Michigan

1

Soccer

Training Guide

• Team Competition• 11-A-Side

• 7-A-Side

• 5-A-Side

• Individual Skills Contest

• Unified Team Competition• 11-A-Side

• 7-A-Side

• 5-A-Side

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Events Offered

Federation Rules

Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

FIFA rules employed except when in conflict with the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules for Football (Soccer)

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Uniforms

Uniform consists of jersey or shirt, shorts or sweat pants, stockings with shin guards, and shoes

Jerseys/shirts numbered on the front with 4 inch numbers and on the back with 6 inch numbers

Shin guards must be completely covered by stockings and made of a plastic hard foam material.

Rubber sole cleats… NO METAL CLEATS!

Jewelry is prohibited… NO DENIM!

Goal keeper shall wear colors which distinguish him/her from other players and referees

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Uniforms cont’d

All team uniforms must have the Special Olympics Logo adorned somewhere on the jersey. Logos may be placed on the front, back or sleeve and may be located on the top or bottom of the uniform and should be visible. Logos may be screen printed or embroidered or may be part of a patch or sticker.

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General Rules

Coaches are not allowed around the perimeter of the field. Must stay in the coaches box.

All balls over the side line shall result in a throw-in for all levels

Any ball off of the defense and over the end line shall result in a corner kick for the offense at all levels

Any athlete with Down Syndrome competing in soccer must have an x-ray indicating that he/she does not have Atlantoaxial Instability prior to participation

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11 A-side

Two 25 minute halves, 5 minutes for half-time

Field size is 50 yards x 70 yards

• Goal size is 8 feet x 24 feet

• Max roster of 16 players; minimum of 12

• Any ball off of the offense and over the end line will result in a goalie throw-in

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7 A-side

Two 17 minute halves, 5 minutes for half-time

Off-sides will not be called

Field size Max is 70m x 50m Min is 50m x 35m

Minimum roster size is 8 players, max is 12

A ball off of the offense over the endline will result in a goalie throw-in

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5 A-side

Two 15 minute halves, 5 minutes for half-time

Off-sides will not be called

Field size Max is 50m x 35m Min. is 40m x 30m

Minimum roster size is 6 players, max is 10 players

A ball off of the offense over the endline will result in a goalie throw-in

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Unified Competition

Minimum of 12 players, max of 15

Equal number of traditional athletes and Unified partners

Adult non-playing head coach responsible for the line-up and conduct of the team

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Individual Skills Contest

Lower ability athletes

Events: Dribbling

Shooting

Run & Kick

Each event is performed twice and the total score from the two rounds is added together to give the final score

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Major Fouls

Results in a direct free kick or penalty kick

Kicking

Tripping

Jumping

Charging

Striking

Holding

Pushing

Directing or stopping the ball using hands or arms12 Special Olympics Michigan

Types of Kicks

Free Kick How a game is restarted after a penalty

Direct Free Kick

Indirect Free Kick

Penalty Kick A direct free kick awarded for a foul occurring in the penalty area.

Kick In

Corner Kick When the defending team kicks the ball over its own end line, the opposing team

restarts the game.

Goal Kick A free kick awarded the goalie of the offense was the last to contact the ball before

passing over the goal line.

Soccer Terms

Control: What a player tries to achieve when the ball comes to him/her

Dribbling: A player who is running with the ball

Kickoff: How the game is started

Offside: An infraction of the rules in which an offensive player does not have at least two defensemen between him/her and the goal line when the ball is played forward

Goal Area: The rectangular area, 20 yards wide by 6 yards deep, in front of each goal from which all goal kicks are taken

Penalty Area: The area marked out in front of the goal within which the goalkeeper can use his/her hands

Screening: A technique where a controlling player keeps his/her body between the ball and a marking opponent

Tackle: To take the ball away from a dribbler using the feet

Trapping: To receive the ball in a controlled manner with any part of the body except hands or arms

Volley: Kicking the ball in or out of midair