2.1	Player Eligibility. In order to comply with AYSO rules regarding balanced teams, only eligible players assigned to a team can participate in that team’s games. The assignment of players to a team can only be done by the Team Formation Committee. No players may be transferred or traded without the written approval of the Team Formation Committee AND Commissioner.
2.2	Player Registration Forms. Each coach must have in his or her possession at all games (both regional and inter-regional), practices, scrimmages, and at all other team gatherings, a registration/medical release form, as provided by the region, with the original signature of the player’s parent or guardian.

3.1	Minimum Number of Players. Except for divisions U6, U8 and U10, a minimum of 7 players shall constitute a team. A scheduled game shall not begin or be continued if one or both teams cannot field 7 eligible players. U6 will play 6-a-side with a minimum of 5 players constituting a team. Players from the opposing team may be used for this purpose. U8 will play 7-a-side with 5 players constituting a team. U10 teams will play 7-a-side with a minimum of 5 players constituting a team.
3.2	Lineup Cards. At least 5 minutes before the scheduled starting time, the coach shall provide the referee with a completed lineup card for the game. The card shall list each player on the team in numerical order by jersey number. Absent players shall be noted on the card, along with the reason for their absence. The card should also show the team number, the division, the name of the coach and assistant coach, the game date, the game time and the game site. Divisions U8 will use lineup cards beginning the third game of the season. Divisions U6 will use lineup cards in the second half of the season.   After the completion of a game, the referee shall complete the lineup cards, noting thereon the final score and the number of the winning team. The referee shall also complete the “sportsmanship” section on the reverse side of the card. The card shall be signed by the referee and the assistant referees and deposited by the referee in the appropriate box provided at the field.
3.3	Starting Time and Game Forfeitures. Teams must be present and ready for an equipment check by the referee at least 5 minutes before the scheduled starting time. At that time, the captain of each team should present to the referee a properly inflated game ball from which the referee may choose. If a team is not ready to play within 5 minutes after the scheduled starting time with at least 7 players for Divisions U12-U14 and with at least five players for Divisions U6, U8 & U10, the referee shall declare a game forfeiture with the team that is ready to play being declared the winner by a score of 1-0.
3.4	Commencement of Game without Referee. If the scheduled referee has not appeared by the scheduled starting time, and if a substitute cannot be found, each coach, or his or her designee, shall referee the game using a two-referee system. If the coaches agree, a single referee may be designated by the coaches, in which event each team shall provide a club assistant referee.
3.5	Cancellation of Game Due to Weather. Unless previously notified by the Commissioner or his designee, all teams must appear and be ready to play at the scheduled time. The referee shall have discretion to determine whether a scheduled game should be canceled (or terminated during play) due to weather or other conditions affecting the safety of the players. Rescheduling of canceled games shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner.

4.1	Division U6   (Under 6) U8   (Under 8) U10 (Under 10) U12 (Under 12) U14 (Under 14) U16 (Under 16) U19 (Under 19)	Duration of Games Two halves, not to exceed 16 minutes each Two halves, not to exceed 20 minute each. Two halves, not to exceed 25 minute each. Two halves, not to exceed 30 minute each. Two halves, not to exceed 35 minute each. Two halves, not to exceed 40 minute each. Two halves, not to exceed 45 minute each.
4.2.	Quarter Breaks. Approximately midway through each half the referee shall stop the game in order to permit substitutions to be made. The stoppage shall be made when the ball is not-in-play and prior to the appropriate restart (i.e., throw-in, goal-kick, corner-kick, kick-off, free-kick, penalty-kick or dropped ball). This stoppage of play is referred to as the “quarter break.”   The quarter break is only for the purpose of substituting players. No player is allowed to leave the field during the quarter break except for substitution purposes. Players may come to the touchline for water and coaches instructions. Coaches and spectators are not allowed on the field at quarter breaks.   The quarter break shall be approximately one minute and shall end when the referee signals to resume play. Unless the referee notifies the coaches in advance of the game (and due to time constraints) the referee shall not stop the clock during the quarter breaks. There are no quarter breaks for division U16 and U19 games, where the free substitution rule applies.
4.3.	Shortened Games. Prior to the start of a game, and after advising the coaches for both teams, the referee shall have the discretion to shorten the duration of the game if the referee believes that it is necessary in order to comply with the time schedule for games to be played on that field. This discretion should only be exercised in unusual cases where the game cannot be started any earlier than 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time due to no fault of either team (see “Game Forfeit” for the rule which applies when a team is not ready to play within 5 minutes after the scheduled starting time). This includes, but is not limited to, delays caused by serious injury.

