The purpose of this is to introduce the soccer rules to the players and parents of our team. We are the Vipers,  part of the U10 Boys division of the American Youth Soccer Organization section 2, area A, region 45 soccer league. Here is a summary of the soccer rules to insure a safe, fair and fun soccer experience both in practice and during matches

It is important to warm up before each practice or game. Generally this will include 

• soccer running - forward, backward and side ways at different speeds: jog, run and sprint.

• jumping - in the air, jump of left foot, right foot and both feet

• balance - practice standing on one leg while holding the other foot behind the body

• stretching - reach for the sky then bend your waist to either side. Alternately practice keeping your feet firm on the ground while rotating your arms around the waist from side to side

• strength - push ups, stomach crunches, sit ups

We shall practice for about 60 minutes starting 4:45pm once a week (usually every Thursday at Springer). Practice will be cancelled either by prior notice or if it starts to rain. 
During practice the coaches will start with a warm up and introduce one or more soccer techniques. Time permitting this will be followed by a scrimmage.

1. Imparting positive and encouraging instructions to help enforce rules of soccer
2. Making sure the information and waiver forms are available during practice and games
3. Planning who plays in each position for each of the 4 quarters and prepare the game card (lineup form) for the referees
4. Helping in setup and removal of playing equipment - nets, flags etc.
5. Never playing an injured player - help parent in administering first aid. Keep first aid kit handy
6. Ensuring safety of players and officials on the field

In order to do this, the coaches, in consultation with the divisional coordinator and regional commissioner, reserve the right to terminate the participation of any player if the conduct of the player and/or the parent is found detrimental to the team. The coach will also be the final authority to decide which player plays in which position and for how long.

1. Make sure you fill out the information and waiver form. Please keep the coach informed of any changes
2. Please make sure your child comes on time both for practices and matches wearing the proper gear. 
3. If for any reason your child cannot  come for a practice or a game please inform one of the coaches immediately.
4. At this age we would like to encourage children to enjoy playing soccer as a team. Please encourage your child to play in the spirit of the game - avoid mocking, passing comments or taunting another player or another team
5. There is zero tolerance for foul language in the league.  Players (or coaches) will be cautioned or sent-off.  Spectators will be warned or dismissed from the field. Good sportsmanship is very important. Winning at any cost is not a message we support. We therefore encourage parents to talk to their children about the importance of reporting bad language or behavior to the coach instead of retaliating in a similar manner. 
6. No coaching from the sideline, you are however welcome to appreciate a good play or encourage the team
7. For the safety of all, coaches and spectators must stand at least 1 yard from the touchline and 10 yards from the center line. Spectators may spread out but no one is allowed behind the goal or nearer to the goal than the penalty area (within 18 yards of the goal line) on either side of the field. Coaches and referees are asked to enforce this condition.
8. No smoking or alcoholic beverages are allowed at games or practices
9. Take turns in getting bottled water and refreshments (preferably sliced oranges) on Saturday for the players. Please ask for the sign up sheet

is the ultimate authority during the game. 
The Center referee's  chief responsibilities are 

1. to make the game as safe, fair and fun for the players, officials and spectators as possible. 
2. to enforce the rules of the game by calling offenses (fouls) - know when to stop play and how to restart it. The referee will blow the whistle to stop play and indicate how to restart it - but he is not obligated to specify the reasons for his decision.
3. to act as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match. 
4. to stop, suspend, restart or terminate the match, at his discretion, for any infringement of the Laws or because of outside interference of any kind stops the match if, in his opinion, a player has been seriously injured. If a player is only slightly hurt and is in no danger, the match should not be stopped until the ball is out of play. 

Assistant referee (linesman) 

Goalkeeper 

Defender

Halfbacks (Midfielder]

The Halfback (or Midfielder) switches positions from defense to offense and vice versa. He plays the center of the field, behind the strikers, and is usually the most active player on the field and key to maintaining team continuity. Throw-ins and corner kicks are taken by the halfback.

The Forward's primary responsibility is to score, and also assists the halfback in shifting play from defense to offense

Size of field

Penalty area

Penalty mark/arc

Goal area

Center circle

Kickoffs are taken by kicking the ball forward  from the center circle. No defensive player may enter the circle until the ball is kicked.
Radius of center circle is 9.15m (10yd)

Corner arc

Corner kicks taken by placing the ball from within the 1m corner arc closest to where the ball left the field. No player may be 10 yards or closer to the ball until it is kicked.
Flag posts with flag may be 1.5m (10yd) high

Who starts the game?

Before the game starts, the referee will ask the captain of the 'visiting' team to call the coin toss. If he wins he chooses which side of the field it wants to attack. Losing team gets to kick off.
The second half is started by the team that did not kick the ball at the start of the game.

Game length

50 minutes, consisting of two halves (each of 25 minutes) with a half-time interval of 5 minutes. Each half consists of 2 quarters of roughly 12.5 minutes with a 2 minute water break. No player may leave the field during a quarter break unless they are substituted out for the next quarter.

