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3 a-side games

U5 & U6: 3-A-Side Rules

CONCEPT: FC Richmond plays small-sided games at this age to encourage each player to have more touches on the ball, involvement, and enjoyment in the game. Over the long term this approach enhances the individual development for each of our players. Coaches are encouraged to emphasize dribbling into 
attacking spaces as much as possible.
 
PLAYERS: Each team will have no more than 6 players per roster and will compete in a 3 vs 3 game format.
 
GAME LENGTH: Each game is divided into four quarters, 8 minutes in length. There is a 2-minute rest period between quarters and 5 minutes at halftime.
 
FIELD DIMENSIONS: The field is approximately 15 yards wide by 20 yards long
 
GOAL SIZE: 6 feet wide by 4 feet tall
 
BALL SIZE: #3
 
GOAL-KEEPERS: There are no goal-keepers for this age group
 
POSITIONING: Positions for this age group are challenging for such young players to understand as each player wants the ball and goes wherever necessary to get it. Teach players that they should all attack (look to go forward by dribbling and shooting) when their team is in possession and defend (get between the player with the ball and the goal) when their team is not in possession of the ball are the key concepts. 
   
PLAYING TIME: Each player should play at least 50% (2 quarters) of each game.
 
SUBSTITUTIONS: Substitutions should be made only between quarters unless a player has been injured. The reason we don’t sub within the 8-minute quarter is because as players tire out towards the end of the quarter, space begins to open up, and a real soccer game begins to happen! This is where the real learning starts. This rule also helps coaches manage 50% playing time for each player.
 
THROW INS: Throw Ins are taken when the opposing team kicks the ball across one of the touchlines (sidelines). The player taking the throw in must keep both feet on the ground when the ball is thrown and both hands must deliver the ball from behind and over his/her head in a continuous forward motion.
 
GOAL KICKS: Goal kicks are taken when the opposing team kicks the ball across the defending teams end-line. The opposing team must stand behind the halfway line while the kick is taken. The other players position themselves between the ball and the opponents so that they can be first to the ball.
 
CORNER KICKS: Corner kicks are taken by the attacking team when the ball crosses the end-line and is last touched by a member on the defending team.
 
FOULS: Fouls such as handballs, tripping and pushing will occasionally occur, most times unintentionally. If an obvious foul occurs (at the discretion of the referee) then an indirect free kick will be awarded. Opposing players must stand 5 yards away from where the free kick takes place. There are no penalty kicks in this age group.
 
OFF-SIDE: There is no offside calls in this age group.
 
HEADING: There is no heading for U11 and younger. If the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped.  The proper restart is an indirect free kick to the opposing team.  If this occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.  If the play by the head is deemed inadvertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.
 
REFEREES: Referees are often FC Richmond Youth Travel Soccer Players (Magic/Mystx). They have been instructed to teach the game of soccer to the younger children as they officiate. They may let some children throw the ball in two or three times in order to teach the proper technique. Coaches should remain on the sidelines opposite the parents, manage substitutions at the end of each quarter and give praise. Please understand that these are youth referees who are learning to manage the games. They 
will make mistakes just as you and your players will. Please be patient as they continue to learn and grow through these valuable leadership opportunities.