Ref Cheat Sheet

A quick reference guide for officiating CCSL Rec and Travel Games

U8

• 4v4
• Side 3 ball
• 4 quarters, 12 min ea
• No offsides
• No slide tackling
• No heading
• No score-keeping

U10

• 7v7
• Size 4 ball
• 25 min halves
• Buildout lines
• When a goal kick occurs and when the goalie has possession of the ball, the opposing team must be behind the buildout line
• Offsides from the buildout line to the goalline
• Video tutorial: https://www.ncsl-soccer.com/u9-10-build-out-lines-explained
• No punting
• No heading
• Intentional, indirect free kick
• Unintentional, indirect free kick
• No slide tackling, direct free kick

U12

• 9v9
• Size 4 ball
• 30 minute halves
• No heading- indirect free kick
• No slide tackling- direct free kick
• Offsides

U13-U16

• 11v11
• Size 5 ball
• 40 minutes halves
• Heading is permitted
• Slide tackling is permitted
• Offsides

Mercy Rule for Rec Games

• When a team is losing a game by four (4) goals, it must add one (1) additional player. 
• When a team is losing a game by five (5) goals, it must add another additional player.
• When a team is losing a game by six (6) goals, it must add another additional player. [See clarification below]                                                           
• The maximum player advantage is three (3) players in U10.
• The maximum player advantage is two (2) players in U12. 
• The maximum player advantage is one (1) players in U13-16.     

If the losing side narrows the score, they must remove a player accordingly.

If the losing side does not have remaining players on the bench to add to the game, the winning side must choose between removing a player or providing a player to the losing side. If the losing side narrows the score, the winning side retains their player. 

NCSL Travel Cheat Sheet

• Check-in is still required! Referees must still check team rosters and player cards before all NCSL games. Teams may present physical or electronic player cards and a printed USYS state-approved roster.
• Unlimited club pass allowed. Teams can use unlimited club pass players each game as long as they are travel players within the same club, age-eligible, and don't exceed roster limits.
• Recreational players/cards are NOT allowed. Only players with USYS travel player cards may play in NCSL games.
• Blue game cards are NOT required. We recommend that each team use its USYS state-approved roster and player cards to check in. Teams must have a physical roster available; however, they have the option of showing physical or electronic player cards. The referee must collect the team rosters either physically or by taking a picture for their records.
• Captain badges are NOT required. Teams are not required to designate a captain, and if they do, the captain is not required to wear an identifying armband.
• Referees must enter game reports. Referees must enter game reports on the NCSL website. Click here for instructions on how to enter game reports.
• Referees Communication Devices. Referees are permitted to use communication devices during NCSL games.
• Game Length & Ball Size (unlimited substitutions)
• U9-11 | 30min halves, 1 referee | Size 4 ball
• U12 | 35min halves, 1-3 referees (ARs are NOT required at U12) | Size 4 ball
• U13 | 35min halves, 3 referees | Size 5 ball
• U14 | 35min halves, 3 referees | Size 5 ball
• U15-16 | 40min halves, 3 referees | Size 5 ball
• U17-19 | 45min halves, 3 referees | Size 5 ball