free kicks do not have to be played forwards. The ball must leave the goal area before being in play. Take the kick again if this does not happen.

The kicker also cannot touch the ball after the kick until another player touches it. This includes rebounds from the referee or the goal uprights or crossbar. If this happens take the kick again and give appropriate instruction that touching the ball a second time would lead to loss of possession in normal soccer.

All opposition players must be at least 9 metres (10ft) from the ball in any direction while the kick is taken. Sometimes players take a quick free kick when the defenders are closer than 9 metres. This should be allowed as advantage play, but if the ball hits a defender the game should continue.

Opposition players cannot wave their hands or jump about to distract the kicker.

The referee should signal an indirect free kick by raising one arm above the head. The arm is held vertical until either the ball goes out of play or is played by another player.

Defending players are allowed to cluster together to form a wall when defending a free kick near their goal. They all must be at least 9 metres from the ball.

Remember if the ball is driven directly at goal, even the slightest accidental deflection off a player is sufficient to score if the ball enters the goal. The only exception may be an infringement by an attacking player while the ball is in motion.

A referee does not always have to award a free kick if, although an infringement has occurred, awarding a free kick would advantage the opposition. The judgment when this should be applied comes with experience. The referee should indicate clearly advantage is being applied by saying 'play on' to show players that he has seen the infringement, but is allowing play to continue. A simple example is if a player breaks through a defence and even though fouled, keeps his feet to have a good chance at goal. To award a free kick would allow the opposition defence to regroup. Advantage should be applied carefully, but once applied the decision cannot be reversed. After playing advantage, the next break in play will provide the opportunity to instruct the offending player on nature of the infringement.

PENALTY KICK

A penalty kick in senior soccer is given for an offence warranting a direct free kick within the penalty area. At this level there are no direct free kicks or penalty kicks. Such offences warrant an INDIRECT free kick taken at a point on the edge of the goal area in line with the point the offence occurred.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

In soccer for ages Under 10 and above direct free kicks are awarded when a player commits any one of the following offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
Jumps at an opponent
Charges an opponent
Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
Pushes an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offenses:

Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball
Holds an opponent
Spits at an opponent
Deliberately handles the ball

Sub junior players are not expected to have intent when they commit a serious foul against a player. Nevertheless these infringements may involve excessive force or may be a result of a lack of skill. The above infringements must be eliminated from the player's game and an indirect free kick should be awarded against the offending player. The award of a free kick should always be accompanied by a clear explanation from the referee. Technically poor tackling is dangerous to both players and should be eliminated at the sub junior level. The following sections are a sub junior interpretation, which we believe will aid in this goal.

ALL infringements are handled by awarding an indirect free kick at the point the infringement occurred against the team of the player committing the offence. The referee should always explain clearly why the free kick has been given to provide instructional feedback.

There are three broad categories of infringement:

Dangerous Play:

The above infringements, particularly relating to offences with the body and feet and dangerous use of the arms will occur when a player is tackling a player with the ball or competing with a player to get to the ball. This dangerous play is due to lack of skill of the young players and should be penalised by the award of an indirect free kick.

Players must be educated to tackle in a safe way.The aim is to minimise injury and to give the advantage to the player with the ball. All tackles must have the clear objective of taking the ball and not the player. A fair tackle cannot be made when the tackler does not have a clear shot at the ball.

Tackles from behind the line of vision of the player with the ball are especially dangerous because the player with the ball cannot anticipate the tackle and may fall awkwardly and be hurt. All tackles from behind the line of the shoulders should be discouraged and if a player is brought down from behind then an indirect free kick should always be given.

If the opponent is kicked or tripped in the process of a player making a fair tackle in which the ball is clearly played, the player should not be penalised.

Charging and Jumping

Provided the ball is within playing distance, a player is entitled to shoulder charge an opponent fairly. The player uses the shoulder to the shoulder region of the opponent. Arms and hands may not be used at any time to restrict or control an opponent. Players may not jump at an opponent either with the feet or the whole body. A dangerous charge also occurs when it is directed at a different part of the body, such as the back.

