League Rules

The Judge Dowd Soccer League is an instructional youth soccer league. Our primary goals are player safety, participation, skill development, good sportsmanship, and providing a positive experience for young players.

Coaches, referees, parents, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with these goals. Winning is secondary to teaching the game and providing an enjoyable experience for every child.

• Player safety comes first.
• Equal participation and instruction are more important than winning.
• No slide tackles or dangerous high kicks.
• Referee decisions are final. No yelling at, arguing with, or criticizing referees.
• Coaches and spectators should keep instruction and cheering positive and appropriate for young children.
• Coaches should take appropriate steps to avoid running up the score.

Each team fields a maximum of six players, including one goalkeeper. Teams should equalize the number of players on the field if one team has fewer available players.

Pre-K: Eligible players must be enrolled in Pre-K and must be age 4 prior to the start of the season.

Pre-K divisions are composed of coed teams with an equal number of boys and girls to the extent possible.

Kindergarten Divisions: Eligible players must be enrolled in Pre-K or Kindergarten.

First Grade Divisions: Eligible players must be enrolled in Kindergarten or First Grade.

Team Rosters: Players must be listed on the approved team roster to participate in league games. Players may not play on multiple teams without approval from the League Commissioner. Supplemental rosters require advance approval from the Commissioner.

Slide tackles and dangerous high kicks are prohibited.

Referees should stop play whenever a slide tackle, high kick, or other action creates a safety concern, regardless of whether contact occurs.

Player safety should always take priority over continuation of play.

Coaches must have jerseys or scrimmage vests available in a color that contrasts with their team’s regular jersey in the event both teams have the same or similar colors.

Shinguards are mandatory for all players.

Players may not wear jewelry, a hard cast, or any other item that poses a risk to themselves or other players.

The official game ball is a Size 4 soccer ball.

Games consist of four 10-minute quarters, with two-minute breaks between quarters.

Pre-K coaches may mutually agree to play 8-minute quarters.

When extreme temperatures or heat-index conditions affect player safety, coaches may agree to shorten the quarters.

A coach may request a timeout for a water break at any time. Referees shall honor such requests immediately in the interest of player health and safety.

Coaches must make every reasonable effort to provide equal playing time for all players.

The Judge Dowd Soccer League is an instructional league, and providing every child with a meaningful opportunity to participate is an important league priority.

The Home Team provides the game ball and takes the kickoff to start the first and third quarters.

The Away Team selects the goal it will defend at the beginning of the game and takes the kickoff to start the second and fourth quarters.

Teams do not change ends at halftime.

When both teams have the same or similar jersey colors, the Away Team must change to a contrasting color or wear scrimmage vests.

Only the Head Coach and designated Assistant Coaches are permitted on the player sideline.

Each team may designate one coach to be on the field and another coach next to the team’s goal.

The goalkeeper coach should instruct players not to hang on the goal nets.

On-field coaches must be careful not to interfere with play and may not enter the penalty area.

Coaching and Communication

On-field coaches may provide instruction to their players, but instruction should always be calm, brief, positive, and supportive.

Sideline coaches and spectators are expected to follow the same standard.

Loud, constant, or disruptive yelling – whether intended as encouragement or instruction – is not permitted. Excessive yelling can overwhelm young players, cause confusion, and detract from the positive instructional environment of the league.

If a coach or spectator becomes excessively loud or disruptive, the referee may:

• Give a verbal reminder to lower the volume or modify the behavior.
• Stop play if the behavior continues and direct the individual to step back, quiet down, or leave the field if necessary.

Referees have full authority to enforce the League Rules during games.

Referee decisions are final and shall not be challenged, argued with, or criticized. This is a zero-tolerance rule and will be strictly enforced by the League Commissioner.

Coaches may respectfully ask a referee for clarification of a rule at an appropriate stoppage in play.

Coaches should not use such discussions to argue judgment calls.

Complaints, concerns, or compliments regarding officiating should be submitted to the League Commissioner through the Referee Evaluation form available on the league website.

The League recognizes that many of our referees are young people who are developing their officiating skills. Coaches and spectators are expected to treat them with patience, courtesy, and respect.

If a scheduled referee is absent, the on-field coaches will assume responsibility for officiating the game.

Unsportsmanlike conduct by a coach may result in suspension or expulsion from the league.

Unsportsmanlike conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Verbal abuse or disrespect directed toward a referee, player, coach, or spectator;
• Profanity or foul language;
• Arguing with or criticizing referees; and
• Continued or intentional violations of league rules or policies.

Head Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their Assistant Coaches, players, and spectators.

