Fall 2026

GVSA Rules - SECTION C PLAYERS, REGISTRATION, TRAVEL

8. Club Passcarding may be used as a developmental tool for players within a club to play up on an Elite team within their club or on a U15 Boys team in the Fall and Girls Team in the Spring, or U7 and U8 4v4 teams based on the following terms: 

a. Players must play up from a lower division or age group team up to two age groups. (see special rules for U7 and U8 below)Players U15 and older may passcard up in any age group through U19. 

b. Only 3 Club Passcard Players are allowed to play on an Elite Division Team, a U15 boys Fall or a U15 Girls Spring. Only 2 Club Passcard players are allowed at U7 and U8 4v4 teams.

c. Roster limits must be met for each game. 

d. Players with dual registration may not passcard.

e. Passcard players must use their player card from their primary team in order to play. They will not be issued a second card. 

f. Passcard players must be written in on the game sheet.

g. If a Club has 2 teams in the same Elite or U15 division, players may not passcard between teams.

h. U6-U8 aged players may passcard between 4v4 teams in their age group as outlined below.  

• U8 players may not passcard to U7 teams.
• U7 may passcard to a U8 team but not U9.
• U6 players may only passcard between U7 teams.

The answer to all these questions MUST BE YES to passcard players onto your team.  If in doubt, have your Club Administration contact the GVSA Administrator.

• Is the team having the passcard players an GVSA Elite Division team or a Fall Boys U15, Spring Girls U15 team, or a U7 or U8 4v4 team?
• Do the players have GVSA issued pass cards and are the pass cards present? (Note that a Premier or DA pass card is not the same as a GVSA pass card and may not be substituted for a GVSA pass card.)
• The following questions all apply to the principle of passcarding backwards in competition which is not allowed:
• Are the passcard players in the same age group or up to 2 age groups younger? U15 and older may pass cards up to any age group.  (Note a player rostered on a higher age group than their birth age may not passcard down to their age-appropriate team. This does not apply to 4v4 passcarding)
• Are the passcard players from a lower division GVSA team?  I.e. a Division 1-5 or an Elite team that is a younger age group?  (Note ONLY the U7 and U8 4v4 teams allow players to passcard between teams in the same age group as outlined.)
• Is the player rostered to a GVSA team?  MSPSP or players from other leagues may not passcard down in competition to GVSA.

Coming soon

FIELD SETUP & EQUIPMENT (USSF Recommendations) 

• Dimensions: 35 yards (length) x 25 yards (width) 
• Corner flags: Corner flags are not needed
• Goals: Goals should be 4 feet (height) x 6 feet (width)
• • Pugg goals that are not 4 feet x 6 feet and rectangular are not allowed
  • Goal arc must be painted 1 yard from each goal post, forming a half circle

GAME RULES (USSF Recommendations) 

• Match Format: 4v4 (no goalkeepers) | Two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute half-time
• Ball Size: Size 4 ball
• Required Gear: Shin guards are required
• Substitutions: Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage
• Restarts: Kick-offs, free kicks, goal kicks, throw-ins, and corner kicks are used to start or restart play. 
• • Throw-ins: Proper throw-ins will not be called as GVSA found it disrupts continuous free play (too many stoppages). GVSA’s goal is to encourage free play and learning. Coaches are encouraged to educate the players on a proper throw-in to prepare for 7v7.
  • Goal Kicks: For goal kicks, the defending team must retreat to their defending half of the field. Once the ball is touched, the play is live.
  • Free Kicks & Restrictions 
  • • All free kicks are direct kicks
    • A handball results in a free kick at the spot of the handball
    • No heading the ball. A head ball results in a free kick at the spot of the header.
• Arc Play Rule: If a player enters the arc and is neither actively defending nor attacking (playing as a goalkeeper or cherry-picking), the referee will remind them to move. If a player(s) is reminded again, the result is a free kick to be taken from the half field.
• • Rule Clarification & Scenarios – Arc Rule:
  • • Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to promote player development and avoid players acting as “all time” goalkeepers
    • Defending Clarification: Defending players may enter and exit the arc at any time as long as the player is actively defending.
    • Referee Scenarios:
    • • Scenario 1: If a player enters and stands in the arc area, acting as a goalkeeper, the referee will remind them to move out of the arc area.
      • Scenario 2: If a defender enters the arc and plays the ball, actively defending, play continues.
      • Scenario 3: If an attacker plays the ball while in the arc, while actively attacking (wasn’t cherry-picking), play continues.  A goal can be scored by an attacker player playing the ball inside the arc while actively attacking. (at the discretion of the referee).
      • Scenario 4: If a defender or attacker plays the ball while in the arc, not actively defending or attacking (at the discretion of the referee), the result is a direct free kick from half field.
• Standings & Regulation: Standings will not be posted, and standings will not be shared with the clubs. Teams will be moved by GVSA based on promotion and relegation at the end of the season.

REGISTRATION, ROSTER & PASSCARD REQUIREMENTS 

• Roster Size: Minimum 4 players, Maximum 8 players
• Fees: $125 per team for GVSA fees for the first session and $25 for the second session
• Player Cards: Players must have a GVSA issued pass card. Players must use their player card from their primary team and have it for each game.  They will not be issued a second card if passcarding to another team.
• Passcard Rules:
• • U7 and U8 4v4 teams may have up to 2 passcard players per game
  • U6 players may only passcard between U7 teams
  • U7 may passcard to any U7 team and up to U8
  • U8 may passcard to any to any U8 team in any 4v4 division
  • U8 may not passcard to a U7 division team
  • U8 player rostered on a U9 or U10 team may not passcard down to 4v4
  • Roster limits must be met for each game
  • Passcard players must be written on the game sheet
• Playing “up” regulations: 
• • U6 players may only register to a U7 team and may not play up further.
  • U7 players may register and play up to a U8 team only (U7 players are not allowed to register or passcard with a U9 or U10 team) 
  • U8 teams must have GVSA approval to move up to U9 – 7v7. They must have more than 50% of the rostered players returning from the previous season and played in the U8 first division, finishing at the top of the division.
  • New U9 teams must consist of more than 50% of the players being true U9 players. The only exception to this rule is for U8 teams that GVSA has approved to move out of the U8 division as stated in the previous bullet.

REFEREES 

• Assignment & Pay: No referees will be assigned by GVSA. The home team will assign the referee and will pay the referee for their home games. The fees will be determined by the home club.
• Training: The home team must train referees on game rules and procedures
• Game Day Duties:
• • Referees record sportsmanship scores
  • Cross off any player/coach not in attendance
• Game Sheet Submission: Referees are required to submit the game sheet to gvsagamereports@gmail.com within 24 hours of the game.  Home clubs must inform the referees of the requirement. Managers/coaches are encouraged to take a photo of the signed game sheet.

Coming soon