Rules of Participation

All participants must read and adhere to these Rules.

Rule 1 OUTDOOR/FIELD

All competitions shall be governed by the Rules as stated herein in all cases where they are applicable.

Rule 2 FIELD OF PLAY

2.1 Dimensions

(a) The following specifications are applicable to all U8 and U9 competitions administered by Little League TT.

(b) The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line. The maximum length is 45 yards and the maximum width is 30 yards. Cones or flags should not be used as goals unless absolutely necessary.

2.2. Postponement

A game can be postponed if the weather is not suitable or the conditions pose danger to the health and wellbeing of the children. Light rain is not a reason for postponement. If a game is to be postponed the League Coordinator will re-schedule the game at a time suitable to both teams that does not clash with the schedule of games for the rest of the season.

2.3 Post-game Clean Up

All teams are responsible for the ensuring that the field looks the way it was met, which includes cleaning up any garbage and removing all equipment, cones, chairs or any other belongings from the field.

2.4 Game Duration and Ball Size

U8: Four 12-minute quarters with a 5-minute halftime break; a size 3 ball will be used.
U9: Two 25-minute periods with a 5-minute halftime break; a size four (4) ball will be used.

2.5 Number of Players

Teams are permitted to have a maximum of 8 players on their roster and 4 players on the field at any time. There will be no goalkeepers and teams must not position a stationary defender in front the goal to try to prevent the opposing team from scoring.

2.6 Substitutions

Substitutions may be made, with consent of the referee, when the ball is dead, out of the play or when a player is injured.
Each player must be given the opportunity to play at least 40% of the time of the game and substitutions must not be made to improve the score, but as a means of giving every player a chance to develop their game.
Players not on the field must remain (6) feet behind the touchline and at no time should any player, coach, parent or spectator stand behind the goals.
The coach/parents must ensure that a player leaves the field of play if he/she is bleeding and not return to play unless open wounds are covered appropriately and bleeding is stopped or interrupted (in the case of smaller cuts). The ball must be dead or out of play if/when the player returns to play.

2.7 Player’s Equipment

All players must wear shin guards and socks that cover the entire shin guard. Shin guards must be the appropriate size to fit and stay secure on the player’s leg and cover a large part of their shin bone.
A player is not permitted to wear jewellery or anything that can harm him/herself or another player.
All players must wear a uniform that identifies them as part of a team. If all players do not have a uniform, best effort must be made to ensure they are dressed in the same colours as their teammates. Bibs must be worn if it is not possible to easily identify a team by the colours they are wearing and/or if the opposing team has similar colours.
Football cleats must be worn by every player. No metal studs are allowed. At no time should a player play bare feet.
No caps or hats are permitted as part of a uniform.
Players with known medical conditions or injury, which can be contagious or aggravated by playing should not be allowed to play in any regular scheduled practice or game.
Prosthetic Devices require a physicians permission before a player may play and it must state the player needs to wear the device in order to play. Even then, such devices must pose no danger to other players on the field. The referee’s judgment shall be the final determining factor.

2.8 Officiating

A parent/coach from each team should be designated at least 30 minutes before the game to officiate.
The designated referees will alternate every quarter.
The designated parent/coach must adhere to the Little League TT Code of Conduct for staff and parents and make every effort to ensure the game is played fairly and run smoothly.

2.9 Coaching

The coach or designated adult should attend every game. All coaches, team managers, and assistants must comply with all Risk Management requirements.
The coach should communicate all of the rules, regulations and expectations of the league with players and parents well before the game.
Coaching from the sidelines is not permitted unless absolutely necessary to help a player integrate better into the game.
If games are being played at academy fields, coaches are responsible for providing game balls that are the appropriate size, quality and inflated properly.
The coach must ensure that all players are properly equipped, attired and emotionally ready to play before a game.
The coach must ensure that all players with injuries before, during or after the game are properly attended to and a follow up call is made to their parents in the evening.
In the event an injured player requires medical attention, he/she must have a written release from the doctor before returning to practice or play with the team.

2.11 Field Boundaries

Coaches, players and spectators from each team should be on opposite sides of the field to those from the opposing team. Teams will switch sides of play every quarter.

Rule 3 THE RULES OF PLAY

3.1 Start of Play

A coin will be tossed to decided on which team will start with the ball at the beginning of the game. Every quarter the first touch on the ball will be given to the team who was not first to touch the ball in the previous quarter.
The referee will place the ball in the centre of the field and a player from the team awarded the first touch will put the ball into play by kicking it to another player on their team.
The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player. Punishment: For any infraction of these laws the kickoff shall be retaken.
A goal shall not be scored directly from a kickoff without the ball being touched by at least one other player on either team.

3.2 Restart of Play

After a goal is scored, the referee will return the ball to the centre of the field and the team that did not score the goal will restart the game from the centre.
After a temporary suspension of the game due to an injury or any unusual situation, iif there was a team in clear possession of the ball before the game was suspended, that team will restart the game from the centre of the field. If there was not a clear team in possession, the ball will be dropped by the referee in the centre of the field and the ball shall be deemed “in play” when it has touched the ground.

3.3 Ball in and out of Play

The ball is out of play when the whole ball has cross the boundary lines of the field, whether in the ground or the air.
The ball is out of play when the referee calls for a suspension of the game.

3.4 Method of Scoring

(a) A goal is scored when the entire ball has crossed over the goal line and between and under the goal posts.

3.5 Offside Rule

(a) There will be no offside rule, however the referee will be allowed to suspend play, award the ball to the other team or ask a player to move to a different part of the field if they are seen lingering behind opponents defenders and close to their opponents goal. Players are being taught to play fairly and to the rules so it is important that coaches and players not take advantage of the lack of an offside rule.

3.6 Fouls and Misconduct

Play should stop if/when a player acts in a careless, reckless, or dangerous manner. The incident should be explained.
The player will be removed from play and a substitution made if they are unable to visibly adjust their behaviour or control their emotions.
The referee will roll the ball to the team with the player who was fouled, in the area the foul occurred. The player must be given a chance to control the ball before the opposing team tries to retrieve it.

3.7 Roll ins

A parent/coach will be designated to roll a new ball back into play whenever the entire ball crosses the boundaries of the field.
The ball will be rolled from the spot on the boundary where the ball went out of play and it will be rolled, at an appropriate speed, to a player from the team that did not lose the ball last.
Players on the opposing team must give the player with the first touch a chance to control the ball before trying to retrieve it.

3.8 Goal Kicks

(a) There will be no goal kicks at U8 games. When the ball goes out of play over the goal line, a new ball will be rolled in. The ball must not be rolled anywhere within 6 years of the goal.

3.9 Corner Kicks

(a) There will be no corner kicks at U8 games.

3.10 Miscellaneous Rules

(a) All players, coaches, parents and spectators must adhere to the Code of Conduct for Little League TT and all their actions and decisions should be governed by fair play, good judgement and sportsmanship.

(b) Coaches, staff, parents or spectators are not allowed on the field of play during the game unless permission is given by the referee (in case of emergencies or unusual situations).

(d) Heading the ball is not allowed under any circumstance.
(e) Slide tackling is not allowed.