U8 Clinic Instructions / Rule Clarifications
Seeking to be at County level by end of the season (not the beginning)
20 minute halves first 2 weeks – then 25 minute halves
Goal: Enable the players to learn the game and be near or at county level at the END of the season
| Throw-ins |
| First two weeks: first ball in – no matter how the ball gets tossed in - we play. |
| Second two weeks: if first throw-in is mostly incorrect,ref blows whistle, quick demonstration of proper technique and then playing – no matter how ball gets in play - we play. |
| Third two weeks: if first throw-in is mostly incorrect,ref blows whistle, asks for a redo, turnover if mostly incorrect. |
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| Corner Kicks |
| Refs identify player to take kick and instruct players. |
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| Goalie kicks - taken from the top of the penalty box |
| Refs identify player to take kick and instruct players. |
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| Note to coaches, don’t coach Corner and Goalie kick strategy at practice till later in season, will have a much more productive training after kids see what is happening on field. |
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| As season progresses, coaches/teams become more familiar and refs have to step in less (but still often). |
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| Handling |
| Refs are to be very lenient in calls. Coaches are to ask parents to refrain from yelling “HANDS”. |
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| Off-sides |
| Refs will call cherry-picking. |
Otherwise, will not call if players are “running with the ball”. Refs will tighten up calls from 5 yards or so to even as season moves along.
| Substitutions | | Substitution windows are every 5 minutes (20 min halves) or every 7-8 minutes (25 minute halves). | Have all subs enter the game. For example, if you have 14 players, sub all 7 players together. Refrain from subbing at other times or only 1-2 players at a time, as this will slow the game down. An injured player can be subbed at any time.
If a goalie is using gloves, they must have them fully on prior to entering the game. Switching gloves should not occur on the field, thereby delaying the game.
| Coaches/Team Benches | | Coaches should remain on the sidelines at all times and not be coaching on the field. There is no coaching from behind the endline/next to the goal, by either a coach or a parent. | | Team benches should be on opposite sides of the field. All parents should be on the same side as their child's team bench. |
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