Region 14 West Torrance Fall 2025 8U Game Guidance
- The emphasis on the 8U game is for the kids to have fun, make friends and develop a love of the game. Please keep this in mind on game days. Keep the atmosphere positive!
- There will not be a referee. It is up to home team to provide a referee. It is strongly recommended that whoever decides to referee games take the “8U Official – Full Online Course” in AYSOU.
- Games will be 7v7 (or 6v6 if both teams have 8 players or less) with goal keepers.
- Game balls are size 3.
- Scores are not kept.
- Each half will be 20 minutes, with a stoppage about halfway thru each half for substitutions and water.
- Everyone Plays is a core philosophy of AYSO. Every player must play at least ¾ of the game. This means that every players must sit at least one “quarter” before any player can sit for a second “quarter.”
- Substitutions are only allowed in case of injury, at the “quarter break” or at halftime.
- All foul calls and handling offenses result in an indirect free kick. There are no direct free kicks.
- There are no penalty kicks. Any offenses called inside the penalty area results in an indirect free kick from the top of the penalty area closest to the spot of the offense.
- All opposing players must remain at least 8 yards away from the ball on an indirect free kick or corner kick.
- Goal keepers are allowed to use their hands in the penalty area but cannot punt or drop kick. They cannot bounce the ball to then kick it as a way to circumvent this rule. Goal keepers can throw the ball, roll the ball, or place the ball at their feet and dribble.
- No offside offenses will be called.
- A ball that crosses the touch line will result in a throw in. Opposing players must remain at least 2 yards away.
- A ball that crosses the goal line (that isn’t a goal) will result in a goal kick or corner kick.
- On goal keeper possession and goal kicks, the opposing players must move behind the build out line.
- Please respect the informal mercy rule. If a team is up 5-6 goals, consider putting stronger players at defense or goal keeper or ask players to make several passes before scoring.
- Be kind to each other. All of the 8U community will have parents and coaches doing the very best they can to double as referees. There should be no abuse of any kind directed toward those volunteers wonderful enough to step onto the pitch and officiate these games. Lets set a good example for the kids and let them go out there and have fun playing the beautiful game without any kind of negativity.