AYSO Region 206 Website

Local Rules

David L. Keller, National Director of Referee Assessment

Recently an assessor asked me why, in our assessor training program, we comment that local rules must be understood by the assessor and that the assessor should not criticize a referee for applying them. The simple answer is "because they are there."

However, local rules are a more complex issue. Clearly modifying the Laws of the Game in areas not permitted by FIFA, our governing body, is contrary to AYSO policy. FIFA does allow us to modify certain laws, such as length of matches and substitutes. All of these approved modifications are contained in the AYSO edition of FIFA Laws of the Game. Why then do some regions choose to modify laws contrary to AYSO, USSF and FIFA? Most will answer, "For the safety of the players."

Making a local rule that all slide tackles and any playing of the ball while the player is on the ground is dangerous play, may in the short term promote safety. In the medium or long term it may increase risk to the players. Young players should learn the proper techniques of tackling and how to play within the Laws of the Game for everyone's safety. Similarly, making heading illegal does not permit the player to learn when to head the ball and how to properly head the ball. Learning that you can play the ball while you are on the ground as long as no one is put in danger is an important soccer lesson. Learning proper soccer techniques takes good coaching and practice.

An alternative to making local rules is to work with the coaches and referees to properly "instruct" young players and to "discourage" certain actions, not outlaw them. If we want to improve safety by limiting slide tackles, it is better to teach the players when not to slide tackle rather than "you can't do that." Helping players develop into complete soccer players should be our goal. Limiting them to restrictions of local rules is not in the player's best interest.

At some point in every player's soccer career they will probably be playing under the FIFA Laws not modified by local rules. It may be as soon as inter-regional play or in local AYSO tournaments. If that player has not been instructed in proper tackling or heading techniques early, safety is jeopardized. The player will soon be competing against bigger, faster and more skilled opponents and, without the skills, injury is more likely to occur.

Regions should look at any local rules that they have or are about to establish and seriously evaluate them for the good of the players and the game of soccer. Can the unwanted action that is being legislated be controlled through coaching? Can the referees help modify player behavior without the local rule? Are we doing harm to the long-term soccer development of our players? Are we putting our players at a disadvantage when participating in other soccer programs? Are we justified in modifying the Laws of the Game where it is not permitted by FIFA, USSF or AYSO? These are questions regions should ask while evaluating local rules. In most instances local rules can be replaced by good coaching and referee match management. Soccer is the "simplest game"-let's keep it that way.