Question Number: 22632

Law 7 - Match Duration 12/10/2009

RE: Under 8

Filipe Sarmento of Tarpon Springs, FL United States of America asks...

How long are the periods.

Answer provided by Referee Tom Stagliano

Referee Sarmento

Under the FIFA Laws, the length of the match and the number of substitutes and their ability to reenter the game, is up to the local league for all soccer at the U16 level and younger.

First let me note that there are:
Elementary Schools, Middle Schools and High Schools for a reason. Even at the elementary school level the kids may be divided by K-2 and 3-5. All of this is because the children learn differently as a function of age.

Similarly, the youth soccer leagues must provide different programs as a function of the player's age. In my area (Eastern Massachusetts), the concept of won/loss records and knock-out tournaments is Not used for U10 and younger.

At the kindergarten level, the kids merely are given a ball and told to kick-it around, and there is some adult supervision.

In 1st grade and 2nd grade (U7 and U8) we have lots of instruction, and informal 3v3 and 4v4 games (cones instead of goals and no goalies) and the kids play four 10 minute periods, with a brief stop mid-way in each period to make certain subs occur.

At the U9 and U10 levels, we have them play 6v6 (small fields, small goals and a goalie) and they play 12 minute quarters at U9 (in-town soccer) and then 30 minute halves at U10 (travel soccer).

They then advance to U12 (now 2 year age groups) and play 8v8 with off-side infractions called, and 30 minute halves.

Finally, they advance to full field and 11v11 soccer at the U14 age group (7th and 8th graders) and play 35 minute halves.
At U16 they play 40 min halves and finally at U18 they play 45 minute halves.

However, the numbers in our town vary widely by age. In 1st grade through 4th grade, almost 90% of the kids play soccer. By the high school ages, the number has dwindled to 15%.

So, let them Play and have fun. At the 7 year old level, a 45 minute skill session followed by 40 minutes of playing soccer is more than enough. If they want more, they can grab a ball, get some friends and head over to the nearest play ground (by themselves, no adults) and play to their hearts content...

NOTE: In my town, we have No Referees on the U8 and younger games (the coaches Instruct). At the U9 and older we start them with referees. All U9 referees are 14 or 15 year olds. They may see an adult referee when they reach U10 and older, depending upon their skill level.

All the best
- Stag

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As you are a referee, you must know where to find this information. Ask whoever assigned you to the game to give you the local rules summary.

In my area, U8 games are played 5v5 (including keeper) with 25 minute halves. Thus we are at a slight variance from the USYS recommendations. But it works for us. This is also where referees get their first taste of the game. Due to state labor laws, a youth under age 14 must be supervised when working sports games. The lone referee at U8 does not have a supervisor, so those under age 14 are limited to working as AR's in U12 games. Even new adult referees must spend some time in the U8's before they move up to older ages. It eases the new referees into the game.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Although each league sets times for youth play, two common times for U8 are 20 minutes halves (AYSO) and 24 minute halves (USYSA).

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Not to pick nits, but USYSA technically plays 12 minute quarters not 24 minute halves which is what we did here locally for years before switching to 25 minute halves.