1. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches
By Eric Highsmith

2. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches
In February 2017, U.S. Soccer issued the “Player Development Initiatives.” Among the points discussed, U.S. Soccer mandates that, beginning in August 2017, all U9 and U10 fields are to include
Build Out Lines (BOL)
Purpose: To promote playing the ball out of the back
in a less pressured setting
The “Player Development Initiatives can been found by searching “US Soccer player development initiatives.” The link to the full PDF is The purpose of the BOL is to promote playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting.

3. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches

4. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches
There is no specification as to what color the BOL are supposed to be, so they can be the same or a different color from the other lines on the field.
Build out lines should be equidistant between the penalty area line and halfway line
Midway between the top of
the penalty area and the
halfway line

5. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches
Opposing players must retreat behind the BOL:
On goal kicks
When the goalkeeper has possession of the ball
Opposing players must remain behind the BOL until the ball has been put into play.

6. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches
When the goalkeeper has possession of the ball,
they can put the ball back into play
by passing, rolling, or throwing it.
The GK should, but is not required to, wait until all opponents
have retreated behind the BOL before putting the ball back
into play.
Referees should be flexible when enforcing the 6-second law.
Counting the time of possession should only begin when all
opponents have moved behind the BOL
If the GK puts the ball back into play before all opponents have
retreated behind the BOL, they are stuck with the consequences.
Ideally, the goalkeeper will wait to put the ball into play once all opponents are past the build out line.
However, the goalkeeper can put the ball into play sooner but he or she does so accepting the positioning of the opponents and the consequences of how play resumes

7. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches
When the goalkeeper has possession of the ball, they can put
the ball back into play by passing, rolling, or throwing it.
The GK may not punt or drop-kick the ball.
If the GK punts or drop kicks the ball, an IFK is awarded
to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.
If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area,
the IFK is taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line
at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.
If a goalkeeper punts or drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense
If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred

8. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches
To support the intent of the development rule,
coaches and referees should be mindful of any intentional delays
being caused by opponents not retreating in a timely manner
or encroaching over the BOL prior to the ball being put into play.
Coaches are responsible for addressing these types of issues with their players.
Referees can manage the situation with misconduct if deemed appropriate.
If the league allows you to show cards to coaches, the first yellow card for
misconduct related to BOL should probably be shown to the coach (for either
delaying the restart or unsporting behavior).
If a goalkeeper punts or drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense
If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred

9. Officiating with Build Out Lines in U9 & U10 Matches
BOL also affect where offside offenses can be called:
Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between
the halfway line and the build out line
Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the
build out line and goal line