Short-sided Referee Guidelines

Also see the PHMSA Short Side Game Matrix.

Under-6 (U6)

• Two 4-on-4 Games are played simultaneously.
• Games are two 15-minute halves with a 5-minute half time break.
• Substitutions approximately midway through each half
• Add two minutes to each half to allow for substitutions.
• Each team provides a Referee.
• Each team must have two “Team Referees” who have, at a minimum, completed at the U8 Official training course.
• Referees officiate their own child's matches.
• Updated: Minimum age for referee: 10
• All matches scheduled on PHMSA Scheduling Assistant

Under-7 (U7) & Under 8 (U8)

• Games are 5-on-5.
• Games are two 20-minute halves with a five-minute half time break.
• Substitutions approximately midway through each half
• Add two minutes to each half to allow for substitutions.
• Home team provides the Referee. Each team provides one Assistant Referee.
• Each team must have two “Team Referees” who have, at a minimum, completed at the U8 Official training course.
• Referees officiate their own child's matches.
• Updated: Minimum age for referee: 10
• All matches scheduled on PHMSA Scheduling Assistant

Under-10 (U10)

• Games are 7-on-7.
• Games are two 25-minute halves with a five-minute half time break.
• Substitutions approximately midway through each half
• Add two minutes to each half to allow for substitutions.
• Updated: Referees officiate their own child's matches during regular fall season.
• A self-assigned neutral Referee officiates the game during PHMSA Cup and Spring Select season.
• Each team must provide at least two referees who officiate at least 10 matches each for other teams.
• Each team must have at least two “Team Referees” who have, at a minimum, completed the AYSO “Basic Referee” training course.
• Updated: Minimum age for referee: 12
• All matches scheduled on PHMSA Scheduling Assistant

Under-12 (U12)

• Games are 9-on-9.
• Games are two 30-minute halves with a five-minute half time break.
• Substitutions approximately midway through each half
• Add one minutes to each half to allow for substitutions.
• Updated: A self-assigned neutral Referee officiates the game.
• Referees may sign up as ARs for their own child's matches during regular fall season.
• Self-assigned neutral ARs required for matches during PHMSA Cup and Spring Select season.
• Each team must provide at least two referees who officiate at least 10 matches each for other teams.
• Each team must have at least two “Team Referees” who have, at a minimum, completed the AYSO “Basic Referee” training course.
• Updated: Minimum age for referee: 14
• All matches scheduled on PHMSA Scheduling Assistant

Under-14 (U14)

• Games are 11-on-11.
• Games are two 35-minute halves with a five-minute half time break.
• Substitutions approximately midway through each half
• Add one minutes to each half to allow for substitutions.
• Updated: A self-assigned neutral Referee officiates the game.
• Referees may sign up as ARs for their own child's matches during regular fall season.
• Self-assigned neutral ARs required for matches during PHMSA Cup and Spring Select season.
• Each team must provide at least two referees who officiate at least 10 matches each for other teams.
• Updated: Minimum age for referee: 16
• All matches scheduled on PHMSA Scheduling Assistant

Under-16 (U16)

• Games are 11-on-11.
• Games are two 40-minute halves, with a 5-minute half-time break.
• Free Substitutions
• Updated: A self-assigned neutral Referee officiates the game.
• Referees may sign up as ARs for their own child's matches during regular Fall season.
• Self-assigned neutral ARs required for matches during PHMSA Cup and Spring Select season.
• Each team must provide at least two referees who officiate at least 10 matches each for other teams.
• Updated: Minimum age for referee: 16
• All matches scheduled on PHMSA Scheduling Assistant

Under-19 (U19)

• Games are 11-on-11.
• Games are two 45 40-minute halves, with a 5-minute half-time break.
  Normally at this age, halves would be 45 minutes. We are using 40 halves for scheduling reasons.
• Free Substitutions
• Updated: A self-assigned neutral Referee officiates the game.
• Referees may sign up as ARs for their own child's matches during regular Fall season.
• Self-assigned neutral ARs required for matches during PHMSA Cup and Spring Select season.
• Each team must provide at least two referees who officiate at least 10 matches each for other teams.
• Updated: Minimum age for referee: 16
• All matches scheduled on PHMSA Scheduling Assistant