Club Presidents, Directors, Coaches and Parents

The important information below is a CHANGE to the heading guidelines provided earlier this year by PYSA. These new heading guidelines have been provided by US Soccer, US Youth Soccer Region IV and Oregon Youth Soccer Associational and are to be implemented immediately.

All players 6^th Grade and younger cannot head the ball in games. This means in all games at 9v9, 7v7 4v4 and 3v3. (See below for how the rule change will be implemented in games).

Only those players who are in 7^th and 8^th grade playing 11v11 may head the ball in games. (See grade to age info below)

Only players who are in 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades may practice heading, however all heading practice must be limited to no more than a maximum of 30 minutes per week.

Heading infraction in games in 9v9, 7v7, 4v4 and 3v3 games:

A player may not use his/her head to play the ball. The penalty for playing the ball using the head is an indirect free kick at the spot of the infraction. If a defending player in the defender's penalty area commits the infraction, the free kick will be taken from a spot at the top of the penalty area (Big box). The infraction consists in intentionally playing the ball with the head. If the referee determines that the ball struck a player in the head when the player is not trying to play the ball, the referee should allow play to continue.

Age groups explained:

U7 1st Grade

U8 2nd Grade

U9 3rd Grade

U10 4th Grade

U11 5th Grade

U12 6th Grade

U13 7th Grade

U14 8th Grade