Allowance time

Allowance for time lost through substitution, the treatment of injured players, time wasting or other cause may be made at the discretion of the referee

Number of players 

Minimum 5 players are required per side to play a game. Maximum 10 players on the field per team, usually in a 3-3-3-1 formation (3 forwards, 3 half-backs, 3 defense and 1 goal keeper). We encourage each player to play for at least 3/4 of each game. The coach will make sub-teams and play them in rotation to ensure everyone gets a chance to play.  

Soccer ball

The size-4 ball should be inflated to a reasonable pressure (gives about 1/4" when pressed with the thumbs)

Fouls

Laws exist to ensure the game is played in safe, fair and fun way, and that should be the message to your children. Soccer is a contact sport and the trick is to determine how much contact is appropriate for the age and sex of players. At this age, almost all violations of the rules are inadvertent, so "penalties" are assessed to "make it fair" to a team which has been hurt by some action, not to "punish" the offender
Often the referee signal "advantage" or will say, "No foul - keeping playing" to indicate that the incident was noted but not deemed to be a foul

Stoppage of play 

Generally, soccer laws require that referees stop the game when something has happened which is unfair or unsafe. Important elements of the Law to be familiar with include Ball In and Out of Play, Fouls, Misconduct and Offside

Drop ball 

To restart the match after a temporary suspension of play for any reason for which no other specific restart is specified (example: if the referee stops play for injury, outside interference), the referee restarts play by dropping the ball from waist high at the place where it was when play was suspended. The ball must touch the ground before any player can kick it

Kickoff

The Kickoff is used to start the game, the second half, each half of extra time and also to resume play after each goal. A kickoff is taken from the center circle by kicking the ball in a forward direction. All players are in their own half of the field. The opponents of the team not taking the kick-off should remain outside the center circle until the ball is in play

Throw in

After the ball has completely crossed the side boundary lines - called touchlines - a throw in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball. The throw in is taken from where the ball left the field (or up to 1m away] and must be thrown in facing the field  with two hands from behind and over the head, while both feet are on the ground  and both feet are on or behind the touchline. Throw ins are indirect, therefore a goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in. The thrower cannot touch the ball until another player touches it. One touch is allowed before offside can be called.

Corner kick

Corner Kick is taken by the attacking team each time the ball is kicked by the defense over its own goal line. The ball is placed within the three-foot arc in the corner of the field (nearest to where the ball went out of play) and kicked into play by the attacking team. Defenders must be at least 10 yards from the ball. One touch is allowed on a corner kick before offside can be called. Corner kicks are direct kicks and a goal can be scored without another player touching the ball.

Goal kick

Goal Kick is taken, usually by a defender, of the defending team each time the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by an attacking player. The ball may be placed anywhere inside the goal area (often on the box itself). The ball is not considered back in play until it has been kicked out of the penalty area. Opponents must be outside the penalty area. One touch is allowed on a goal kick before offside can be called. Goal kicks are direct therefore a goal can be scored without another player touching the ball.

Handling the ball

Only the goal keeper is allowed to deliberately touch the ball with his hands, and that too only in his penalty area. All other players who deliberately handle the ball commit a  foul. Hand includes 'arm to shoulder'. The game restarts with an direct free kick from the point of infraction.
Reflexive self-defensive actions are OK, deliberate handling is not! In other words, if the ball plays the hand it is OK, but the hand cannot play the ball.

Penalty kick

If any of the flagrant fouls resulting in direct free kick are committed inside  the players own goal area  then a penalty kick is awarded to the opposing team. Everyone except the kicker and the goalkeeper must be outside the penalty area, and at least 9.15m (10yd) from the penalty mark until the ball is kicked. The ball must be placed on the penalty mark and the kicker must wait for the referee's whistle before kicking the ball forward. The goalkeeper may not move forward until the ball is kicked. Players may enter the penalty area and/or kick the ball in case it rebounds into play.

Direct free kick

A direct free kick, does not need to be touched by another player, and is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits the following 'major' offenses deemed careless, reckless and using excessive force

• handles the ball (outside own goal area)
• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• pushes, jumps or charges an opponent
• in attempting to get possession of a ball, he tackles an opponent making contact with the opponent before touching the ball. Remember hitting the player before you hit the ball is a foul, but the converse is not always true. Even if you hit the ball before you hit the opponent it may still be deemed a major foul if it careless, reckless or uses excessive force.

The kick is taken from the point of infringement and all opponents must be at least 9.15m (10 yd) away from the ball

Back pass

If a player kicks  the ball deliberately  and in a controlled  manner then the goalkeeper may not touch the ball with his hands. This rule prevents unfair advantage to the defending team or undue delay of play. The foul is deemed on the goalkeeper and the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick. If the infraction was within the goal area then the kick is taken in a straight line out from the goal area.

