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Utah Youth Soccer Association
U9 and U10 X-League Policies and Procedures
Revised May 2008
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UYSA Background
The Utah Youth Soccer Association (UYSA) is the only organization in Utah that offers playing opportunities to youth players of all ages, playing abilities, and levels of commitment. The organization's mission is to offer a diverse range of soccer services to meet the needs of every child in the state, regardless of the child's background or financial means.
U-9 and U-10 X-League Overview
The U-9 and U-10 X-League continues to be one of the fastest growing programs within Utah Youth Soccer, experiencing consistent growth from the inaugural 2004-05 season. As the program continues to grow and develop, the 2008-09 season will offer Regional Divisions of play; culminating with a season-ending jamboree for participating teams.
Regional Divisions:
North - Districts 4, 6, and 7
Metro - Districts 1, 2, and 3
South - Districts 5 and Southern Utah
The X-League will be under the direction of the X-League Chair and the Developmental Committee. Regional Divisions will consist of a Regional Director and a Sub-Committee. Under the direction of the X-League Chair, the Regional Directors and Sub-Committees will be responsible for the X-League registration, alignment, and scheduling in their respective areas.
U-9 and U-10 X-League Philosophy
The U-9 and U-10 X-League is a state-wide soccer program for those players in the U-9 and U-10 age group. The U-9 and U-10 X-League was created to build a developmental bridge that helps to connect both recreation and competitive soccer programs. The foundation of the U-9 and U-10 X-League is to foster an environment for those ambitious and advanced players who aspire to a higher-level of play. In addition, the U-9 and U-10 X-League is focused on augmenting player development through quality and organized play - in a fun, challenging, and rewarding soccer environment.
U-9 and U-10 X-League Player and Team Eligibility
No player in the U-7 or younger age group is eligible to participate, and may not be registered to play in the U-9 X-League. No player may be registered to a team that competes in an age group more than one year older than the player's age group. The actual age of the player shall determine the play-up, not the age division the player is registered in.
Any individual (coach, player, parent/guardian, and others) altering or falsifying of records, documents, player passes or in any other matter or manner, may result in both the disqualifications of the player from further UYSA play, as well as, forfeiture of all games by the team on which the player played. In addition, it shall be grounds for immediate suspension from further UYSA participation and membership in UYSA, or any league, team, or club pending a hearing.
Players U-10 and under may not be registered, nor play on more than one team sponsored by UYSA at the same time (i.e., a recreation and competition team).
The X-League does not allow the use of the Developmental Pass.
Team registrations must include the X-League Pre-Alignment Form to be considered. Any registration received without the X-League Pre-Alignment Form will be immediately returned, and will not be considered until completed.
All registered teams must play in their respective gender.
U-9 and U-10 X-League Coaches Qualifications and Certification
Every coach that coaches in the U-9 and U-10 X-League must sign the UYSA "Code of Coaching Ethics" form.
All individuals coaching in the U-9 and U-10 X-League will have on record at the UYSA State Office a minimum of a valid USSF "E" License (Note: effective 2008-09 season). The UYSA State Office will maintain on the UYSA website an updated list of coaches and their license-level. It is the responsibility of the League/District Registrar to note the license-level of the coach of any team entering the U-9 and U-10 X-League. The registrar must verify the coach's license by viewing the license or by checking the state list of coach's licenses. If the coach does not have the required license or waiver, the Registrar will return to the coach the roster and all accompanying documents for that team and will notify the District Competition Director/District Chairperson (the District will decide who is to be notified) of the deficiency and that UYSA representative will follow through to assist the team in obtaining a coach with a valid license.
A waiver can only be issued to a coach with an UYSA Youth Module Level I or II. Exceptions to this will be handled on an individual basis by the District Board and with final approval by the State Technical Director. A request for an extension of an expired waiver must follow the same process.
A coach that has been granted a license waiver may function as a head coach or an assistant coach for one playing year. After the waiver period expires, that individual may not function as a head coach or as an assistant coach for any team until he/she reaches the proper license-level.
If any games are played with an unlicensed coach coaching, said coach will be brought up on disciplinary charges.
