Any Referees interested in officiating games for the Heatwave please contact Dick Tarsney-Texas Heatwave Referee Assignor @ Dtarsney@earthlink.net
South Texas Soccer Referees, Inc. Website
Referee Information
Special rules for Recreational Games
Official Rules of competition for small sided games
COED SPECIAL RULES
The Ball: Size Five (5)
The game shall be divided into two (2), 30 minute halves for U11-U13 and two (2) 40 minute halves for U14-18
There will be a 5 minute half time
Guys can score 2 goals max
Girls goals count as 2 (Even on a penalty kick)
No slide tackling (Award indirect free kick)
A team can play with a maximum of 6 male field players
Teams must have at least 4 female field players (could have up to 10)
Goalkeeper may be male or female
Maximum number of players on the field at any one time is ten (10) plus a goalie.
Substitutions: Allowed anytime ball is out of play with the permission of the referee
If a player is given a Yellow card, the player must leave the field and can be replaced with a new player.
If a player is given a Red card, the player must leave the field & cannot be replaced. The team must continue playing with one less player.
The offside rule shall be enforced as per FIFA Law 11.
All fouls shall be penalized as per FIFA Law 12.
A penalty kick should be taken in accordance with FIFA Law 14.
All throw-ins should be enforced in accordance with FIFA Law 15.
All corner kicks shall be enforced in accordance with FIFA Law 17.
REC U9 - U10 GAMES
The Ball: Size four (4)
The game is divided into two (2) 30 minute halves with a 5 minute half time
Maximum number of players on the field is seven (7) plus a goalkeeper
Unlimited substitutions may be made at the following times with the prior approval of the referee
No slide tackling
If a player is given a Yellow card, the player must leave the field and can be replaced with a new player.
If a player is given a Red card, the player must leave the field & cannot be replaced. The team must continue playing with one less player.
The offside rule shall be enforced as per FIFA Law 11.
All fouls shall be penalized as per FIFA Law 12.
A penalty kick should be taken in accordance with FIFA Law 14.
All throw-ins should be enforced in accordance with FIFA Law 15.
All corner kicks shall be enforced in accordance with FIFA Law 17
SMALL SIDE SPECIAL RULES (U7, U8)
U7 (4v4 - Played on 2 fields)
- The Ball: Size three (3)
- Maximum number of players on the field at any one time is four (4)
- There are NO Goalkeepers
- Shin guards are MANDATORY
- The game shall be divided into four (4) equal, ten (10) minute quarters
- There shall be a two (2) minute break between quarters & a half-time break of five (5)minutes
- Opponent must be three (3) yards from the center mark while kick-off is in progress
- There is no offside in small-sided games
- All free kicks will be indirect
- Opponents must be three (3) yards away on all kicks
- There are no Penalty Kicks in small-sided games
- Throw-In (Repeat throw-in if incorrectly taken)
- Corner Kick: If team defending goal last touches ball before it crosses goal line, the attacking team puts it into play with an indirect kick
- Goal Kick: Should be taken within 2-3 yds. of the goal and opposing players must be 5-6 yds away
U8 (7v7)
- The Ball: Size three (3)
- Maximum number of players on the field at any one time is six (6) plus a goalkeeper
- There is a Goalkeeper – There shall be no charging, intentional or reckless contact with the goalkeeper in any manner whatsoever. Any such conduct shall be considered dangerous play and punished accordingly.
- Shin guards are MANDATORY
- The game shall be divided into four (4) equal, ten (10) minute quarters
- There shall be a two (2) minute break between quarters & a half-time break of five(5) minutes
- Opponent must be three (3) yards from the center mark while kick-off is in progress
- The Offside Rule shall be interpreted liberally – No player may play in an obvious offside position in front of or near the goal such as a designated scorer
- All free kicks will be indirect
- Opponents must be six (6) yards away on all kicks
- There are no Penalty Kicks in small-sided games
- Throw-In (Repeat throw-in once if taken incorrectly)
- Corner Kick: Taken from the corner of the field.
- Goal Kick: Taken from the corner of the goal box and cannot be touched by either team until it leaves the goal box. If the goal box is unmarked, goal kicks are taken 2-3 yards from the goalie box and opposing players must be 6 yards away.
- No Slide Tackling
We are continuing our process to expedite referee payment
again this season and that again will require everyone's help.
Signed vouchers are still not needed however, Monday after the
weekend just refereed, the assigned referee will confirm that
his/her assigned crew showed for the game or identify who did show
for the match. They must email this information to Dick Tarsney who
will then create a bi-weekly database for payment that will be
mailed out within the next 5 working days. All referee's who are
working matches this season will need to send your mailing address
once for the system - even if you sent last season - so please email
Dick your full address ASAP to
If you do not confirm what you have worked or send Dick your address, the
club can not process payment in this timely manner. Age Referee Pay / AR Pay
U 7/8 $16.00
U 9 $22.00 U10 $22.00
U 11/12 $28.00 (AR) $14.00
U13/14 $32.00 (AR) $16.00
U15/16 $36.00 (AR) $18.00
U 17 + $38.00 (AR) $19.00