Referees
NEW INFORMATION IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE REFEREE TRAINING PAGE
Per USSoccer and Virginia Youth Soccer Association, effective August, 2016:
At age group divisions U11 and younger-
Whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped IMMEDIATELY. This is NON-NEGOTIABLE AND MUST BE ENFORCED. NO DISCRETION. MAKE NO JUDGMENTS, STOP PLAY, QUICKLY ASSESS THE PLAYER.
The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the ball with his or her head. If deliberate, the proper restart is an indirect free kick to the opposing team. If this occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick for the attacking team should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
If the play by the head is deemed inadvertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.
[The former rule in situations when the ball strikes the player in the head and immediately goes out of play (in the goal, over the goal line or touch line), is ELIMINATED.]
IMPORTANT SOCA REFEREE DOCUMENTS (click link to download)
SOCA Youth Recreation Program Rules of Play
SOCA Youth Challenge Program Rules of Play
Skyline Elite Girls Rules of Play
Skyline Elite Boys Rules of Play
SOCA Elite Teams Rules of Play
SOCA Blue, White and Red Teams Rules of Play