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VSA PLAYING GUIDELINES
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VSA
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# of
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Match
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Coaches
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Play
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Ball
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Direct/Penalty
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Slide
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Players
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Duration
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Keepers
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on Field
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Offsides
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Size
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Kicks
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Tackling
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no -indirect
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U5
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4 v 4
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12 min
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no
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1 per
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no
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3
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from point of
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no
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halves
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team
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infraction only
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no -indirect
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U6
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4 v 4
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18 min
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no
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1 per
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no
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3
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from point of
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no
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halves
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team*
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infraction only
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no -indirect
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U8
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5 v 5
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20 min
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no
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no
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no
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3
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from point of
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no
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halves
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infraction only
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U10
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7 v 7
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24 min
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yes
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no
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yes
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4
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yes
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yes
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halves
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U12
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8 v 8
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25 min
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yes
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no
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yes
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4
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yes
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yes
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halves
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U14 and
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35 min
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U16, U19
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11 v 11
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40 min
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yes
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no
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yes
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5
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yes
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yes
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halves
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Duration of the matches may be shortened at the discretion of the commissioner. Matches should be played with the SAME number of players from each team. Coaches from opposing teams may decide to play with uneven numbers of players, but this must be a firm agreement by both coaches. No coach should be intimidated into accepting this situation if it is not what they want.
VSA policy is that every child who shows up for a match will play at least ½ of the match. If you must alter this for disciplinary reasons, please use good judgment. If the problem persists beyond this, contact the commissioner to discuss further steps.
In U5 and U6, one coach from each team is allowed on the field to assist the players in positioning. In U6*, this should be eliminated as the season progresses. No coach should enter the penalty area in order to position players or get to close to the action when the ball is in play. While the ball is in play, no coach is allowed in the penalty area.
U5, U6 and U8 teams should NOT purposefully position players in the goal to act as keepers. This is not to say that players should not be instructed to drop back and play defense when the other team attacks. No player, in defense of their own goal, may enter the goal box surrounding the goal until the ball or an attacking player enters the box. In the referee’s judgment, if a goal scoring opportunity was stopped by a defending player illegally in the goal box, the attacking team will be awarded an indirect kick at the top of
the penalty area box.
All divisions, No one should stand on the goal line to watch or coach. Teams should take opposite sides of the field. The home team decides which side of the field they will stand on: players, coaches and spectators alike. The away team, along with its coaches and spectators will take the other side.
Coaches may substitute prior to their own throw in, before a goal kick by either team, after a goal is scored, or at half time. Subs may not go onto the field until the referee has signaled them to do so. Yellow-carded players may be substituted for, at the coach’s request. If a player must leave for injury, the referee should offer the opposing coach the chance for one substitution as well. Players who are red carded must leave the match and not return and cannot be substituted for, the team plays short one player for the duration of the match.
