Goalkeeper Punts
Official AYSO Rules State:
1. For 8U to 10U, the goalkeeper shall not punt nor drop kick the ball.
2. An indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the spot of the offense if a goalkeeper for 8U to 10U deliberately punts the ball during a match.
3. An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team inside the opposing team’s goal area must be taken on the goal area line at the point nearest to where the goalkeeper punted the ball.
For Middleville AYSO this means that only 12U & 14U goalkeepers are allowed to punt/drop kick the ball.
Heading the Ball
Official AYSO Rules State:
1. Consistent with the US Soccer mandates on heading the ball, heading is banned for all division players 12U and below in both practices and matches. Heading for players in 14U is limited to a maximum of thirty (30) minutes per week with no more than 15-20 headers, per player. There is no restriction on heading in matches.
2. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team if a player age 10 or younger, deliberately touches the ball with his/her head during a match.
a. The indirect free kick is to be taken from the place where the player touched the ball with their head.
b. An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team inside the opposing team’s goal area, must be taken on the goal area line at the point nearest to where the player touched the ball with their head.
3. Neither cautions nor send-offs shall be issued for persistent infringement or denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity related to the heading infractions.
For Middleville AYSO this means that only 14U players may head the ball. All forms of heading for 8U, 10U, and 12U are banned during all AYSO activities.
Throw-ins
Official AYSO Rules State:
1. For 6U, the throw-in is replaced with the pass-in. Opposing players must be at least two yards from the ball until it is kicked.
2. For 8U, each Region shall have the discretion to use either throw-ins or pass-ins to restart play.
3. Training of throw-in technique may begin at 8U and up.
Middleville AYSO will use throw-ins for 8U and above.
Build-out Line 10U
Official AYSO Rules State:
1. The build-out line shall be placed across the field equidistant between the top of the penalty area and the halfway line.
2. The opposing team must move behind the build-out line for a goal kick or when the goalkeeper has possession.
3. The goalkeeper or the player taking the goal kick or distributing the ball from the goal area, does not have to wait for the opposing players to move behind the build-out line to put the ball into play. When the ball is put into play from the goalkeeper or from the goal kick, it may be played on either side of the build-out line. After the ball is put into play, the opposing team may cross the build-out line and play may resume as normal. Law 16 is not altered or modified. The ball is in play from a goal kick after the ball is kicked and leaves the penalty area.
4. The build-out line shall be used as the line to determine offside. Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build-out line.
Middleville AYSO will utilize the build-out line for both 10U.