If an individual is listed as the Head Coach on more than (1) team in the U10 X-League, each team must have an assistant coach with the required License-level or (1) year waiver.
The coaching waiver is good for the duration of one UYSA playing year. The definition of that period is February 1 through January 31; and July 1 through June 30.
If a waiver request is initially submitted to the District after the season play, the waiver will be dated as if received at the start of the next season.
U-9 and U-10 X-League Playing Rules
Law 1 - The Field of Play
Dimensions: The field of play must be rectangular. The Length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line.
U-9 Division
Length: Minimum 50 yards - maximum 60 yards
Width: Minimum 35 yards - maximum 45 yards
Ideal: 45 x 60 Field
U-10 Division
Length: Minimum 70 yards - maximum 80 yards
Width: Minimum 45 yards - maximum 55 yards
Ideal: 55 x 80 Field
Field Markings: Distinctive lines not more than (5) inches wide. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The center mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of eight (8) yards is marked around it.
The Goal area: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
The Penalty Area: A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, fourteen (14) yards from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of fourteen (14) yards and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area. Within each penalty area a penalty mark is made ten (10) yards from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a radius of eight (8) yards from each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.
Flagposts: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
The Corner Arc: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
Goals: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA with exception that the maximum distance between the posts is twenty-one (21) feet and the maximum distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is seven (7) feet.
U-9 Division
Ideal: 6 x 18 Goal
U-10 Division
Ideal: 7 x 21 Goal
Note: The above field dimensions and marking are guidelines and are to be used as such. Fields will inevitably vary across the state.
Law 2 - The Ball: Size four (4).
Law 3 - The Number of Players: A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than six (U-9 division) and eight (U-10 division) players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. Maximum roster size is 10 (U-9 division) and 14 (U-10 division); minimum to register is 8 (U-9 division) and 10 (U-10 division).
Substitutions: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA with the exception of unlimited substitution.
Law 4 - The Players Equipment: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA. Non-uniform clothing is allowed based on weather conditions, but uniforms must still distinguish teams.
Law 5 - The Referee: Registered referee. Referees are paid on the field.
U-9 Division
The U-9 division will have one registered center referee and two club linesmen. Each team is responsible to provide one volunteer to assist the center referee by running the lines. Note: the club linesmen are responsible to only call when the ball is out-of-play for a throw-in, corner, or goal kick - they are not call offsides.
U-10 Division
Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
Law 6 - The Assistant Referee: Use registered assistant referees or club linesmen. Referees are paid on the field.
Law 7 - The Duration of the Match: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA with the exception of the match being divided into two (2) halves of twenty-five (25) minutes each. There shall be a half-time interval of five (5) minutes.
Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA with the exception that opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least eight (8) yards from the ball until it is in play.
Law 9 - The Ball In and Out of Play: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
Law 10 - The Method of Scoring: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
Law 11 - Offside: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
Law 13 - Free Kicks: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA with the exception that opponents are at least eight (8) yards from the ball.
Law 14 - The Penalty Kick: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA with the exceptions that the penalty mark is at ten yards and that players other than the kicker and defending goalkeeper are at least eight (8) yards from the penalty mark.
Law 15 - The Throw-In: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
Law 16 - The Goal Kick: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA.
Law 17 - The Corner Kick: Conform to US Soccer/FIFA with the exception that opponents remain at least eight (8) yards away from the ball until it is in play.
U-9 and U-10 X-League Standings
Teams will be awarded points for games in the U-9 and U-10 X-League:
- 3 points for a win
- 1 point for a tie
- 0 points for a loss
A goal differential will be used for all U-9 and U-10 X-League games (goals scored minus goals allowed to a maximum differential of 4 goals per game will be reflected in the standings).
U-9 and U-10 X-League Policies and Procedures
The X-League will be under the direction of the X-League Chair and the Developmental Committee. Regional Divisions will consist of a Regional Director and a Sub-Committee. Under the direction of the X-League Chair, the Regional Directors and Sub-Committees will be responsible for the X-League registration, alignment, and scheduling in their respective areas.
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