CYSL U12 RULES AND REGULATIONS (effective Fall 2025)

REFEREES – A single center referee shall be used.  If a referee chooses to use club linespeople, the linesperson may only indicate when a ball is out of bounds.  They may not indicate direction of throw ins or call offsides or fouls.

FIELD PLAYERS - 9v9 including goalkeeper.  A minimum of 5 players on each team must be present to start a game.

ROSTER SIZE - Maximum of 18 players on game day roster.  

CLUB PASS & SECONDARY PLAYERS - Club pass & secondary players are allowed on roster if needed

GAME PASSES - All Players/Coaches must have laminated USYS cards or digital passes to be allowed in the coaching/technical area. 

BALL - Size 4. Home team to provide a suitable game ball.  The referee may ask each team for an additional game ball to be placed by goals to help speed up play.

SUBSTITUTIONS - Unlimited substitutions at any stoppage, with the permission of the referee.

GAME LENGTH - Two 30 Minute Halves

FIELD SIZE - Recommended: 50 x 75 yards.  Width ranges from 45-55 yards.  Length ranges from 70-80 yards

GOAL SIZE –Recommended 7 X 21 feet, 6X18 and 6.5X18.5 are acceptable. Goals must be anchored securely to the ground.

MARKINGS:

• Center Circle - 8 Yard Radius

• Penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, eighteen (18) yards from the center of the goal. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of fourteen (14) yards and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area. Within each penalty area a penalty mark is made ten (10) yards from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistance to them. An arc of a circle with a radius of eight (8) yards from each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.

• Goal area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, eight (8) yards from center of the goal. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of fourteen (5) yards and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the goal area.

• Corner arc - Conform to IFAB.

FLAGS - Conform to IFAB.  Each team provides three with the midfield flag placed 1 yard outside the touchline.

SLIDE TACKLES - Slide tackles are NOT permitted.  A slide tackle shall result in the opposing team taking an indirect free kick.

OFFSIDES - Follow IFAB Laws of the Game. 

FOULS AND PENALTIES - Follow IFAB Laws of the Game with the exception that all opponents are at least 8 yards from the ball.

PENALTY KICKS - Follow IFAB Laws of the Game.

UNIFORMS - Each player must have the same color jersey. Numbers are not necessary. Pennies are allowed if needed and should be worn by the home team.

JEWELRY - NO jewelry of any kind is allowed. This includes taping piercings of a player’s ears. The only exceptions for “jewelry” are Medic Alert bracelets and religious items specifically required by the wearer’s religion.

CAST/BRACE - A player may play with a hard cast or brace if it is sufficiently padded and not a danger either to themself or to other players.  The final decision is up to the discretion of the center referee in determining the safety of the padding.

CYSL asks that team spectators sit directly across from their team benches on opposites sides (touch lines) of the field. Spectators/teams should be at least 3 feet back of the touch lines. No spectators should be behind the goal lines or goals.