SASC Recreational Soccer
Modified Playing Rules Summary

As of the Fall 2025 season, SASC is changing the formation of all recreational age groups up to U12 to be based on the school year (i.e. players born from Sep 1st to Aug 31st the following year are now considered in the same age group). This aligns with the US Soccer Mandate which is being introduced in Fall 2026. Age groups U14 and older will remain based on calendar year till Fall 2026 to match the other clubs in the area they will play against.

This table shows the appropriate age group for a player's date of birth:

Age Group	Typical school grade	Date of Birth range for Fall 2025 & Spring 2026 seasons	Date of Birth range for Fall 2026 & Spring 2027 seasons
U6	Pre-K, K	Sep 2019 - Aug 2021 (*)	Sep 2020 - Aug 2022
U7	1st	Sep 2018 - Aug 2019	Sep 2019 - Aug 2020
U8	2nd	Sep 2017 - Aug 2018	Sep 2018 - Aug 2019
U10	3rd, 4th	Sep 2015 - Aug 2017	Sep 2016 - Aug 2018
U12	5th, 6th	Sep 2013 - Aug 2015	Sep 2014 - Aug 2016
U14	7th, 8th	Jan 2012 - Dec 2013 (**)	Sep 2012 - Aug 2014
U16+	9th+	Jan 2007 - Dec 2011 (**)	Sep 2007 - Aug 2012

(*) Players in the U6 age group must be born Aug 31, 2021 or earlier for the Fall 2025/Spring 2026 seasons
(**) The U14 / U16+ age groups will remain calendar-year based for the Fall 2025/Spring 2026 seasons.

Note that players can request to "play up" to an older age group, but cannot play down to a younger age group.

In accordance to US Youth Soccer recommendations, SASC implements the following game format for the U6 age group:

• Two Pugg goals for each team at each end of the field
  These are positioned touching the edge of, but outside the painted goal box
• If the attacking team kicks the ball over the goal line, then a 'goal-kick' is taken from the edge of the goal box, with the opposing team asked to retreat to the center circle
• If the defending teams kicks the ball over the goal line, then a 'corner kick' is taken from the taken from closest corner or the center of the goal-line (if the ball goes out between the goals)


• Complete Sunnyvale Alliance rules for U6 are in this document

The details shown below are subject to change depending on the number of available players and coaches. Adjustments might be made in order to maximize enjoyment of the players.

Game Format	#Players (max)	Goal Keeper	Ball Size	Goal Size	Approx. Field Size (yards)	Game Duration
U6	3 v 3	No	size #3	2x Pugg Goals	30 x 20	4 x 10 mins (*)
U7 U8	5 v 5	Yes + protected 'no-go' goal area (**)		5' x 10'	44 x 30	2 x 20 mins
U10	7 v 7	Yes	size #4	6'6" x 18'	60 x 40	2 x 25 mins
U12	9 v 9			6'6" x 18'	80 x 50	2 x 30 mins
U14+	11 v 11		size #5	8' x 24'	110 x 70	2 x 35 mins (U14) 2 x 40 mins (U16)

(*) U6 coaches are expected to adjust the length of the periods to make sure the game ends early enough to let the next scheduled game start on time.
(**) U7/8 introduces a 'no-go' goal area. If a player from either team, other than the GK, plays the ball in that goal area, the resulting restart is a goal-kick. Further information here.

Game Format	Restarts	Free Kicks	Offside called?
U6	Kick-ins (no throw-ins) Goal-kicks Corner-kicks	Indirect free kicks only	No (Although there is no off-side rule at these ages, coaches should discourage their own players from waiting near their opponent's goal)
U7 & U8	FIFA Throw-ins (One retry). Goal Kicks taken from the top of the penalty area Build-out line (see below)	Indirect free kicks only. Must be 8-yds back. Backpass to GK is OK
U10	FIFA No retry on throw-ins. Build-out line (see below)	FIFA (Direct, Indirect and PKs) Must be 10-yds back	Yes (using build-out line). Only to be called if obvious to center referee.
U12+	FIFA	FIFA (Direct, Indirect and PKs)	FIFA

Build-out line:

• U7 & U8: The half-line will be treated as the build out line
• U10: The build-out line will be painted between the center circle and penalty area.
  (The edge of the center circle will be considered the build out line if no other line is visible)
• Furthest build-out line is new offside line (only called if obvious)
• Opponents must retreat behind build-out line for Goal-Kicks or whenever GK has possession
• GK is not allowed to punt or drop-kick the ball - must pass, throw, or roll the ball into play

(US Soccer video explaining build out line here)

Substitutions (U7+):

Can be made by either team at any stoppage with the permission of the referee - players must be ready at the half-line.

The number of referees and their origin depends on the age group involved.

Game Format	Referees
U6	1x Parent referee (*)
U7	1x Parent referee, but if possible we will provide a Club referee
U8-U10	1x Club referee (Center only)
U12	3x Club referees (Center + 2 Assistant Referees)
U14+