Offside

Law 11 is one of the most disputed and maligned laws of soccer. To understand the offside foul, let us look at offside in 2 parts: position and participation.
A player is deemed to be an offside 'position' if he is in the opponent's half of the field, does not have possession of the ball and he is nearer to the goal line than the second-to-last defender, at the time the ball is touched or passed by his team mate. Merely being in an offside position is not a foul, what is needed in addition is the element of participation. In the opinion of the referee, the player must also be involved actively in the play, in obstructing an opponent involved in the play or benefit from being in that position.
Standing in that position is not an offense in itself. Participating in the play while in an offside position is a foul since it gives undue advantage to the player. The other team is awarded an indirect free kick from the position where the offending attacker was when the ball was passed.
The offside rule does not apply to restarts, after the ball is outside the field of play example: goal kick, throw-in and corner kick. It also does not apply if the ball was last touched by the opponent

Indirect free kick

An indirect free kick, must be touched by another player before a goal can be scored. It is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits the following tactical, rather than flagrant, offenses

• takes more than 6 seconds before releasing the ball into play
• touches the ball with his hands if it is deliberately kicked back to him by his own team member in a controlled manner
• touches the ball again with his hands after he has released it to play and it has not been touched by another player.

In addition, here are the most common reasons the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick if an opponent

• prevents the goal keeper from releasing the ball from his hands
• impedes the progress of an opponent
• plays in a dangerous manner

Yellow and Red misconduct cards

At this stage the referee will work with the coach to discipline an errant player. A referee may also warn a player to improve his conduct (or unsporting behavior) before a citation is issued. The referee also has the authority to suspend or terminate play because of misconduct or interference on the part of coaches or spectators

At U12 and above, a red card is shown for a fragrant foul and results in the immediate dismissal of the offender for the rest of the game. In addition the offender is suspended for the entire next game and the team plays with one player short.

At U12 and above, a yellow card is a warning. However a second yellow card (in the same or different game) is equivalent to a red card.

Injured players

Substitutions

Between 3 and 7 named players can be used as substitutes during a game. In the interest of equal playing time, substitutions can only be made after play is stopped at end of each quarter or if a player is injured. In AYSO45, no player may play 3 quarters until all others have played 2; also no player may play 4 quarters until all others have played 3. The exception to this rule is if a player is injured or the coach is keep the player out of the game due to disciplinary action.

Scoring a goal

A goal is scored when the entire ball passes entirely over the entire goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been just committed by the attacking team. The referee will indicate this by pointing to the center circle - that's where play restarts.
It is important to note that a goal can be scored on a direct play from any position in the field. A self goal (also called 'own-goal') is awarded to the opposing team if the ball passes over the goal line after one of the defensive players has last touched it.

As a matter of interest here is the rule for a knockout match: if the score is tied after regulation time (allowing for additional injury time) then both team play 2 more extra sessions of 15 minutes each with the 'golden goal' rule in force. This means the first team to score in extra time wins the match and the game is terminated immediately. The winner of the coin toss will decide which side of the field to attack, while the other team will take the kick off. If there is no score during the 30 minute extra time, then 5 members of each team are selected for a penalty kick shoot out. Each team is responsible for selecting players to take the kick (and the order in which to kick) from among the players left on the field when play was last stopped. The referee tosses a coin and the side winning the toss takes the first kick. Players from both teams alternate taking kicks. Only the kicker and the opposing goal keeper can be in the penalty area, everyone else excepting the goal keeper of the kicking side, must be in the center circle. The goal keeper of the kicking side must stand in the goal line just outside the penalty box. The score is decided when all 5 players complete their kicks. If the score is tied at this stage then the kickoffs continue with the 'golden goal' rule in force. No player may kick twice till all eligible players have first had a chance.

Advantage: Referee indicates with his hands that though a foul has been committed the advantage rule applies and play can continue to the advantage of the team possessing the ball 

Card: Referee holds up a yellow or red card above his head to indicate caution or expulsion 

Corner kick: Center referee points to the corner from where the kick has to be taken 

Corner kick: Assistant indicates with his flag held downward at 45° to the corner of the field nearest him

Direct free kick: Center referee indicates with his hands the direction (and therefore the team) the free kick is to be taken 

Indirect free kick: Center referee indicates the direction of play then holds his hand above his head until the indirect free kick is taken and the ball is touched by another player 

Goal kick: Center referee indicates with his hands the side of the goal from where the goal kick may be taken (either by the goal keeper or any player) 

Goal kick: Assistant referee indicates with his flag held parallel to the ground

Substitution: Assistant referee indicates by holding his flag above his head with both his hands that a substitution needs to be made 

Throw in: Assistant referee points his flag upward at 45° to the direction (and therefore the team) in which the throw in has to be taken.  

Penalty kick: Center referee indicates with his hand the spot from where the penalty kick is to be taken.  

Offside: Assistant referee indicates to the referee with his flag above his head that an offside foul has been committed. Once he gets the center referees attention he indicates the position of the offside 

Offside location: Assistant referee indicates the location of the offside foul. If on far side of the field then flag is held above the head, if in the center of the field then flag is held in the mid position, if on the close side of the field then the flag is held pointing downward. 

Acknowledgements

This website uses information from AYSO referee's handbook & AYSO45 website.
Thanks also to Beau James for his valuable feedback