Kickers is a recreational league for boys and girls turning 13 and 14 years old (12 through 14 years old for the Spring 2025 season) in the calendar year. All practices and games will be held at the Englewood Soccer Complex at Ward Field on Hoke Rd in Englewood. Practice days/times are held at the volunteer coaches' preference and could be once or twice a week. Season games will be played on Saturdays and/or Sundays, with an occasional weekday game. In the fall season, Kickers will travel to surrounding cities. At the Kickers level, we try to separate the boys and girls into different leagues.

For the Spring 2025 season, low registration numbers across divisions forced us to collapse the Strikers division and split them across co-ed Wings and Kickers divisions.

Equipment needed to play: ball, cleats with no toe spike, shin guards, and socks long enough to cover shin guards. We highly encourage you to bring a water bottle or buy one at the concession stand during games.

TEAM INFORMATION: 

11 players (including goalie) 

Ball Size - 5 

Field Size - 9v9 

Ages - 13 and 14

Playtime - 2 Halves at 35 minutes each. 5 minutes half time between halves. Teams will change sides. 

REFEREES: 

1 Certified Referee and 2 ARs (Assistant Referee) are required at this age group.

RULES OF THE GAME:  

✔ Kick offs: Kicker may stand on the opponent's side of the field. Everyone else must be on their own half of the field, and opponents must be outside the circle on their side. 

✔ Corner Kicks: When the ball goes over the goal line when last touched by the defending player. Kick is taken from the corner. 

✔ Goal kicks: When the ball goes over the goal line when last touched by an offensive player.  Kick is taken anywhere in proximity to the goal/inside on the 6. Opponents may not enter the 18-yard box until the ball is moving forward. If a player enters before, an IFK is awarded at that spot. 

✔ Throw-Ins: Throw-in taken by the opponent of the player who last touched the ball. Both feet remain on the ground and the ball clearly is thrown from overhead with both hands. If thrown incorrectly, the ref stops play and awards throw-in to opponents. 

✔ Fouls: Offense committed by any player in the field of play against any teammate, coach, or official. Contact fouls result in a DFK. Non-contact fouls and technical infractions will result in IFK. 

✔ Handballs: When a player deliberately plays the ball with their hand (hand meaning anything below the elbow). Accidental contact should not be penalized. 

✔ Restarts: A player may not touch the ball again at the taking of a free kick, goal kick, corner kick, kick off, or throw in until it has touched another player. 

✔ Penalty Kicks: Results when a DFK penalty is committed inside players own penalty area.  All players, except kicker and goalie, must remain outside the box and arch until the ball is clearly moving in a forward direction. 

✔ Substitutions: Both teams may sub between periods, on goal kicks, after a goal, extended time out (e.g., injury, cautions, send-offs) NO substitutions on corner kicks. Unlimited for teams taking the throw-in, opponents may substitute (unlimited) if the team taking the throw in substitutes. 

✔ Goals: Goals may be scored directly from corner kicks, and/or goal kicks.

✔ Off-sides: Players can only be in offside position in the opponent's side. (i.e., between the midline and the goal line), Offside offense occurs when a player in offside position becomes actively involved by interfering with play or an opponent.

✔ Slide Tackle: Players are allowed to slide tackle if done properly.

✔ Headball: Players are allowed to head the ball.

✔ Pass Back to Goalkeeper: Defending team passing ball back to goalkeeper. The goalkeeper cannot pick up the ball; IFK is awarded at the spot of the foul.

 

✔ Misconduct: Cautions (yellow card), Send offs (red card), Should be administered as conditions dictate to continue play.

 

ADDITIONAL GAME CONDUCTS:

● Accidental contact is not an offense and should not be penalized. 

 

NOTES:

IFK – Indirect Free Kick 

DFK – Direct Free Kick