PAYSA Game Play Rules and Tips for Success

U5/U6

Format: Small Field; All kids with Balls

Length: 45-60 minutes

Ball: Size 3

Focus: Keeping the kids moving, touching the ball and having fun!  Lots of smiles.

Tips for Success:

  • Have multiple drills lined up in your back pocket in case some don’t work.
  • Have FUN!  Be silly & goofy if you have to… find some good games that work.
  • Don’t hesitate to end a session early if the kids are just spent.
  • Check out the drills in the attached Seacoast U6 Guide by Paul Cameron.  My personal favorites are:
    • Traffic Control
    • Gladiators
    • Batman & Robin
    • Soda Fountain
    • Play “New Ball” with no boundaries, just coach throwing in a new ball when kids are about to go too far away or crowd round the ball too much.

U7

Format:  U8 Field with Small Goals; 5v5 no goalies; Coaches Referee the Game and Facilitate Play

Length: 20 minute halves with 5 minute halftime

Ball: Size 4

Focus: Learning the game & fundamentals

Rules:

  • Throw-ins, corner kicks, goals kicks are all allowed
  • Opposing team must retreat to the half field for goal kicks, but can attack once ball is in play
  • No penalty kicks
  • Indirect/direct kicks at coaches’ discretion
  • Switch sides during halftime
  • No offsides, but you can call egregious offsides if you think it’s a rules-based teaching opportunity.  Be consistent.
  • No castle guards.

Tips for Success:

  • Talk to the opposing coach before the game starts to get aligned on game approach
  • Kids are there to play, so get the games started promptly.
  • Have an asst coach to facilitate the substitutions.
  • If there is an opportunity to teach a rule during the game, feel free to do so.  Just do it quickly.
  • Coaches are empowered to make on-the-fly changes and decisions to maintain the integrity of the experience. 
  • Defenders should be encouraged to push up the field when the ball is in the opposition half.

Potential ‘Fun’ In-Game Modifications:

  • If you want to award a penalty kick for the fun of it, modify it to a half-field or ¾-field pass into the goal w/o keepers.
  • If the rosters are heavy, make it 6v6 on both sides to get everybody more playing time.
  • If you have spare time, extend the halves to longer than 20 minutes.
  • Avoid lopsided games beyond 3-0 or equivalent difference. Modifications to level the playing field include:
    • Moving around better players to non-offensive positions to limit scoring.
    • Asking dominant players to shoot only with their weaker foot, or the goals don’t count.
    • Adding a player to a weaker team
    • Taking a player off the stronger team.
    • Instituting 3-pass required rule on your team to reduce scoring.
    • Change up the sides to 5v6 or 5v7

U9

Format:  U10 Field with Small Goals; 6v6 with goalies; Coaches Referee the Game and Facilitate Play

Focus: Strategy & Fundamentals

Length: 20-minute halves with 5 minute halftime

Rules:

  • Throw-ins, corner kicks, goals kicks are all allowed
  • Opposing team must retreat to the half field for goal kicks, but can attack once ball is in play
  • Penalty Kicks are Allowed
  • Indirect/direct kicks are Allowed
  • Switch sides during halftime
  • No offsides.  No cherry picking either.

Tips for Success:

  • Talk to the opposing coach before the game starts to get aligned on game approach
  • Kids are there to play, so get the games started promptly.
  • Have an asst coach to facilitate the substitutions.
  • Know that these are new referees, in many cases former PAYSA players.  They need positive encouragement too. 
  • Defenders should be encouraged to push up the field when the ball is in the opposition half.

Potential ‘Fun’ In-Game Modifications:

  • If the rosters are heavy, make it 7v7 on both sides to get everybody more playing time.  These fields are big for U9, and can handle more kids.
  • If you have spare time, extend the halves to longer than 20 minutes.
  • Avoid lopsided games. Modifications to level the playing field include:
    • Moving around better players to non-offensive positions to limit scoring.
    • Asking dominant players to shoot only with their weaker foot, or the goals don’t count.
    • Adding a player to a weaker team
    • Taking a player off the stronger team.
    • Instituting 3-pass required rule on your team to reduce scoring.
    • Change up the sides to 5v6 or 5v7

U12

Format:  U12 Field with Small Goals; 9v9 with goalies; Referees

Focus: Strategy & Positioning

Ball: Size 4

Length: 30-minute halves with 5 minute halftime

Rules:

  • Throw-ins, corner kicks, goals kicks are all allowed
  • Opposing team must retreat to the half field for goal kicks, but can attack once ball is in play
  • Penalty Kicks are Allowed
  • Indirect/direct kicks are Allowed
  • Switch sides during halftime
  • Offsides are called.

Tips for Success:

  • Talk to the opposing coach before the game starts to get aligned on game approach
  • Kids are there to play, so get the games started promptly.
  • Have an asst coach to facilitate the substitutions.
  • Know that these are new referees, in many cases former PAYSA players.  They need positive encouragement too. 

Potential ‘Fun’ In-Game Modifications:

  • Avoid lopsided games. Modifications to level the playing field include:
    • Moving around better players to non-offensive positions to limit scoring.
    • Asking dominant players to shoot only with their weaker foot, or the goals don’t count.
    • Adding a player to a weaker team
    • Taking a player off the stronger team.
    • Instituting 3-pass required rule on your team to reduce scoring.
    • Change up the sides to 5v6 or 5v7
  • If the rosters are heavy, make it 10v10 on both sides to get everybody more playing time.  These fields are big and can handle more kids.
  • If you have spare time, extend the halves to longer than 30 minutes.