Number of Players: Cross Association U11/U12 teams compete with 9-A-Side; eight field players and one goalkeeper. 

Minimum Number of Players to Start a Game: 7 per team. Coaches are encouraged, but not required, to play-down when the opposing team is playing short without jeopardizing the minimum playing time for each player.

Positioning: The formation (excluding the goalkeeper and starting with the defenders) is a 3-3-2.  3 Backs (left/right), 3 Midfielders,  2 Wingers (left/right).

Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper may use his hands anywhere inside the penalty area. The goalie may then throw or punt the ball to a teammate. While the Goalie in 9-A-Side is not restricted to the normal 6-second possession rule, please encourage him/her to distribute the ball quickly and not run east/west looking for an outlet.

Playing Time: Each players should play half of each game.

Game Length: Each game is divided into 2 halves, each lasting 30 minutes. There is a 5 minute halftime.

Ball size: Size 4

Throw Ins: Throw Ins are taken when the opposing team kicks the ball across one of the sidelines. The player taking the throw 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 over the defending teams endline.

Changes-The ball is in play once the kick is taken; it can be played before leaving the penalty area.

Opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

Corner Kicks: Corner kicks are taken when the ball crosses the end-line, and is last touched by a member of the defending team.

Fouls: Fouls such as handballs, tripping and pushing will occasionally occur, usually unintentionally. If an obvious foul occurs (at the discretion of the referee) then a direct free kick will be awarded.

Law  11 Off-side: A player is in an offside position if he/she is closer to the opponents goal than any opposing player (excluding the goalkeeper) at the moment the ball is played forward by a member of his/her team. A player can only be in an offside position in the offensive half of the field, and must be behind the defender and closer to the goal in order for the offside call to be made. Even (side-by-side) with the defender is NOT offside. A player is not offside during a throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick. A player not involved, in any way, in the play may not be called for offside at the referees discretion. If offside is called the result is an in-direct free kick for the opposing team from where the player was in the offside position.

Penalty Kicks: Penalty kicks will be awarded on obvious fouls and intentional handballs in the box that prevent a goal from being scored. They will be taken by a member of the fouled team from the penalty mark with a goalkeeper on the goal line. All other players must remain outside of the penalty area until the kick has been taken.

At age group divisions U11 and younger- Whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped.  The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the ball with his or her head.  If deliberate, 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.
 
It is essential that all referees who are assigned U11 and younger matches understand that per the change in the rules of the competitions play must be stopped any time the ball strikes the head.  This is NON-NEGOTIABLE AND MUST BE ENFORCED.

Jewelry: Pierced earrings must be removed; taping over earrings is NOT permitted, earrings must be removed. • Any jewelry of any kind is not allowed. Medical alert jewelry is to be allowed so long as it is taped securely to the player. Any religious jewelry is allowed so long as noted to the referee and secured in a safe manner to the referee’s satisfaction.

 Thank you for helping to keep our young players safe.