2026 PROGRAM INFORMATION

Gorge Soccer is proud to announce the eigth year of our Spring League starting May 9, 2026. This 7 week (8 day) league located in The Dalles is not only a great way to transition from indoor to outdoor soccer, its also a great place to start putting academy learned skills to use!  We have had teams sign up from Hood River, Goldendale, White Salmon, Maupin and The Dalles! Available for boys and girls 5-18 years of age. Teams will play in the age group of their oldest player. Players may only play on one team per age group. Rosters freeze once playoffs begin. If weather becomes an issue, the games will be rescheduled for a later date. This is to ensure we do not damage the field.

• $350 Team Fee - You build your team (no more then 10 different players may play per game)

• Nike equipment discount for registered teams.

• 6 games guaranteed.

• Game will be forfeited if opposing team does not have at least 4 outfield players and a goalie 5 minutes after regularly scheduled start time.

Spring League Rules

FIELD OF PLAY

• Dimensions: Older Age Groups: 25 yds wide x 40 yds long / Younger Age groups: 15yds wide x 25 yds long

• Penalty Area: Older Age Groups: Box measuring 2-3 yds from each post, and 6 yds into field (deep) / Younger Age groups: small red box around goal. Offensive player touches the ball in the box, it results in a goal kick. Defensive player touches the ball in the box, it results in a penalty kick.

• Penalty Mark: Older Age Groups: 8 yds from the mid-point of the goal line / Younger Age Groups: either 3 or 5 yards outside red penalty box - depending on age group.

• Substitution Zones: At the halfway line

• The Goals: Older Age Groups: 6ft high x 12ft wide / Younger Age Groups: 3ft x 3ft

THE BALL

• Size 3 - 8 Years Old and Younger

• Size 4 - 8 Years Old to 12 Years Old

• Size 5 - 12 Years Old and Older

PLAYER RULES:

• Older Age Groups: 5 + Goalie / Younger Age Groups: 4 (no goalie)

• Minimum Number of Players to Start Match: Older Age Group: 4, one of whom shall be a goalkeeper / Younger Age Groups: 3

• Maximum Roster: Older Ag Groups: 10 (using more will result in forfeit, unless previously discussed with leaague) / Younger Age Groups: 9

• Substitution Limit: None

• Substitution Method: "Flying substitution" (all players but the goalkeeper enter and leave as they please; goalkeeper substitutions can only be made when the ball is out of play and with a referee's consent). Player must be off the field before another comes on.

  • Players / Rosters:

    • Players may only play for ONE team per age group - Teams may not use more than 10 players for a single game. If a team uses more than 10 players during a game, it is automatically a forfeit - unless previously discussed with other coach, the referee and a league administrator.

      Borrowing Players - we are eliminating the ability to borrow players in the 6v6 age groups. If a 6v6 team does not have the minimum amount of players needed to start a game (4+goalie), it will be an automatic forfeit. 

      The 4v4 age group teams may borrow one player from a team in the same division, only if they have no more then 3 regular team players in attendance - giving a total of 4 players. Team’s may not borrow a player as a sub. If a team only has of their regular players, its an automatic forfeit. Teams in all age groups playing without a sub, may call one, one minute time out per half.

DURATION OF THE GAME

• Older Age Groups: 2 x 18 min halves (4 min Halftime). / Younger Age Groups: 4 × 8 min quarters

• 5 Minute Waiting Period for enough players before forfeit.

• Games that start late will end on time (5 min before next game)

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

• FIFA Rules

• All the Free Kicks are INDIRECT that occur outside the penalty box (kick ins included). Penalty Kicks will be used for tie-breakers – Final/Consolation.

• The only DIRECT kicks are kick offs, corner kicks, and penalties.

• Blue Card - our referees now give blue cards.  A blue card is given for any style offense that would normally result in a “yellow card”, but the player receiving a blue card must exit the game for 2 minutes - the player’s team plays a player less - like a hockey penalty.

• Slide Tackling - This league allows slide tackling in the 6v6 age groups only. This is a league where players learn how to tackle and use their body. This will come with mistakes/fouls. We are instructing our referees to give feedback to players on why they call fouls and how players can safely make challenges for the ball.  Please remember that view points of referees will differ from coaches and parents, as a tackle viewed from one angle, can look very different from another angle. 

  The 4v4 age group we do not allow slide tackling. A slide tackle is when a player goes to ground FIRST and then makes contact with the ball, challenging an opposing player. If a player in this age group challenges for the ball and then falls over, after making contact with the ball, that is not a slide tackle, and this is allowed. Players in this age group may slide to intercept the ball, or save the ball from going in/out, if the referee determines no opposing player is close enough to be impacted by the slide. This will be at the referees discretion. 

• Referees - We will be doing a referee course this year to make sure our referees are enforcing league rules to the best of their ability. Reminder, these are high school varsity players, who all play club level soccer in Portland. They have a lot of soccer knowledge, but just like FIFA World Cup level referees, they will make mistakes. They will make mistakes that could lead to a game deciding goal - it happens every day in the soccer world. We have a ZERO tolerance policy of arguing, intimidating, or trying to influence a referees decision. League official will be at the field every league day, and if there is any question you have, or feedback, please communicate this to them, so they can speak with our referees. This also needs to be communicated to team parents. 

  There is a reason it has become almost impossible for the league to find high school referees that want to referee these leagues - its parents and coaches attitude towards referees. We need to set a good example for our young athletes, and show respect towards referees.

  The 7/8 grade and high school level games will have adult licensed referees. If you have a game that you would like to request an adult or licensed referee, the cost is $25.

• NO HEADING for 5/6 grade age group and younger.

OFFSIDE – There is no offside in Spring League.

FREE KICKS / THROW-INS – A kick in will be taken in place of the throw-in. Opposing team must be at least 5 yards back from kick in, or free kick.

GOAL KICK

• Older Age Groups: From inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper may place the ball down (it becomes live) and kick the ball into play within their own half. Goalkeepers may throw the ball into the opponents half. Opposing teams must be outside the penalty box until the ball is live. Goalies may not PUNT the ball (unless they caught the ball off a shot and then ball never went out for a goal kick). Once the goalie puts the ball on the ground, the ball is LIVE! / Younger Age Groups: Placed anywhere on the red penalty box. Opposing team must drop back to the center circle.

OFFICIALS / REFEREES

• Single Referee will call the games.

RESTART TIME LIMIT:

• Restart must take place within 5 seconds or the ball is awarded to the opposing team (enforcement to take place gradually).

PASS BACK TO GK – GK may not handle the ball.

SPORTSMANSHIP

• Players, coaches and spectators are expected to act in the nature of good sportsmanship at all times. Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated. Any instance of such conduct will lead to ejection without refund for the offending team.

• Mercy Rule - Once a team recaches a 6 goal lead, the opposing team may add an additional player if desired. Once a team reaches an 8 goal lead, the opposing team may add a second additional player.  If a team is losing by 8 goals, using the 2 extra players and they score a goal to bring the difference down to 7, they must take off one additional player. If they score 2 more goals and bring the goal differential back down to 5, they must take off their one additional player.

  This league is a stepping stone from recreational to competitive. We have both types of teams in these leagues, and they are often paired against each other. The league expects competitive team coaches responsibly navigate these games.