Laws of the Game

AYSO matches shall be conducted in accordance with the current IFAB Laws of the Game (LOTG) and decisions of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and the US Soccer Player Development Initiatives. Some flexibility in these rules may be allowed for other forms of match play with the approval of the Area Director and Section Director. Region 459's specific guidelines are put in place to maximize player development.

Law Updates and Clarifications

The following series of videos and clarifications briefly explain any recent updates to the Laws of the Game and/or contain helpful tips on what referees should be looking for.

Referees should be familiar with the 2019/2020 FIFA Law changes to:
Law 8 (Dropped ball procedure)
Law 9 (Ball hits the Referee)
Law 12 (Handling)
Law 14 (Goalkeeper position on a PK)
Law 16 (Goal kick procedure).

Law 1 The Field of Play

Law 2 The Ball

Law 3 The Players

Law 4 The Players Equipment

Law 5 The Referee
PROPER CENTER REFEREE SIGNALS

TEAM OFFICIALS CAN NOW BE SHOWN CARDS FOR MISCONDUCT

Law 6 Other Match Officials
PROPER ASSISTANT REFEREE SIGNALS

Law 7 Duration of the Match

Law 8 Start and Restart of Play
DROPPED BALL RESTARTS (NEW FOR 2019)
There are no longer any contested dropped ball restarts. The ball will be dropped to a single player on the team that last had possession before play was stopped, unless, the ball was in the penalty area in which case it is always dropped to the goalkeeper. All other players (of both teams) must remain at least 4.5 yds from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it touches the ground. A goal cannot be scored from a dropped ball until it touches at least two other players.

Law 9 Ball in and Out of Play
BALL HITS A MATCH OFFICIAL (NEW FOR 2019)
Contrary to what we've been taught in the past, IFAB has determined that the referee is no longer part of the field. Play is restarted with a dropped ball if it touches a match official and any of the following occur:

1.) A team starts a promising attack
2.) The ball goes directly into the goal or
3.) The team in possession of the ball changes

Law 10 Determining the Outcome of a Match

Law 11 Offside (Part 1)

Law 11 Offside (Part 2)

Law 11 Offside (Part 3)

Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct
CLARIFICATION ON HANDLING (New for 2021)

For the purposes of determining handball offenses, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.

It is an offense if a player:

Deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm towards the ball
Scores in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
After the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental, immediately scores in the opponents’ goal
Touches the ball with their hand/arm when:
1. the hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger
2. the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level

*Accidental handball by a team-mate before a goal is scored and accidental handball creating a goal-scoring opportunity have been removed as offenses.

Except for the above offenses, It is not an offense if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:

Directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot)
Directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close
If the hand/arm is close to the body and does not make the body unnaturally bigger
When a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body

Law 13 Free Kicks

Law 14 Penalty Kick
GOALKEEPER POSITIONING (NEW FOR 2019)
Goalkeepers only need to have one foot on or above the goal line when defending a penalty kick.

Law 15 Throw-In

Law 16 Goal Kick
GOAL KICK PROCEDURE (NEW FOR 2019)
The ball does NOT need to leave the penalty area to be in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves. Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

Law 17 Corner Kick

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