Jostling and aggressive competing for the ball is allowed providing no penalty offence is committed.

Striking an opponent or even attempting to strike an opponent is dangerous play in all circumstances and should be penalised.

If a player raises his boot above the waist to play the ball and opponents are nearby or kicks at a trapped ball in a one on one situation resulting in dangerous play and an indirect free kick is given.

Unfairly preventing an Opponent trying to play or attempt to play the ball

A player may not hold an opponent. This can be holding the shirt or the arm or keeping an opponent on the ground. A player may not push an opponent to stop him from competing for the ball.

Unsporting Behaviour:

Occasionally a player will shout 'My ball' or 'Leave it'. This is confusing for opponents and although rarely deliberate gives unfair advantage. Sometimes players will simply shout or yell in an attempt to distract an opponent. Players also cannot wave their arms to distract or shepherd opponents. The referee should instruct the players to stop these practices, but if they persist, players should be penalised.

Using unfair methods to play the ball

Handball:

A handball ruling does not occur simply because the ball touches the hand or any part of the arm of a player. At this age group the 'deliberate' intent of handball is judged if the hand goes to the ball rather than the ball to the hand. Also if, in the opinion of the referee, the handball significantly favours the offending team an indirect free kick should be given.

RULES APPLYING TO THE GOALIE

The goal keeping position is one of great pressure for young players since any misdemeanor can cost the defending team dearly. As a result leniency should be applied to breaches of some of the more technical points of the position.

The goalie may handle the ball within the goal area he is defending. This also includes the ball being on the goal circle line. This means the ball must be inside the goal area when the goalie uses his hands. The goalie may throw the ball or kick the ball to other players as long as the ball is only in his hands inside the goal area.

Outside the goal area goalies are regarded as normal players. If the goalie handles the ball outside the goal area the same rules apply as to a normal player and an indirect free kick must be awarded against the goalie for handling the ball.

The goalkeeper may not handle the ball with his hands after releasing it from possession and the ball has not touched any another player. A goalkeeper bouncing the ball is not interpreted as releasing the ball from his possession.

Often at this age when goalies take control of the ball they can accidentally wander back into the goal whilst looking where to place the ball. Treat the situation as an unintentional accident and do not award a goal.

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the goalkeeper takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession. Thus goalkeeper must be prompt in disposing of the ball, and although at this age deliberate time wasting is not intended, if a goalkeeper takes excessive time to release the ball he or she should be prompted to do so straight away. The goalkeeper may now take an unlimited number of steps before releasing the ball provided they do not leave the penalty area. Education to this fact is important even at this level.

In senior soccer an intentional backpass from a teammate with the feet cannot be picked up by the keeper, but in sub junior soccer any backpasses are not judged to be intentional. The practice should be discouraged through instruction but do not penalise.

The goalkeeper may not touch the ball with his or her hands after receiving the ball directly from a throw in by a teammate.

Award an indirect free kick against any player who prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands This applies to opposing players who obstruct or distract the goalie when he is putting the ball into play by jumping in front of him or waving. Often though, playing the advantage gives the goalie more options as generally young players can kick further from their hands than from an indirect free kick. The referee should motion players away from the goalie when he is distributing the ball so the game is not held up by unnecessary distractions.

The goalie position can also be quite dangerous. At these young ages large groups of players often gather in the goal area and the play can be quite desperate. The goalie will often have to try and pick the ball up from many kicking feet and must be protected as much as possible from any dangerous situations.

An indirect free kick should also be awarded against violent charging or body contact by the attacking player with the goalkeeper.

OFFSIDE

The offside rule is the hardest to police and the most controversial in soccer and in sub junior soccer the referee is the SOLE adjudicator. Nevertheless the offside rule is an important tactical part of full team soccer, and it is important for player education that even at this level obvious offside situations are understood and penalised.

A player is in an offside position if he is in his opponent's half and he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. Thus a player is not in an offside position if:

he is in his own half of the field of play, or
he is behind the ball when it is played, or
he is level with the second last opponent, or
he is level with the last two opponents

One of these players is usually the goalie.

