Updated 8/23/18. Please refer to the official LARS Soccer League page for updated or additional information.
With the exception of the rules/regulations on this page, FIFA’s Laws of the Game apply.
* The Girls U15 division is playing 9v9 this fall rather then the traditional 11v11. If teams have a minimum of 12 players each on game day, and if the coaches agree, they may play 11v11 format. Games will be played on the regular size fields for the U15 age group. Boys format remains 11v11.
** U19 (Coed) division is playing 11v11 with the option to play a small sided game if a team is not able to field 11 players. Both teams must field the same number of players during game play. If a team is unable to field two female players, they must play short one player.
All substitutions will occur at the mid-field line, with the permission of the referee. Players will not be able to enter the game from the “bench area”.
No substitutions on a corner kick.
You may substitute players at the following times.
The build out line is only to be used by the U10 division and promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting. When the goalkeeper has the ball, either during play (from the opponent) or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play.
Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play at any time (punting and drop kicks are not allowed). After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal.
If a goalkeeper punts the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the punt occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.
The build out line will also be used to denote where offside offenses can be called. Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build out line. Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the build out line and goal line.
Enforced for all age divisions.
U10 Off Sides Rule
No headers in U12 and under. This includes practices. When a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense unless the infraction occurs in the 6 yard box in which case the ball is placed on the 6 yard box line.
Pinnies are worn by the home team if the visiting team’s jersey is the same color.
There is no romp rule, but a 5 point rule applies.
If a team is down by 5 goals, the team that is down may add a player (optional) for the remainder of the game. This can be done without a stoppage in play with the referee’s approval. This does not change the responsibility of the coach of the leading team to institute restrictions on scoring. The additional player does not have to be removed if the goal (score) gap closes.
Although the league does not have a Romp Rule, there are guidelines to prevent blowout game scores. Before each game, coaches are to discuss how to handle a lopsided high scoring game (when one team is leading by 4 points or more) if the situation would arise. A document is provided for this purpose which offers several suggestions and options that can be utilized. Please print a copy of this document and go over it with the opposing coach before each game.
Referees are not provided by the league. The home team/club provides the ref for the games. In the event of a referee no-show, a referee shall be chosen with mutual consent of both coaches. No games will be played without a referee.
The referee should allow a 15 minute delay if a team does not have enough players to start the game. After 15 minutes of delay, and if the game then deemed playable, it is shortened by the amount of game delay. After 15 minutes, any team without enough players ready to play must forfeit.
If a club is unable to field a full team but meets the minimum player requirement, the opponent does not have to play short players, however, it is highly recommended that the opposing team fields the same number of players.
All teams must have an adult coach at the match. Teams without an adult coach will not be allowed to play and will be charged with a forfeit.
A team which uses a non-rostered or ineligible player in a match will be charged with a forfeit.
A club which does not properly follow the rain-out policy and causes another team to arrive at a field without a match will be charged with a forfeit.
A forfeit will be recorded as 1-0.
In order to participate in league play, players must meet the following criteria:
“School Ball” players can play in all divisions at the discretion of the player’s club.
In order for a travel player to play for a rec team, the player must be ‘de-carded’ (relinquish his travel player status). If you are a carded travel player and would like to relinquish your travel player status you must do this through LANCO.
In addition to the U19 Coed program, female players are allowed to play on a Boys Rec teams as long as they are within the same age group and do not have travel status. The maximum number of girls that can be fielded on a Boys Rec team on game day is 50%. Boys are not allowed to play on Girls Rec teams.
A player can play for more than one team as long as the team is within the same age group and/or at a play up age group as long as the player is filling a roster in order to prevent a forfeit.
Coaches’ mobility will be restricted from the halfway line to approximately the 25-yard line on their own half without switching at halftime. All team coaches must be on the same side of the field as their team. No more than three coaches on the team side of the field.
Fans, and any non-coach or player, are to sit on the opposite side of the field.
There are no maximum roster sizes, but it is recommended teams limit their rosters to the numbers shown below.
The league requires all players to have equal playtime.
The league requires all players to have equal playtime.
In order for a player to be eligible to play down, the club can not be fielding a team in the next age division up.
The play-down player cannot be more than one birth year older than the age group in which they will be participating.
Divisions that play 11v11 can have a maximum of three players play down. Divisions that play a 7v7 or 9v9 format can have a maximum of two players play down.
If a player is eligible to play down in fall, he/she can also play down in the spring even if a birthday has occurred.
It is a league requirement that every game is confirmed by the coaches. The confirmation is to be made by phone, not by email or text messaging. The Away Team coach is responsible for calling the Home Team coach at least 48 hours before kickoff. However, the Home Team coach may initiate the phone call. The following information should be confirmed.
If a player is red carded, he/she must leave the field of play immediately. If a player is red carded, he/she is not permitted to play in the next game. If a player or players are red carded, the team must play short equal to the number of players that have been red carded. The opposing team does not have to play short.
A yellow card given to a player two games in a row equals a red card. Upon receiving a yellow card in the second consecutive game which now constitutes a red card the player must leave the field of play immediately and cannot play in the next game.
A player that has been red carded may attend the game in which he/she can not participate, but the player can not be in uniform.
One game every season is designated as a Silent Game where no instruction is to be given to the players from the coaches or the fans. The Silent Games will be in the middle of the season.
Although the term “silent” is used to recognize the day, the fans do not have to be silent. Parents are still encouraged to cheer for the players when they make a good play or score a goal, but not coach or give instruction to the players from off the field.
The Silent Game gives the coaches an opportunity to evaluate the players on how well they do without any instruction, while allowing the players to see first hand the importance of talking to each other on the field.
Games are to be cancelled by Home Team only. Reasons for cancellation are limited to field playing conditions and weather conditions that relate to player safety. Games should be cancelled at least 2 hours prior to game time.
The Home Team must contact the referee assignor and/or referee to inform them of the cancellation. Any referee not contacted for cancellation who subsequently shows up for the game must be paid regardless if game is played.
Once both teams arrive at the field, the decision to cancel or to play the game will be determined by the referee at the field. The Home Team is responsible for rescheduling the game and referee at a mutually agreed upon time.