BAYS Current Rule Book: CCYS plays in the BAYS league, using the BAYS rulebook, which can be found on the BAYS website. BAYS rules limits each team to 3 coaches or adults on the players side of the field. These coaches or adults must have their coach's passcard in their possession and present it to the referee prior to the start of the game. This season BAYS has a summary page for all the differences between age groups.
BAYS rules are excerpted from The Laws of the Game, as established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB- part of FIFA), with modifications by US Youth Soccer, Massachusetts Youth Soccer, and BAYS. The FIFA Rule Book can be found on the Massachusetts State Referee Committee website, along with other useful guidelines for referees.
This year there have been significant changes to the Laws of the Game. IFAB has a description of the changes.
The BAYS rulebook has age specific rules on the size of the field & the ball, the number of players on the field, the time of the game. In addition, the offside rule is not enforced for games Grade 4 and younger. Here is an excerpt:
- Grade 12 plays 45 minute halves, has a maximum of 11 players on the field, must have 7 players to start & 7 players to continue the game.
- Grade 10 plays 40 minute halves, has a maximum of 11 players on the field, must have 8 players to start & 7 players to continue the game.
Grade 8 plays 35 minute halves, has a maximum of 11 players on the field, must have 8 players to start & 7 players to continue the game. - Grade 5, Grade 6 play 30 minute halves, has a maximum of 9 players on the field, must have 6 players to start & 5 players to continue the game.
- Grade 3, Grade 4 play 30 minute halves, does not have an offside rule, has a maximum of 7 players on the field, must have 5 players to start & 4 players to continue the game. For Grade 3/4 games, goalkicks shall be taken from withing six yards of the goal line, and the team not in possession shall withdraw to its defensive half of the field. On goalkicks, or on goalkeeper saves followed by a throw-out, punt, or drop kick, the ball must touch the ground or be touched by any player in the defensive half of the field. Infringement of this rule will result in a turnover of the ball to the other team. Play shall restart with an indirect kick at the midfield line nearest the point of contact.
CCYS has some age based, club specific rules:
- U8/Grade 2: 25 minute halves, no goalkeepers, no headers, no throw-ins
- Grade 3-4 Intown only: use BAYS grade 4 rules.
- No slide tackles for Grade 6 and younger: Slide tackles are not technically against the rules, but they are difficult to perform without fouling and causing injury. CCYS senior referees agree that in the interest of safety, no slide tackles will be the policy for U12 & younger. Referees at CCYS games should be mentioning that they will be calling slide tackles as rough or dangerous play.
US Youth Soccer rules for small sided games: CCYS has used rules developed for small sided games by US Youth Soccer to choose the field and equipment size for small sided games that are not covered by BAYS rules.