Question Number: 14816

League Specific 2/8/2007

RE: Middle School Team Under 18

Greg Brown of Milledgeville, Ga USA asks...

Is there an official requirement to have a certain number of girls on the field if the team is coed. If so is it based on percentage of girls on the roster or a set number of girls on the field. What if the opposing team is not coed?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Depends on the league policy. FIFA Laws of the Game does not address this.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Greg. In Georgia recreational soccer, and I believe select also, all "boys" teams are actually co-ed because girls are allowed to play on boys teams. There is no requirement to play any or all girls on a "co-ed" team. You list your age group as U18 middle school which is impossible unless you have some really old middle schoolers!! If you're inquiring about middle school, they are not under the auspices of GYSA and you will have to contact the Georgia High SChool Association and check with them.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

In Hawaii 5 Women was the minimum number. If less than 5 the team could not add a man. This was USSF amateur and probably a league thing.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Another rule I've heard of is that if a female was playing keeper, only a female from the other team could score. Most true coed soccer, with a large fraction of both genders on all teams, is locally based. You have to check your local operating rules and/or bylaws.

As with GA, in MI most boys teams are officially coed, even if there's only 1 or 2 girls on 1 or 2 teams in the league. One thing that gets for you, the teams older than U16 can avail themselves of the modifications allowed for youth and women - things like liberal substitutions.