SSI Five Goal Rule

The five goal rule is simply a guideline that we recommend all coaches in the Suffolk Soccer Interleague follow.

The intent is all games are scrimmages NOT World Cup. We are dealing with youth players NOT professionals.

To keep the scrimmages as friendly as possible we use the 5 goal rule so as not to RUN up the score. Again we are here for the kids, correct.

The following are some Comments and Questions that are most frequently asked  about the 5 goal rule every year.

Is the game over after a team scores 5 goals.!!

After we scored the fifth goal,   I yelled to my players NOT to score any more !!

We lost 7-2, Is that coach going to be suspended. His team scores more than 5 goals?

We lost  5 -0 but the same player scored all the goals against us, what can be done.?

I did not know what to do after we scored the fifth goal. !!

These are just a few questions we get every year.!!

Here are some points to help control any scrimmage that may get out of hand.

As a coach you should know your players strength's and weaknesses.

Any time you score three goals in a short time, it is safe to say you’re the stronger team at that moment. You do not have to have years of experience to know this..

     (Of course there are exceptions, like:)J

" A,  20 mile an hour wind behind your team. ", a slight decline  on the field in your advantage for the first half. , the opponent has no substitutes or even less players and your players are not as tired as the other team, even though your playing Match,( even up.). Etc.

Taking all that under consideration, practice the following:

1 ) Make sure that no one player scores more then two goals in a game.

2) Switch your stronger players with your none dominating players.

         After the third goal, Start making changes,   Don't wait till 5 -0

3) Never yell out DO NOT score, or any type of negative statement to your players

         where the opponent players can hear,   they have feelings too.

4) Playing keep away  (4 Passes) style is NOT always the answer,

Sometimes that is worse then scoring goals.

5) At all times make sure your intentions are relayed to Both the Referee and to the other coach so no misunderstanding of the scrimmage conditions come about.

6) The score could be higher than a 5 goal spread differential as long as you did all of the above. ( If you had 6 or 7 different scorers and put restrictions ) like one touch passing, play down  a player, and the other team playing up a player in the small sided games.  There should not be a problem.

 Remember that the other coach if not made aware of the conditions you're putting  on your players, will put in a complaint.  If neither the referee or losing coach can verify your intention, you will be put on notice for a game suspension.