5.1	Three-Quarter Rule. Except for divisions U16 and U19 and late arriving players (see below), each player present at the start of the game must play at least three-quarters of the game. This rule applies to all Region 214 games. A two-quarter rule applies to games played between regions. The three-quarter rule does not apply to overtime periods during playoff games.
5.2	Division U16 and U19 Substitutions. For divisions U16 and U19, a free substitution rule applies. Each player must play one-half of each game. This means that players may be substituted, with the permission of the referee, at any time when there is a stoppage of play and the ball is in the possession of the team desiring to make the substitution (the other team may also make substitutions at that time). The coach will be required to maintain a substitution schedule (in a form provided by the region) showing the playing time for each player.
5.3	Substitutes Reporting to Referee. All substituting players must report to the referee at the halfway line before being substituted. No player may be substituted without recognition of the referee. The referee shall note all substitutions on the lineup cards.
5.4	Divisions U6 - U14 Substitutions. For divisions U6 through U14 games, substitutions may only be made at the quarter break and at half-time.
5.5	Substitution for Injuries. A coach may substitute for an injured player, in which case the injured player may not return until the start of the next quarter. Only the injured player is credited with play during that quarter regardless of the actual time played. The coach may choose to play short, in which case the injured player shall be allowed to return during the quarter in which he or she was injured. Returning injured players will only be allowed to enter the game during a stoppage of play when that player’s team has possession of the ball. No player is permitted to return without recognition and authorization by the referee.
5.6	Late Arriving Players. Except for division U16 and U19 games, if a player arrives during, but before the end of the first quarter, the player must play all of the remaining three quarters of the game. If the player arrives after the start of the second quarter, the player must play all of the remaining quarters of the game (beginning with the next quarter after the player arrives). For division U16 and U19 games, a player who arrives before the end of the first half must play a minimum of one-half of the remainder of the game; a player arriving after the start of the second half must play at least one half of the remaining game after the player arrives.
5.7	15 Player Rule U14 and U12. All players play 3 quarters when teams have 14 or 13 players at the start of play. If all 15 players show up at the start of play, one player is designated to play two quarters. Once a player plays two quarters they must play at least 3 quarters for the remainder of the season.
5.8	Time in Goal. Except for divisions U6 and U8, there are no limitations on how many quarters a player may play in goal. For division U8, no player may play goal for more than half the game. There are no goalkeepers for division U6.

6.1	Division U6 and U8     U10 and U12     U14, U16, U19	Ball Size Size 3. 23.0 to 25.0 inches in circumference and between 10 and 12 ounces in weight   Size 4. 25.0 to 26.5 inches in circumference and between 12 and 14 ounces in weight   Size 5. 26.5 to 28.0 inches in circumference and between 14 and 16 ounces in weight.
6.2	Uniforms. At all games players shall wear the uniforms given to their teams by the region. For Region 214 games only, the referee shall have discretion to permit a player to wear different colored socks and non-regulation shorts. The referee shall be liberal in allowing such differences provided that they will not cause any confusion in identifying players.   Goalkeepers may wear different colored socks provided that if they play on the field the referee must approve the use of different colored socks in accordance with the rule above. The goalkeeper must wear a jersey that is a different color from that worn by his or her team, from the color jersey of the other team, and from the color of the referees’ jerseys.   In the event that the uniforms of both teams are similar in color, the referee shall have the discretion to require that the home team (first team listed on the schedule) wear pennies over their uniform jersey.
6.3	Shoes. Regulation soccer shoes (no toe cleat), gym shoes, or sneakers (with or without rubber cleats) are permissible in all AYSO games.
6.4	Shinguards. No player is permitted to participate in any game, practice or scrimmage unless the player is wearing shinguards.
6.5	Casts and Splints. Players are not permitted to participate in any games, practices, or scrimmages if the player is wearing a cast or splint, regardless of whether the cast or splint is hard, soft, or wrapped.
6.6	Other Items. Players may not wear any type of jewelry during games, practices and scrimmages. Players may not wear during games, practices, and scrimmages anything which may be dangerous to either themselves or other players. The referee has the discretion to determine whether an item that a player may be wearing must be removed before that player is permitted to play. Although the region encourages the use of safety glasses (i.e., sports goggles), there is no rule precluding a player from playing with regular prescription glasses (non-prescription sun-glasses are not, however, permitted). Goal keepers may, with the referee’s permission, be permitted to wear baseball type hats.

7.1	Sideline Participation. Coaches shall limit their sideline participation during games to positive instruction and encouragement. Sideline participation shall be limited to 2 coaches from each team who shall remain on the same side of the field. Except for Division U6, no coach shall be permitted to coach except within the coaches’ area, whether or not the field is marked with a coaches’ area. This area is defined as follows: one yard back from the touch-line and extending 10 yards on both sides of the halfway line,
7.2	Negative Comments. Negative comments and complaints about refereeing are not permitted and the coach is subject to disciplinary action for violations of this rule.
7.3	Field of Play. Coaches, other game officials, spectators, and players who are not currently playing shall not enter the field of play unless requested by the referee.
7.4	Spectator Control. The team coach is responsible for controlling the spectators on his or her team’s side of the field. The referee has the power to caution or eject a coach for failure or refusal to control the actions of spectators after the coach has been requested to do so by the referee.   It is not the referee’s responsibility to deal with spectator problems – that is the coach’s responsibility. In addition to cautioning or ejecting the coach, the referee has discretion to either suspend or terminate the game if in his or her discretion such stoppage is necessary due to the misconduct of spectators and the failure or refusal of the coach to effectively control that misconduct. The referee’s decision to caution or eject the coach, or to suspend or terminate the game is final and is not subject to protest.
7.5	Discipline. The Laws of the Game do not provide that coaches may be carded. Only players may be issued yellow or red cards by the referee. Nonetheless, the Laws permit the referee to deal with misconduct by coaches and spectators. In the event of such misconduct, such as, for example, the expression of negative comments or dissent, entering the field of play without the referee’s permission, coaching outside the coaches’ area, using foul or abusive language, or engaging in violent conduct, the referee has discretion to eject the coach from the game, and/or to suspend or terminate the game and declare a forfeiture.   In most instances, except in the case of violent conduct or the use of foul or abusive language, the referee is requested to warn the coach that continuation of such conduct may result in ejection, suspension or termination of the game. However, the referee’s decision to eject a coach, or to suspend or terminate a game is final and is not subject to protest.   If a coach is ejected from a game, or if the game is terminated as a result of the misconduct of a coach, the coach is automatically ineligible from coaching the team’s next scheduled game. In addition, the coach may be subject to further disciplinary action at the discretion of the Regional Coach Administrator and Commissioner.