Rules & Rosters

A. General

• League Role: MDSL coordinates leagues and tournaments.
• Rules: FIFA Laws apply except where modified by MDSL.
• Responsibility: Coaches, team officials, players, and parents are responsible for knowing and following MDSL rules.
• Seasons: USYS seasonal year: August 1 – July 31. Includes Fall, Spring, Summer leagues, plus Winter Futsal.
• Season Duration: Starts with first league game, ends with last league game.

B. Affiliation

• MDSL is affiliated with the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA).

C. Club Entry

• Approval: New clubs must be approved by MDSL Head Office.
• Required Info: Club name, location, number of teams.
• Recruiting: Teams cannot recruit players from other MDSL teams.

D. Registration

• Team Rosters: Must register via GotSport; upload birth certificates, medical release, roster.
• Team Official: At least one adult must be designated per team.
• Scheduling: 7–8 games per season; schedule changes allowed via GotSport before schedule lock date.

E. Referees

• Assignment: Managed by league.
• Payment: Fees covered by league.
• Conduct: Abuse of referees leads to disciplinary action. Zero tolerance policy.
• Protests: All game results are final.

F. Standings & Awards

• Age Groups: U-9 Division 1 and up tracked for standings. Scores reported internally for younger teams.
• Scoring: Win = 3 points, Tie = 1, Loss = 0.
• Championships: Playoffs go straight to penalty kicks if tied.
• Withdrawals/Forfeits: Scores nullified; may lead to removal from league.

G. Outdoor/Field

• Play Rules: Games tied in playoffs go straight to penalties.
• Field Cleanup: Teams responsible for post-game cleanup.

H. Field Dimensions

• By Age Group:
  • U7–U8: 40×25 yards, 4v4/5v5, small goal areas, build-out lines.
  • U8–U10: 65×45 yards, 7v7, goal dimensions 6×18.
  • U11–U12: 80×60 yards, 9v9, goals 6×18 or 7×21.
  • U13+: 120×80 yards, 11v11, goals 8×24.
• Postponements: Only extreme weather (lightning, snow, ice).
• Team Cleanup: Mandatory.

I. Game Format, Duration, Ball Size

• League Play:
  • U7: 4v4, 12-min quarters, size 3 ball.
  • U8–U10: 5v5/7v7, 25–30 min halves, size 4 ball.
  • U11–U12: 9v9, 30–35 min halves, size 4 ball.
  • U13+: 11v11, 35–45 min halves, size 5 ball.
• Playoffs: Extra time + penalties if tied.
• Tournaments: Slightly shorter game durations for younger ages.

J. Players

• Roster Limits: U7–U8 = 12; U9–U10 = 14; U11–U12 = 16; U13–U15 = 18; U16–U18 = 22.
• Positioning Rules: U7–U10: defenders cannot “camp” near goal.
• Build-Out Lines: Enforced U7–U10; opponents must stay back during goal kicks/goalkeeper possession.
• Substitutions: At stoppages, with referee consent. Players should get ~50% of playing time.
• Equipment: Shin guards required; no jewelry; proper uniforms; safe shoes; optional protective clothing allowed.
• Injuries: Players with injuries must leave the field; clearance needed to return.

K. Officiating

• Referees: U8–U12: 1 referee, U13+: 3 referees.
• U7: Coaches may manage games.
• Coaches’ Role: Promote sportsmanship, respect referees, enforce rules.

L. Coaching

• Must meet Risk Management requirements.
• Responsible for players, parents, spectators.
• Coaching should be informative, civil, encouraging, not critical.
• Ensure game ball and proper equipment.
• Attend coaching meetings.

M. Field Boundaries

• Coaches and players on opposite sideline from parents.

N. Rules of Play

• Kickoff: Ball moves forward, players in own half, opponents 6 yards away.
• Restarting Play: After goals, injuries, or delays (indirect free kick or drop ball).
• Ball In/Out: Out if wholly crosses goal/touch line or referee stops play.
• Scoring: Ball must fully cross line; no goals if a teammate is in their own 6-yard box.
• Offside: U7–U8: none; U9+: enforced. Build-out lines apply U9–U12.

1. Free Kicks

• Types:
  • Direct Free Kick: Can score a goal directly.
  • Indirect Free Kick: Goal can only be scored if another player touches the ball first.
• Distance: Opponents must be 6–8 yards away depending on field size.
• Penalty Kicks:
  • Awarded for U-9 and older.
  • U-7 and U-8: no penalty kicks; instead, a free kick from the spot of the foul.
• Dangerous Play: Careless, reckless, or dangerous actions stop play. Restart with indirect free kick for opponents.

2. Kick-ins (U-7 & U-8)

• Taken when the ball crosses the touchline.
• Must be kicked from the point where it crossed the line.
• Kicker must:
  • Face the field.
  • Keep both feet on the ground.
  • Not touch the ball again until another player has touched it.
• Multiple re-kicks allowed if technique is incorrect.
• Goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in.

3. Throw-ins (U-9 & up)

• Similar rules to kick-ins.
• Ball must be thrown from behind the head with arms following through forward.
• Feet must remain on the ground.
• Goal cannot be scored directly unless otherwise noted in rules for corner kicks.

4. Goal Kicks

• Occurs when the ball crosses the goal line (not between the posts) last touched by the attacking team.
• Taken from anywhere inside the goal area.
• Any defending player can take the kick.
• Ball is in play when it leaves the goal area.
• Opponents must be 6 yards away.
• Kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it.

5. Corner Kicks

• Occurs when ball crosses goal line last touched by defending team.
• Ball placed within 3-foot arc from corner flag.
• Direct goals allowed from corner kicks.
• Opponents must be 6 yards away.
• Improper play by kicker results in explanation and indirect free kick for the opposite team.

6. Miscellaneous Rules

• Sportsmanship: Coaches, referees, and spectators must promote fair play.
• Coaches/assistants/spectators not allowed on field unless approved by referee.
• Scores: Recorded for U-9 Division 1 and above.
• No heading: Age 11 and under.
• No slide tackling: Age 8 and under.
• Mercy Rule (U-9 & under):
  • If a team leads by 7+ goals, they must remove a player until deficit <7.
  • Coaches encouraged to rotate players, enforce touch rules, and avoid “running up score.”

7. Three-Strike Rule (Team Responsibility)