What's New for 2023–24

There are no significant changes for the 2023 season. Below are changes from previous years.

Live Scan Policy for CA Volunteers

Effective, January 1, 2022, all volunteers in California MUST have a one-time background check as approved by the California Department of Justice to exclude individuals with a history of child abuse. This form of background check requires fingerprinting by LiveScan.

Safe Sport certification for Volunteers

Effective, January 1, 2022, all volunteers for youth sports MUST complete the Safe Sport course. If you have taken the course for another youth sport you may upload your certificate to your account. Please see the volunteer page for instructions on how to take this course.

7U/8U Referees

7U/8U teams are required to have at least one team referee again, as we found that having the coaches officiate the game was not very successful. Newbury Park does not offer the course, but team referees may take the online "8U Official" course or an in-person course administered by a neighboring region. If another referee is not assigned to a 7U/8U game, the home team is responsible for officiating the game. The head coach may not be the team referee, but the assistant can, if another volunteer cannot be found. If the assistant coach is the referee, they may not coach while officiating the game. Assistant referees for the sideline can be parents or coaches. ARs will signal in or out of play only, as offside isn’t enforced at 7U and 8U level.

Field monitors

Although we have had field monitors in previous years, beginning in 2022 field monitors will be required for all games in the 7U, 8U, and 10U divisions. Games will not be permitted to start until a field monitor is present.

What remains in effect?

Coach encroachment on the field

Region 42 will have zero tolerance for coaches entering the field of play to challenge a referee. Referees are instructed to send the coach off, meaning the coach will leave the vicinity of the field and go to the parking lot. If a coach refuses to leave the field the game will be terminated as a forfeit win for the opponent. In addition to the sendoff, the coach will receive at a minimum an additional one-game suspension.

SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) Training

In accordance with California state law, SCA certification is required for all coaches, referees, and other administrators. The course is available at AYSOU. Please see the volunteer page for instructions on how to take this course. 

Changes to the Laws of the Game

Please review these changes carefully as there are several that will likely cause some spectators and coaches a bit of confusion if they are uninformed. Link to Law changes.

Handshake line clarification

We have had far too many instances of coaches using the handshake line at the end of games to air grievances, whether to opposing players, coaches, or the referee team. The handshake line is for one purpose, and that is to express sportsmanship. The only words that should be used in the handshake line are phrases such as “Good job”, “Well done”, and “Thanks”. Any instance of airing grievances to a player, a coach, or a referee, no matter how valid the grievance, will earn an automatic one game suspension. Issues with a player or coach should be brought to the attention of the division director, and issues with a referee should be brought to the attention of the referee administrator.

Age Appropriate Coach Certification

You must be certified at the age level you are coaching. Online coach certification by itself is no longer acceptable; field training is also required.

Safe Haven/Concussion Awareness

AYSO Safe Haven and Concussion certifications are required. In accordance with California state law, the CDC Concussion Awareness class is now required for all coaches, referees, and other administrators. Both courses are available at AYSOU. Please see the volunteer page for instructions on how to take this course. 

U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives

12U Division

Beginning the 2017 season, it was decided that goalkeepers may not drop kick or punt the ball into the air. This restriction has been rescinded. In 2018, drop kicking/punting by the goalkeeper is permitted. However, players still may NOT head the ball and coaches may not do any activities in practices that involve heading.

8U/10U Divisions

In an effort to encourage possession football, an extra line known as the "build-out line" has been added to each half of the field, halfway between the penalty area (aka the "18-yard box") and the half line. (Note that U.S. Soccer only proscribes the use of the build-out line in 10U, but Region 42 has decided to use it in younger divisions as well.)

• When the goalkeeper is in possession of the ball, either in their hand or taking a goal kick, the defending team must retreat behind that line.
• The goalkeeper may throw the ball or put it down and kick it, but may not drop kick it.
  
• For the rule that goalkeepers must release the ball within six seconds of picking it up, the clock does not start until the defending team has retreated behind the build-out line.
• When the goalkeeper has possession of the ball, it is in play as soon as the they release it, even if the opposing team has not yet retreated behind the line (i.e., if the goalkeeper doesn't want to wait, they don't have to).
• On a goal kick, the defending team must wait until the ball is kicked before they may advance.
• In 10U, the build-out line also serves as the offside line. In other words, an attacking player will not be considered to be offside when they are standing between the halfway line and the build-out line in the opponent's half.

7U Division

In the 7U division, we will also be using the build-out line as in 8U/10U, but as there are no goalkeepers, the build-out line is only applicable to goal kicks. The defending team must wait behind the line until the ball is kicked. However, if the kicking team decides to kick the ball before the opponents have all gone behind the line, then the ball is in play.