junior division rules

*Updated 1/12/2026

All US Youth Soccer rules and regulations are in effect, except where noted

• Player Eligibility: Juniors are for 2nd and 3rd grade children.
  • lower grade players may be allowed if their skills are sufficient to avoid creating a safety concern for themselves or other players. These players will be asked to attend a skills assessment, and the Board will determine their division.
  • Higher-grade players are not allowed under any circumstances. This rule will be enforced by the Board through their team coaches and not by the game referee.
• Player Safety Hazards:
  • No jewelry of any kind is permitted.
  • Recently pierced earrings must be taped.
  • Hard casts are not permitted. Soft casts or bandages are allowed.
  • Hard hair clips are not allowed.
• Player Equipment:
  • Players must wear shin guards, socks, cleats, and team jerseys for all games. Socks must be covering shin guards completely.
  • Cleats must be for soccer, that is no cleat in the center front. No metal cleats/spikes.
  • Size four balls will be used.

In Game Rules

• Length of Game:
  • 55 minutes total played as two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime.
• Roster Substitutions:
  • There are no roster substitutions, unless discussed with the division coordinator and/or HBYS board prior.
  • Junior division will play between 7v7 and 8v8, depending on roster size and attendance.
  • If a team cannot field enough players, a minimum of six in the Junior division, that team will forfeit the game.
  • At that point, both teams can agree to play a scrimmage with an equal number of players on the field.
• In-Game Substitutions:
  • Scheduled substitutions will occur every 5-8 minutes, when an opportunity to substitute occurs in game play. (see below)
  • Unlimited substitutions are allowed (i.e. players can re-enter the game after being substituted for).
  • Substitutions can occur at these times:
    • after a goal kick is called for either team
    • after a goal by either team
    • after a throw-in is called for your team
    • at an injury time-out if the other team replaces a player (but you can only sub as many players as they do).
    • You cannot sub on corners, or free kicks.
    • Once a team possessing the ball calls for substitutes, the opposing team may substitute players only after the referee gives approval.
• Goalie Jerseys:
  • Goalies must have a different color shirt (pinnie, goalie vest, etc.)
• Throw ins:
  • Junior players will be given a 2nd chance for the first five weeks of play.
  • Following this introductory grace period, there will be no second chance on throw-ins.
• Penalties
  • Penalties include charging from behind, hand ball (touching it with hands or arms), holding, kicking, tripping, slide tackling, pushing, hitting, or charging an opponent, and kicking the ball while it's held by the goalkeeper. Breaking these rules means your opponent is awarded a free kick. All opponents must be 10 yards away from the ball before it is kicked. A free kick can be indirect or direct. An indirect kick is a kick that cannot be taken towards the goal, it must go to another player in the hope of setting up a goal. If a player scores directly from an indirect free kick, without another player touching the ball, the goal won't stand. A direct kick is where the kicker can score without first passing to another player. A free kick is taken where the penalty took place.
• Heading:
  • No purposeful heading of the ball of any kind is allowed for safety reasons.
• The Offside Rule
  • The basic concept is that a player must have at least one defender (not including the goalie) between him/her and the goal when the ball is played to him when he is on the opponent’s side gaining advantage.
  • If the referee calls an offside, the other team will gain possession of the ball with a free kick.

Any player noted to be violating the above rules purposefully will follow the same rules as red and yellow cards (see below).

• One-sided games, sportsmanship, 5-goal rule:
  • If a team is leading by 5 goals, that team must remove a player.
  • The player removed should be its’ best player.
  • For every goal above 5, another player must be removed. That player should also be one of the best players on the field.
  • If the team that is winning by 5 goals gives up a goal for the goal differential to become 4 goals, then that team may put back a player.
  • Coaches are reminded and encouraged to “manage” the score. Move players around, encourage more passing prior to taking shots, using opposite foot for shots, etc.
  • The removal of players should be handled on a discreet basis. Please remember that this is a recreational game for the enjoyment of the players.
• Yellow and Red Cards:
  • One yellow card will remove a player from the game for 5 minutes.
  • A second yellow card results in ejection from the game.
  • One red card is an ejection.
  • Card usage is at the discretion of the referee.
• Linesman:
  • Each team should supply one linesman.
  • That person is an official of the game and cannot coach from the sidelines.
  • A linesman should be older than the Junior division players.

Coach Responsibilities:

• • Coaches are to coach from their bench side of the field and not travel to the other teams’ side of the field.
  • Coaches must always remain off the field during the game, unless their player is injured and needs assistance.
  • Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their team, parents and supporters.
  • In the event that a parent is harassing a referee, the coach of that parent must counsel that parent immediately or have the parent face ejection from the field.
  • All coaches are required to sign codes of conduct and attend Rutgers SAFETY clinic.