MYSA U12  Recreation Philosophy, Practice Ideas and Expectations

Philosophy

Although score is kept at this age, it is not the end all be all for the sport! Of course everyone wants to win, but it should still be mainly about FUN! Kids should be continuing to learn all the skill sets while now working in larger groups on the field. This age group goes up to 9v9 with a goalkeeper! 

Practice Ideas and Expectations

60 minutes

Every player should have a ball; majority of the activities should include a ball for every player. Should not have players waiting in lines. Lines for activities should be no more than 2-3 players. Reps for each player should happen at least every 20 seconds. If they are standing for more than that, they become unengaged!

15 minutes of warm-up, skill activities, small group activities

20 minutes of directional games, 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4

20 minutes of small sided games, 6v6/7v7 with goalkeepers

Things to work on:

Continue Dribbling, Passing, Receiving, Shooting Techniques

Continue 1v1 Attacking and 1v1 Defending

Continue 2v2 Attacking and 2v2 Defending

Continue 3v3 Attacking, playing together in triangles

Continue 3v3 Defending, defending in groups of 3, pressure with support players

Introduce 4v4 and 5v5 in small groups with spacial awareness

Game Day Expectations

FUN!! ALL PLAYERS SHOULD BE HAVING FUN!! ALL PLAYERS FROM BOTH TEAMS SHOULD LEAVE THE FIELD WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE!!

Games are 9v9 with goalkeepers, field gets much bigger with bigger goals

Actual referees are officiating game

Formations should be 3-3-2, 3-4-1, 4-3-1, 2-4-2, still be based around creating triangles around the field

All kids should play at least half of every game

Emphasize things worked on at practice

If a game get’s lopsided, please take action so it does not get out of hand! There is no need to win a game by more than 5 goals! 

Its important as a coach of young soccer players you understand this philosophy and understand why running up the score is not good for anyone. In soccer, you will have kids that develop faster at a young age and will be able to out run most players. What happens in soccer, when they get older and start playing 9v9 and 11v11, one player won’t dominate the game, it a team sport. If you don’t develop that player early to use both feet, pass the ball properly, and focus on soccer techniques, then they will end up actually being behind the rest of the age group when everyone else’s physical development catches up. Soccer is a team sport, it’s not about one player. 

MYSA U12 RECREATIONAL SOCCER RULES OF THE GAME

The MYSA U12 Divisions play matches governed by the latest FIFA Laws of the Game, with the following exceptions:

FIELD OF PLAY

Dimensions: The field shall be rectangular, with minimum dimensions of 70 yards long by 45 yards wide and maximum dimensions of 80 yards long and 55 yards wide.

Markings:

• Distinctive lines no more than 5″ wide.
• Midfield line extending across the entire field at the midpoint of each sideline.
• A circle with a radius of 8 yards shall extend from the mid point of the midfield line
• Each corner shall have an arc with a minimum radius of ONE (1) yard
• A goal box starting 6 yards from each goal post and extending into the field of play 6 yards.
• A penalty box starting 14 yards from each goal post and extending into the field of play 14 yards.
• A 1 foot penalty kick hash mark shall be placed 10 yards from the middle of the goal line. This penalty mark is surrounded by an arc with a radius of 8 yards from the penalty mark drawn outside the penalty box.
• A dashed parent boundary line shall run the entire length of one side of the field 1-2 yards from the field boundary
• A team technical area starting at a point 1 yard away from the touch line and 5 yards from midfield and extending 8 yards parallel to the touchline and 2 yards away from the field.
• A substitution box located 1 yard away from the touchline, extending 2 yards away from midfield in both directions parallel to the touchline and extending 1 yard back

EQUIPMENT

Goals: Goals shall be 6-6.5 feet high and 18 feet across and must be anchored to the field by no less than three goal anchors.

Corner Markings: Corners shall be marked with regulation corner flags.

Ball: All matches shall be played with a size four (4) ball of official size and weight.

MATCH PLAY

Number of Players: The maximum number of players on the field per team shall not exceed nine (9) including the goalkeeper. Matches may be played with a minimum of 6 players so long as each team has an equal number of players on the field. If a team cannot field 6 players it shall forfeit the match. The maximum roster size shall be 16. The U12 division is co-ed and consists of boys and girls.

Match Length: Matches will consist of two 30 minute halves with a 5 minute half time. No time-outs are allowed. Referees may add time to the match for injuries, however the clock will continue to run.

Referees: Three referees (a head referee and two line judges) shall be scheduled for each match. Games may be played with only one referee if necessary. Any referee substitutions (Parent, coach from a team not playing) may only be done with the approval of both coaches.

Spectators: All spectators must sit on the opposite side of the field from the teams. Spectators must sit behind the dashed parent boundary line. Parents/Coaches may not stand anywhere along the end of the field.

Offsides: Normal FIFA Offsides Laws shall apply.

Slidetackles: Legal slidetackles are allowed per FIFA and USYS recommendations for U12.

Start of Play: Field sides shall be chosen by coin toss with the visiting team calling the toss. The team which wins the coin toss shall choose which goal to attack in the first half. The team losing the coin toss shall kick-off to start the game. Match play begins from the midfield hash mark and opposing players must remain outside the center field circle until the ball is kicked. Teams switch sides of the field for the second half with the team that won the coin toss kicking off.

Stoppage of Play:

• Play shall stop when the whole of the ball has crosses the touchline, goal line or has been whistled dead by the referee.
• A ball is considered out of bounds when the ENTIRE ball has crossed the boundary plane.
• Opposing players must remain outside the PENALTY box during goal kicks.
• Opposing players must remain 8 yards or more away from all free and corner kicks.
• Players who fall on the ball are creating a dangerous situation of play. If a player falls on the ball during play, play is stopped and the OPPOSING team is given an indirect kick.
• Goalies may handle the ball anywhere inside the PENALTY box.
• Keeper punts may not land in the opposing team’s penalty area without touching the ground or another player first. Otherwise, a free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at midfield.
• Per US Youth Soccer guidelines, intentional heading of the ball is not allowed. Any intentional heading results in a stoppage of play with an indirect kick awarded to the OPPOSING team.

Substitution: Substitutions may be made by the team gaining possession during stoppages of play. A team that lost possession may only substitute if the other team also substitutes. Either team may initiate substitutions during goal kicks, in cases of injury, prior to the kickoff after a goal, or after halftime. Only players standing in the substitution box at the time the referee calls for substitutes will be allowed to substitute (except in the case of substitutions for an injured player). Players not in the box at that time must wait until the next substitution opportunity.

Overtime/Ties: Matches tied at the end of regulation shall remain tied with each team being awarded one standings point. Tournament matches tied after regulation shall be decided by kicks from the mark. Each team will be allowed 5 shots from the penalty kick hash mark with each shot taken by a different player. Only the players on the field at the end of regulation may participate in the shoot out. If the match is still tied after the first 5 kicks, the match will be decided by sudden death kicks form the mark. Each team is allowed one kick from a player that has not shot before, with the match ending when one team has more points than the other at the end of each single kick sudden death round. Once all players on the field have kicked, teams may allow eligible players to kick a second time in the same order they kicked earlier. Per FIFA, when a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponents, they shall reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponents and inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded. The team captain has this responsibility.