NorCal Premier Rules Summary This rules summary is provided to the referees as a service. These are not the official rules of the competition. NO warranty is made that this summary is up to date.
Match Cards.
Provided by Home Team. Use Away Team if Home Team does not have. No card - coaches create one on piece of paper. (File Incident report) All player names must be printed on the match card or written by the referee. Player names in strikethrough font cannot play.
After match, print your name and both coaches sign.. Take photo of match card. Retain the photo till one month after the end of the season. Signed match card is returned to the home team.
Protests regarding players or player passes must be written on the match card before or after the match.
Adult name(s) need not be printed on game card. If Adult name not listed on game card, write it in.
Field set up
Home club chooses format.: Not the referee's responsibility to inform or enforce.
Player Passes
A physical (laminated or unlaminated) or an electronic USClub Player Pass. An electronic pass is visible when logged on to the GotSport system. Screenshots of a pass are not acceptable. NO PASS = NO PLAY
Referee should check that the:
- Pass is Current
- Lists the correct club.
- The picture is of the player.
- The player is not too old.
Complete Player pass and match card information can be found at Participant Verification Information
Adults
Maximum of 3 adults permitted in technical area. A minimum of 1 credentialed adult must be in the technical area. Credentialed adult hs physical pass or show an electronic pass. If the last credentialed adult is sent off - abandon the match. File an incident report. Link below
If the adult name has a strikethrough and the adult claims that they are permitted to be present, allow them to be present File an incident report. Link below.
Player Counts
7v7 Minimum 5 players to start or continue. Maximum 14 players on roster
9v9 Minimum 6 players to start or continue. Maximum 16 players on roster
11v11 Minimum 7 players to start or continue. Maximum 18 players on roster
Participant Behavior
The competition rules prohibit Coaches, Players and Spectators to approach or engage with the referee regarding calls. This is before, during or after the game. Warn violations. Caution repeated violations.
Referee Crew
Use Club lines. Ask away team first for club line. Under no circumstances use 2 person - 2 whistle system.
Health Care Professional
A player with a suspected concussion will leave the match and cannot return unless cleared by a health care professional. The health care professional must be presented to the referee BEFORE the match.
Orthopedic Supports
Hard casts, air splints, metal splints - forbidden.
Soft casts okay - if deemed safe.
Braces okay - if deemed safe
Age Modifications
U08-U10 Build Out Line
U08-U11 No heading
U08-U12 PK at 10 yds. FK at 8 yds
Deliberate Heading
In U11 matches and younger, deliberate head to ball contact is to be whistled. Award an IFK for the opponents.
Match Length
FALL ....................................... S...........SUMMER
U08-U10 : 2 - 25 minute halves 7v7............ U08-U09 : 2 - 25 minute halves 7v7
U11-U12 : 2 - 30 minute halves 9v9............ U10-U11 : 2 - 30 minute halves 9v9
U13 ......... 2 - 35 minute halves 11v11 ............ U12-U13 : 2 - 35 minute halves 11v11
U14-U16 : 2 - 40 minute halves ........... U14-U16 : 2 - 40 minute halves
U17-U19 : 2 - 45 minute halves ............ U17-U19 : 2 - 45 minute halves
Half Time
U08-U10 5 minutes
U11-U19 10 minutes per rules of competition. To keep matches on time shave to 7 minutes
Late Start
Can start up to 15 minutes late. Reduce each half by the same amount to keep the match end time the same. i.e. if match starts 10 minutes late, shorten each half by 5 minutes. Tell the coaches that you are shortening the halves before the match starts. If you shorten the halves, submit an Incident report. Link is below.
IFAB "Only Captains"
Youth leagues are not adopting the IFAB requirements for captain armbands and the "only captains" mechanic. Posted July 22, 2025
Other
Home Team changes jersey colors if there is a conflict
Ball size U12 and below Size 4. U13 and above Size 5
Referees are advised to discourage gamesmanship, "time-wasting", or excessive substitutions.
Send offs
Do not confiscate the pass. Leave the pass with the team. You will need the coach's / player's ID number from the pass. (Take a picture.) Within 24 hours go to NorCal Premier Referee Reporting and fill out a send off report. You will need the GotSport match number. Sent off youth should remain in technical area under supervision of coach or in spectator area under supervision of parents. Sent off coach cannot remain in technical area and cannot further participate. Do not force coach to leave "sight and sound".
Incident Reports
Head injury? Pitchinvasion? Questionable player eligibility"? Abandoned or teminated match?
Referee Reports
Websites
Summary table
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