4v4 Rules of the Game

Player registration: All players must be present for check-in. A minimum of 45 minutes before kick off at the check-in table at Covenant Park.  All players need to carry a Us youth soccer, us club, ID card (or a copy) or passport (or a copy).  All rosters are final after the start of the first game.  No team is allowed to have more than 8 players.  A minimum of 2 players per team.

Field dimensions: 44 x 22 yards

No offsides!

No scoring from own half!

No goalkeepers! 

Substitution: On the fly.  But a player needs to fully leave the field before a new player can enter the field. A free kick will be awarded for a wrong substitute.

Goal box:
The goal box, ten feet wide by eight feet long, is directly in front of the goal. The goals are four feet high by six feet wide.

There is no ball contact allowed within the goal box, however, any player may pass through the goal box.

If a player from the defending team touches the ball inside of his/ her own goal box, the offense team will be awarded a penalty kick.

If a player from the offense team touches the ball inside of the opponents goal box, the defending team will be awarded a goal kick.

If the ball comes to rest in the goal box, a goal kick is awarded regardless of who touched the ball last.

Five yard rule: Defending players must keep 5 yards distance from the ball on all kick-ins, kick offs, free kicks and goal kicks.

Kick & dribble-ins: Instead of throw-ins, players are allowed to pass or dribble the ball in.

Corner kicks: Are allowed to be dribbled in

Indirect kicks:  All free kicks, kick-ins and kick offs are indirect. Penalty kicks and corners are direct.

Goal kicks: Taken from any point from the end line.

Kick off:
Can be taken in any direction.

Penalty kicks:
It is a direct kick taken from the center of the midfield line with all players behind the mid­field line and the player taking the kick. This is a ‘dead­=ball’ kick.

Game duration:
Two 10 minutes halves.  Two minute half time.  Or the game ends if one team has a 8 goal lead.

Points and Tie-brakers:
3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. A forfeited game is scored as a 8-0 win for the team present.

In pool play, tie in points between two or more teams will be broken by :

1. head to head results between the tied teams
2. goal difference in head to head games
3. goal difference in pool play games
4. goals scored
5. penalties

Games during the playoffs rounds that are tied after regular time shall proceed to a 4 minute golden goal overtime period (winning goal).  If the score is still tied, the winner will be decided with 3 penalties per team.

Equipment:
All players must wear shinguards.  U8-U12 use a size 4 ball and U13 and up size 5.

All teams must have all their players wear a same colored shirt during play. We expect each team to bring two different colored shirts.

2021 Age groups:
U8: Players born in 2015 or later
U9: Players born in 2014 or later
U10: Players born in 2013 or later
U11: Players born in 2012 or later
U12: Players born in 2011 or later
U13: Players born in 2010 or later
U14: Players born in 2009 or later
U15: Players born in 2008 or later
U16: Players born in 2007 or later