Instructional environment to learn the game of soccer
To foster a sense of enjoyment of the game of soccer
Provide an enjoyable, competitive environment that exposes our kids to competition, thus allowing them to develop good sportsmanship and the proper degree of maturity with regard to wins, losses, the opposing players, the referees, coaches, and spectators.
The league is not an official legal entity, but rather an informal structure for the towns to coordinate play and have a common structure with other towns
General Rules
Field Setup Coaches, players, and spectators will be on the same sideline to keep town residents on the same side of the field. Teams are allowed 3 coaches maximum. Each team should have a marked designated box (10 yards long on either side of mid field) within which the coaches and players must remain.
Conduct Towards Referees Verbal (or physical) abuse of Referees will not be tolerated. Coaches and players should not argue calls with the referees. Coaches should keep discussions with the referees for halftime or end of game in a more private setting. No coach is allowed to walk onto the field (in an attempt to ‘talk’ to the referee) during the game. The referee shall issue a yellow card if she/he is approached by a coach walking onto the field during play. A second infraction will result in a red card, which requires ejection from the game. A coach using profanity will also receive a red card and automatic ejection. In addition, any player using profanity or other ugly displays shall be immediately red carded, requiring ejection. Substitution for this player is allowed.
Discipline A coach who receives a yellow or red card must appear in front of the NVSL Disciplinary Committee before coaching another game.
Rules of Play
Division 78
Players should be in 7th or 8th grade currently
Games are on regulation small-sided or large-sided fields depending on number of players
Boys Division = Boys & Girls / Girls Division = Girls only
Boys - Number of players – 9 players per side (8 + goalie)
Girls - Number of players – 9 players per side (8 + goalie)
If there are at least 13 players on each team, play 11 v 11 (10 + goalie) on large sided field
Teams can agree to play smaller numbers (and on small field) if necessary to facilitate the game being played
35 minute halves / #5 ball
Goalie can play whole game
Carded referees used for this age group $75 per team – cash or check to be paid to referees before game starts ($70 to the Center Ref, and $40 to each of the two Assistant Refs)
Division 56
Boys Division = Boys & Girls / Girls Division = Girls only
Players should be in 5th or 6th grade currently
Games are on regulation small-sided fields
Number of players – 9 players per side (8 + goalie)
30 minute halves / #4 ball
Goalie can play whole game
Intentional heading is not allowed. The result will be an indirect free kick. If a defender heads intentionally inside the penalty area, then there will be a corner kick awarded.
Carded center referee could be used for this age group
Division 34
Boys Division = Boys & Girls / Girls Division = Girls only
Players should be in 3rd or 4th grade currently
Games are on regulation small-sided fields
Number of players – 8 players per side (7 + goalie)
25 minute halves / #4 ball
Players shall be allowed a second throw-in (or do-over) in first throw is foul throw. In the event the second throw is a foul throw, the ball is turned over to the opponents
Intentional heading is not allowed. The result will be an indirect free kick. If a defender heads intentionally inside the penalty area, then there will be a corner kick awarded.
A build out line (signified with cones on sideline or drawn line halfway between the penalty area and the half line) will be used for goal kicks and goalie punts. Team without ball can cross breakout line once ball is played
Goalie can play the whole game, but recommended to play ½ game
Division 12
Boys Division = Boys & Girls
Girls Division = Girls only
Players should be in 1st or 2nd grade currently
Games are on adjusted small-sided fields (within one half of large-sided field)
Number of players – 7 players per side (6 + goalie)
No penalty kicks
20 minute halves / #3 ball
Offsides will not be called unless from goal hanging
Players shall be allowed a second throw-in (or do-over) in first throw is foul throw. In the event the second throw is a foul throw, the ball is turned over to the opponents
Intentional heading is not allowed. The result will be an indirect free kick. If a defender heads intentionally inside the penalty area, then there will be a corner kick awarded.
A build out line (signified with cones on sideline or drawn line halfway between the penalty area and the half line) will be used for goal kicks and goalie punts. Team without ball can cross breakout line once ball is played
Goalie can play the whole game, but recommended to play ½ game
Referee Assignments
For Div 12, Div 34 the home team is responsible for supplying and paying the referees
For Div 56 the home team is responsible for supplying 2 assistant referees. The Referee coordinator will supply the center referee
For Div 78, the NVSL Referee Coordinator will assign one carded adult referee as Center Referee (CR) and two carded youth referees as Assistant Referees (ARs)
Rules for all Divisions
If both teams have the same color shirts, the home team will switch to a different color shirt – pinnies are acceptable.
The goalie will wear a contrasting, different color shirt.
Goalie has unlimited steps within the penalty box but must release the ball within 6 seconds.
Goalies should be protected!! Once the goalie maintains controllable contact with the ball, the goalie and the ball shall be left alone. Attempts to kick the ball shall be considered dangerous play, the play whistled dead, and an indirect kick will be awarded to the goalie’s team taken from the top of the penalty box.
All games shall consist of 2 halves – not 4 quarters. The only exception will be in excessive heat if both coaches agree.
There is no overtime for regular season games. Games that end in a tie are left as a tie.
Substitutions can be made by a team on all stoppages of play at the referee discretion. If a team plays a stoppage immediately, then substitutions will not be made.
Players must wear shin guards, covered by socks, as well as rubber soccer or multi-purpose cleats (baseball cleats are not permitted) or sneakers.
All players shall have matching shirts, wear no jewelry or hard objects such as hard casts.
Very Important: In order to control scoring and promote fair play the following tactics shall be required of each coach during every game. Immediately following a goal which puts one team ahead of another by 4 goals, the losing team shall add 1 player to the field, and continue to play with on extra player. Upon a lead of 5 goals, they shall add a second player. If the goal advantage is reduced, the rule should be used in reverse to reduce players, 1 player per one goal such that at a 3 goal advantage, the number of players is even once again
3 goal lead – equal number of players on both teams
4 goal lead – losing team has one more player [new 2023]
5+ goal lead – losing team has two more players [new 2023]
Players and Team Rosters
Team Rosters must be submitted to the league
Teams are permitted to have players play up from the grade below.
A team playing short can use cross over players with full disclosure to the opposing team. A team can use cross over players up to a total of 3 substitutes
NVSL Playoff Rules
These are Playoff Rule Changes from Regular Season:
Goaltenders can play a whole game.
Players do not have to be taken off the field if score is large differential, but official scores will be reported with a 5 goal maximum, so do not run up the score. For example, a 7-1 final score is officially reported as 6-1.
Adding player(s) at 4+ goal lead is valid
A game tied at the end of regulation goes into two 5-minute sudden death overtimes.
If a game is tied after overtimes, there will be a 5-player shootout. Shooters and goaltenders in the shootout must be the players on the field at the end of overtime.
NO PLAYERS PLAYING UP OR ACROSS.
Any other questions refer to the NVSL rules and FIFA rules.
