SFYS City Rules Summary This rules summary is provided to the referees as a service. These are not the official rules of the competition. NO warranty is made that this summary is up to date.
League - Weather Hot Line / Game Day Hot Line
Questions? Talk to field marshal first. No field marshal? Call 415-794-2974
Player Passes
ALL Players must be pictured on a "Game Day Photo Roster"
Guest Players must be on printed "Game Day Roster".
NO handwritten players.
Adults
Only 2 coaches in the Technical Area ("Coaches' Box"). Adults must be pictured on the game day roster. Guest coach okay IF they have a pictured game day roster from the match date. Cannot use an old roster.
Player Counts
2nd (U08) & 3rd Grade (U10) - 7v7 - Minimum 5 Maximum 13
4th (U11) & 5th (U12) Grade - 9v9 - Minimum 7 Maximum 15
6th-8th Grade - U15 - 9v9 - Minimum 7 Maximum 18
Referee Crew
>> One USSF Referee and two volunteer assistant referees (STAR or club lines)
>> Games that start late must be shortened equally in each half to end on time.
>> No coach? no passes? no team? - do not wait more than 5 minutes.
>> Running late? - check passes at half time.
>> Greet STARs.
>> Referees are encouraged to explain infractions.
>> You must have a W9 form on file with Pensra or SFYS
Match Reports
Submit match reports online at the Pensra website Must logon
>> No report = no pay
>> Report rainouts. You are paid if the game started. Otherwise no pay.
>> Report possible forfeits. You are paid. You do not declare a forfeit or the winner - leave that to the league!
>> Record/report the names and team affiliation of the STAR referees.
Blow Out Rule
Gently remind - do not enforce.
Coaches are requested to reduce the number of their players when the goal differential is +4
Remind coaches that they can lose a point for winning by 5 or more goals.
Age specific
Legal slide tackling is permitted at all ages
PK and DFK all ages.
Offside enforced all ages.
Age specific 2nd & 3rd Grade
DFK at 8 yards
PK at 8 yards
One re-throw on throw-ins at referee disretion. Referess instruct the players.
Buildout line
Deliberate Heading
No deliberate heading
... 2nd - 5th Grade - U08-U13. Infractions are an IFK.
Match Length
2nd Grade - U09 - 4 x 10 minute quarters (1 minute between 1st & 2nd and 3rd & 4th) (5 minutes between 2nd and 3rd)
3rd Grade - U10 - 4 X 12 minute quarters (1 minute between 1st & 2nd and 3rd & 4th) (5 minutes between 2nd and 3rd)
4th Grade - U11 - 2 X 30 minute
5th Grade - U12 - 2 X 30 minute
6th-8th Grade - U15 - 2 X 35 minute
Substitutions
2nd Grade - U09 - At 10 minutes, half time and for injured player.
3rd Grade - U10 - At 12 minutes, half time and for injured player
4th-8th Grade - U11 thru U15 - Unlimited substitutions at any stoppage with referee permission
Do NOT add time for time lost for substitutions.
Half Time
5 minute half time at all levels.
IFAB "Only Captains"
Youth leagues are not adopting the IFAB requirements for captain armbands and the "only captains" mechanic. Posted July 22, 2025
Send offs
Click here for procedure.
Other
2nd - 5th Grade - U09-U12 - Size 4
Playoffs
- Each half reduced by 5 minutes
- If tied - straight to KFTPM
- KFTPM for 7v7 is best of 3 then sudden death - from 8 yds.
- KFTPM for 9v9 is best of 3 then sudden death- from 10 yds
- KFPTM for 11v11 is best of 5 then sudden death.
- Only 10 minutes allotted for KFTPM - keep it moving!
- No guest players
Playoff Rules 2024 - check which tab you are on
Websites
General Information (Pay)
Referee Resources
Become a Ref
How to get games
Multi tabbed -Rules Fall 2024
| 
