U5-6 RECREATIONAL RULES
Age: 4-5 years old
Gender: Coed
Players on Field: 4 v 4 (all field players - no keepers)
Minimum # on Field: 3
Total Players per Team: 6-8
Referees: 0 (coaches oversee game)
Ball size: 3
Substitutions: Any stoppage, and or, on the fly (during flow of match if it does not interrupt current play)
Duration of Game:
4 x 8-minute quarters
2 minutes between quarters 5 minutes at half time
41 minutes total time
Laws:
FIFA Laws of the game, except
No deliberate heading the ball (indirect kick for other team)
No slide tackling
No goalkeeper
Play starts from pullback instead of kick-off
All kick-ins (no throw-ins)
All indirect kicks
No penalty kicks
No offside calls (No “poaching”, leaving a player close to attacking goal)
Coaches explain various calls/rules to players during game play as a teaching aid.
No scores/standings kept
Special Laws:
No "camping out" in front of the goal to simulate a goalkeeper.
Opposing players must be 5 yards from the ball on goal kicks, corner kicks and free kicks.
Goal kicks taken from point approximately 1/2 distance from goal post to corner flag