Yellow Card Offenses

Yellow cards are not used in the age 4, age 5-6, and age 7-8 age groups. A yellow card communicates a caution to a player and visibly signals the coach that a caution has been administered.

A referee should administer a caution by showing the yellow card if a player:

• delays the restart of play
• shows dissent by word or action
• goes up for a header against another player (both players cautioned)
• enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee’s permission
• deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission
• fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick
• persistently infringes the Laws of the Game

Unsporting behavior:

• commits an unacknowledged substitution
• unfairly distracts or impedes an opponent on a throw-in
• faking injury to deceive the referee
• changing places with the goalkeeper without the officials’ permission
• handles the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack (less than an obvious goal scoring opportunity, which is a red card)
• handles the ball in an attempt to score a goal
• handles the ball in an unsuccessful attempt to stop a goal from scoring
• plays the ball after receiving permission to leave the field of play
• shows a lack of respect for the game
• verbally distracts an opponent during play or at a restart

Excessive celebration of a goal:

• approaching the spectators in a manner which causes safety or security issues
• gesturing or acting in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory way
• covering the head or face with a mask or other similar item
• removing the shirt or covering the head with the shirt

Some discretion on the part of the referee is permissible. If a player receives a yellow card, he is permitted to continue play. If a player receives two yellow cards during the same game, that player is sent off and their team may then only play with one less player (total 10 players instead of 11, for example).