A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

interfering with play, or
interfering with an opponent, or
gaining an advantage by being in that position

A common mistake is to look at the time the player receives the ball, not when the ball is first kicked by a teammate as shown in diagram 2 below. If a player is on side when the ball is kicked, and he advances into an offside position to receive the ball, the player is not offending.

As stated above, to be offending the player must be involved in the active play. In sub juniors we emphasize the player must be actively participating in play to be judged to be taking advantage. Any lineball decision should be played to the advantage of the attacking team.

A player cannot be judged offside if he receives the ball direct from a goal kick, corner kick or throw in. As soon as a teammate touches the ball directly from one of these, the offside rule applies to other members of his team. See diagrams 16, 17, & 18 for examples of offside from corner kicks. Some common examples of being involved in the active play are receiving the ball, contesting for the ball, drawing defending players away from the ball, seeking to gain an attacking position for a passing opportunity, preventing opposition players from seeing the ball.

If the referee judges a player to be offside then an indirect free kick is awarded to the non offending side and is taken in line with the last defending player at the time of the decision.

Diagram Numbers below are as per FIFA Referee's Handbook.

Diagram 2 - Not offside - The player in possession of the ball has a defender in front, passes across the field to a teammate. The teammate runs as shown by the arrow. The teammate is not offside because the moment the ball was passed he was not in front of the ball and he had at least two opponents between him and the goal line.

Diagram 6 - Offside - An attacking player centres the ball. His teammate runs back and dribbles between the two defenders to score a goal. This player is offside because he is in front of the ball and there were not at least two opponents between him and the goal line when his teammate centred the ball.

Diagram 5 - Not offside - An attacking player passes the ball to a teammate in a better scoring position. This player is not offside because he is level with two defenders when the ball is passed and therefore is not nearer the goal line than at least two of his opponents.

Diagram 3 - Offside - Two attacking players make a passing run up the wing. One passes the ball to the other who cannot shoot because of the defender in front of the goal. The passer then runs as shown by the arrow and has the ball passed to him. He is offside because he is in front of the ball and there are not at least two defending players between him and the goal line.

Diagram 12 - Offside - An attacking player shoots at goal and a defender runs and tries to intercept the ball. The ball glances off him and goes to another attacking player, who scores a goal. This attacking player is offside as he was in an offside position the moment the ball was played by one of his team, and interfering with play, disregarding the fact that the ball was deflected.

Diagram 17 - Not offside - An attacking player takes a corner kick and the ball goes to a teammate who scores a goal. The scorer is in an offside position when he receives the ball (Only one opponent between him and the goal line) but cannot be offside directly from a corner kick.

Diagram 16 - Offside - A player takes a corner kick and the ball goes to a teammate who shoots for goal. On the way through the ball is deflected by a teammate, and goes into the goal. This player is offside because after the corner kick has been taken the ball is last played by a player of his own side. When this teammate kicked the ball at goal the deflector was in front of the ball and there were not two opponents between him and the goal line.

Diagram 18 - Not offside - A player takes a corner kick and it glances off a defender, goes to an attacking player and he scores. The goal should be allowed because the scorer was not offside when a member of his own team last played the ball.

RESTARTS

	Can score directly	Can be offside	Ball must go forward	Ball in play	Opposing players	Team mates	Second touch, ball in play
Kick off	Yes	N/A	Yes	Once kicked and moved	In own half, 9m away	In own half	Retake*
Indirect free kick	No	Yes	No	Once kicked and moved	9m (except quick kick)	Anywhere	Retake*
Corner Kick	Yes	No	No	Once kicked and moved	9m	Anywhere	Indirect Free Kick
Goal Kick	Yes	No	No	Leaves Goal Area	Outside Goal Area	Anywhere	Retake*
Throw in	No	No	No	Enters field	Can't gesticulate	Anywhere	Opposition to retake
Drop ball	Yes	N/A	N/A	Touches ground	N/A	N/A	N/A

* In Junior and Senior soccer an Indirect free kick would be awarded but at this age they are considered technical issues of the game which require education rather than penalty.