Players exhibiting unsportsmanlike, aggressive, disruptive, or unsafe behavior should be promptly corrected.

Examples include negative comments, hitting, kicking, spitting, repeated or intentional fouls, dangerous high kicks, slide tackles, or other conduct that could harm another player.

The player and coach should initially be warned. If the conduct continues, the player should be removed from the game and a substitution made.

Coaches are encouraged to temporarily remove a player exhibiting overly aggressive behavior to allow the child an opportunity to calm down before returning to play.

Serious or repeated misconduct may result in further disciplinary action by the League Commissioner.

The purpose of the Mercy Rule is to maintain competitive balance and ensure that games remain positive and enjoyable for all players.

• At a 4-goal differential, the trailing team may add one field player.
• If the trailing team does not have an additional player available, the leading team must remove one field player.
• At a 6-goal differential, the trailing team may add a second field player.
• If the trailing team does not have another player available, the leading team must remove a second field player.
• When the score differential is reduced to 2 goals, both teams return to their regular number of players.

In the spirit of good sportsmanship, a coach whose team has established a lead of more than four goals should take additional steps to avoid running up the score.

Appropriate measures include:

• Requiring a certain number of passes before attempting a shot;
• Restricting top scorers from shooting and encouraging them to pass to teammates;
• Giving other players opportunities to score;
• Moving stronger offensive players to defense or goalkeeper; and
• Requiring shots to be taken from outside the penalty area.

The Judge Dowd League uses midfield as the build-out line.

When the goalkeeper has possession of the ball or a goal kick is being taken, the opposing team must retreat behind midfield.

Opposing players may cross midfield once the goalkeeper releases the ball into play or the goal kick has been put into play.

The purpose of this rule is to give young players an opportunity to develop possession and passing skills rather than being immediately pressured near their own goal.

Unlimited substitutions are permitted whenever play has stopped and with the referee’s permission.

Coaches should make substitutions promptly to avoid unnecessary delays.

A player who makes an improper throw-in will be given a second attempt.

If the second attempt is also improper, play will continue in order to avoid unnecessary delays and to keep the game moving.

Opposing players must remain at least 5 yards from the sideline when a throw-in is taken.

The goalkeeper may release the ball by throwing or rolling it into play.

Punts and drop kicks are not permitted.

The goalkeeper should move toward the edge of the penalty area before releasing the ball.

The goalkeeper must wear a jersey or other clothing that clearly distinguishes the goalkeeper from the other players.

Offside should be called only for an obvious or flagrant violation.

Referees should not penalize young players for minor positioning errors.

An example of a flagrant violation would be an attacking player remaining approximately 10-15 yards beyond the defenders waiting to receive the ball.

There are no penalty kicks, indirect free kicks, or dropped balls.

All free kicks are direct kicks and are taken from the location of the foul.

If the foul occurs inside the penalty area, the free kick is taken from outside the penalty area.

Opposing players must remain at least 5 yards from the ball.

If play is stopped because of an injury or unusual situation, play will restart with a free kick from the location of the ball when play was stopped, awarded to the team that had possession when play was stopped.

Goal kicks are taken from the corner of the penalty area.

The opposing team must retreat behind midfield in accordance with the Build-Out Line rule.

Spectators must remain on the opposite side of the field from the players and coaches.

Spectators must remain at least 5 yards from the sideline and may not stand behind either goal.

Head Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team’s spectators and should make reasonable efforts to educate parents and spectators regarding appropriate sideline behavior.

Cheering should always be positive and supportive. Spectators should not coach players from the sideline, criticize players or coaches, or challenge referee decisions.

Additional guidance is contained in the League’s Codes of Conduct.

The League follows applicable CYC weather policies in determining whether games should be played, delayed, or canceled.

Weather- or field-related cancellations will be posted on the Judge Dowd Soccer League website under Game Day Status / Cancellations.

Coaches should contact the League Commissioner if they have concerns regarding field or weather conditions.

Coaches always retain discretion at game time to delay, shorten, or stop a game based upon actual weather or field conditions. Player safety and preservation of the playing fields are the highest priorities.

Canceled games are not automatically rescheduled.

A make-up game may be played if both coaches wish to reschedule. A coach interested in arranging a make-up game should contact the League Commissioner.

A coach who is unable to play a regularly scheduled game should notify the Commissioner as soon as possible.

The CYC Soccer Rulebook applies to matters not specifically addressed by these League Rules.

If a Judge Dowd Soccer League rule differs from or modifies a CYC rule, the Judge Dowd Soccer League rule will govern league games.

These League Rules are intended to adapt the game to the age, safety, and instructional needs of Judge Dowd Soccer League players.