AYSO 10U Referee

Region 97 · quick reference

Match basics

7v7 · size 4 ball · 2 × 25 min
Format
7v76 field + 1 GK
Minimum
5 playersto start or continue
Ball
Size 4
Halves
2 × 25 minrunning clock
Halftime
5 min
Quarter break
1–2 min max~midpoint of each half, clock runs
DFK distance
8 yd
Penalty mark
8 ydfrom the goal line

10U rules

Goalkeeper, offside, heading

Goalkeeper

  • Distributes by throw, roll, or feet.
  • No punting or drop-kicking.
  • 8-second limit on holding the ball in their hands.

Punt or drop-kick IFK to opponent at the spot (on the goal-area line nearest the spot if inside the goal area)

Holds it more than 8 seconds IFK to opponent where the infraction occurred

Offside

  • No offside between the halfway line and the build-out line.
  • Offside only between the opponent's build-out line and the opponent's goal line.

Heading & slide tackles

  • Deliberate heading is banned.
  • Slide tackles are allowed, but penalize any careless, reckless, or dangerous tackle immediately.

Deliberate header IFK to opponent at the spot of the touch

Fouls & restarts

DFK, PK, IFK: what gets which

DFK Can score directly. Opponents 8 yd back.

PK Any DFK offense inside the offender's own penalty area.

IFK Can't score directly: must touch another player first.

DFK Direct free kick

Against an opponent, if careless, reckless, or excessive force

  • Kicks*
  • Trips*
  • Strikes*
  • Jumps at
  • Charges
  • Pushes
  • Tackles or challenges

* or attempts to

Also a DFK

  • Handball: deliberate hand/arm touch, or making the body unnaturally bigger (not the GK inside their own penalty area)
  • Holding an opponent
  • Impeding with contact
  • Biting or spitting at an opponent or official
  • Throwing an object at the ball, an opponent, or an official, or playing the ball with a held object

From the spot of the offense. Opponents at least 8 yd away. Can score directly against the opponent.

PK Penalty kick

  • Any DFK offense by a player inside their own penalty area, wherever the ball is, as long as it was in play.
  • From the penalty mark, 8 yd from the goal line.
  • Everyone but the kicker and GK: outside the penalty area and arc, behind the penalty mark, on the field.

IFK Indirect free kick

Can't score directly. Must touch another player (either team) before a goal counts.

10U-specific

  • Deliberate header: from the spot of the offense
  • GK punt or drop-kick: from the spot (6-yard line if inside the goal area)
  • Build-out line violation, crossing early or interfering before the ball is in play: Retake or IFK at the spot

GK inside own penalty area, with hands

  • Holds the ball more than 8 seconds: where the infraction occurred
  • Second touch: handles it again after releasing it, before anyone else touches it
  • Pass-back: handles a ball a teammate deliberately kicked to them
  • Handles a ball directly from a teammate's throw-in

Any player

  • Dangerous play: high kick near a head with no contact, kicking at a ball the GK holds, head down near cleats
  • Impeding without contact (obstruction)
  • Dissent, or offensive, insulting, or abusive language or gestures
  • Preventing the GK from releasing the ball
  • Offside: from where the offside player was when the ball was played to them
  • Second touch on a restart by the kicker before anyone else touches it (kick-off, throw-in, corner, goal kick, free kick)

In the goal area: an attacking IFK inside the opponent's 6-yard box moves to the nearest point on the 6-yard line parallel to the goal line.

Build-out line

When it applies, when opponents can cross

Halfway between the top of the penalty area and the halfway line.

Activates on

  • Any goal kick
  • GK gains control with hands during live play

Opponents

  • Must retreat behind the build-out line.
  • May cross once the ball is in play:
    • Goal kick: kicked and clearly moves
    • From GK hands: thrown, rolled, or released to feet and kicked

Quick restart

The GK does not have to wait for opponents to retreat. If they play early, opponents may challenge once the ball is in play.

Opponent crosses early Retake or IFK at the infraction

Pre-game & safety

Lineup cards, equipment, sidelines

Printed lineup cards only, from the Team Directory. Handwritten cards are not allowed and mean an automatic forfeit.

Players & equipment

  • Shin guards under socks, against the skin
  • Zero jewelry. Taped earrings are not allowed. Only a taped medical-alert bracelet is.
  • No hard casts or splints unless safely padded and approved, at the referee's discretion
  • Jersey conflict: visitor wears pinnies
  • GK jersey contrasts with both teams and the referee
  • Home team supplies 3 game balls

Coaches & spectators

  • Coaches within 10 yd of midfield
  • Spectators on their own team's sideline. None behind the goals or past the penalty-area line.
  • Everyone at least 3 ft back from the touchlines
  • No noisemakers. No dogs: the game stops and the 5-minute forfeit rule applies.
Playoffs only

Fall 2026 playoff rules

Home team lists, ¾ rule, overtime, kicks from the mark

Region 97 playoff games only. Everything above still applies; these rules add to it.

Home team

  • Higher on the list = Home, whatever MatchTrak shows. Ranked by referee points, then standings.
  • Home chooses the sideline, who kicks off first, and which goal to defend, and supplies 3 game balls.

10U Boys

  1. Kendrella
  2. Calvert
  3. Sagel
  4. Ferrentino
  5. Nunez
  6. Rouse
  7. Rieke
  8. Elsten
  9. Keefer

10U Girls

  1. Flores
  2. Braun
  3. Wynne
  4. Johnson
  5. Junowich
  6. DeLorme
  7. Nelson
  8. Holst
  9. Teague

12U Boys

  1. Armstrong
  2. Middleton
  3. Ianni
  4. Roose
  5. Guidi

12U Girls

  1. Mang
  2. Williams
  3. Grimes

Playing time: the ¾ rule

Strictly enforced. No player plays the full game unless every teammate has played at least ¾ of it.

  • Nobody sits out twice until everyone has sat out once.
  • A sent-off (red card) player no longer counts toward the ¾ rule.
  • Overtime: ¾ doesn't apply, but no player may sit out both OT periods.

Track subs and playing time on the official card. Report violations to the Division Director or Regional Commissioner after the game. Do not forfeit on the field for playing-time violations.

Substitutions

  • Halftime and quarter breaks
  • Before OT and between OT halves
  • Injury: only the injured player's team may sub

Tied at full time

  1. 2-min break. The OT clock starts when it ends, even if teams are late.
  2. OT first half, 5 min. Home chooses who kicks off.
  3. 1–2 min break
  4. OT second half, 5 min. Both halves are played in full: no golden goal.
  5. Still tied: kicks from the mark

Kicks from the mark

  • Home chooses which goal and who shoots first.
  • Best of 5. Only the 7 players on the field at the end of the 2nd OT period may take those 5 kicks.
  • Sudden death if still tied: the remaining 2 players, then the bench, then back through the rotation.
  • GKs may be changed. The GK keeps at least one foot on the goal line until the kick.
  • Single shot. No rebounds, no second touches.
  • Waiting shooters stay in the center circle. Coaches may be on the field.

After the game

  • Confirm the final score with both coaches before leaving.
  • The winning team enters the score and PK results on MatchTrak right away, on the field.

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