U6 Guidelines for Spring 2012

Number of players/team:6

Number of players on field:4 (minimum of 3)

Game length: 2x16 minute halves with a 5 minute half time. (No quarter breaks with free sub-see below)

Referees will be the two coaches. Only two adults on the field.

Home team sits on North/West side of field

Set-up is assigned to first home team of the day ( Away team should offer to help)

Breakdown is assigned to last home team of the day (Away team should offer to help)

Game modifications for U6 Spring: These should feel more like pick-up games than organized matches

1. Free substitution

2. Throw-ins replaced by pass-ins

Free substitution means that players can come in and out at stoppage in play (Goal scored, goal kick, corner kick, pass-in). I would recommend having girls rotate in and out in pairs.  Use the time to teach players on side line and send them back into the game in a few minutes.  Playing time should end up the same.  Quality of time more important in development, i.e. more touches on the ball.

Pass-ins are used to replace throw-ins.  If the ball crosses the touchline(sideline), the other team sets the ball on the line, or behind and passes ball into field.  Ball needs to touch another player before the player taking the pass-in touches the ball again. The pass may go forward or backward.

Games are started at the beginning and at half with a kick-off.  This is not a football style kick-off. (Please do not teach your children to kick the ball to the other team.) One player should pass the ball forward to a team mate. After that the child is free to dribble, or pass.  Kick-offs are used to restart the game after a goal is scored, as well.  Opposing team needs to be outside of the center circle. We will try to make a much larger circle to give players time to execute this properly.

Goal kicks are used to restart game is ball crosses end-line without scoring a goal and was last touched by the attacking team.  Before the ball is played, the now defending team needs to back up to the half line. This non-FIFA rule is designed to promote the players completing at least one pass before the pressure arrives.

Corner kicks are taken when the ball crosses the end-line without scoring a goal and was last touched by the defending team.  This is one of the only time that the players should be coached to be in front of the goal.

All other fouls are restarted with an indirect kick.  This means another player must touch the ball before a goal is scored.  This rule should eliminate a player kicking a ball straight at a defender and hopefully promotes looking to pass the ball to a team mate.  The defending team should be 8 yds away.  If this is not possible because the infraction happened to close to the goal, back the ball up until it is possible.  Scoring goals is not the object of these games.  Being safe, playing, learning, and having fun are the main purposes.

Games should have minimal interruptions from adults.  Please treat all the players as if they were your players.  Work together.  Have fun!  Avoid telling them what to do with the ball when they have it.  Cheer for them when they try to do good things, even if it did not work.