What is the retreating line?

Q: What is the retreating line?

The retreating line is a development rule in 7v7 (children born 2015 to 2017). It gives the goalkeeper and defenders time to play out from the back instead of kicking long. The line is 13 metres from each goal line, marked with cones, flat markers or poles. The game supervisor can also mark it. When the goalkeeper has the ball in their hands and play has stopped, or at a goal kick, all opponents must go back behind the line. They can't come into that area until a defending outfield player has touched the ball. The goalkeeper may still take a quick pass to keep the game going. Coaches should agree how they will apply it before kick-off and explain it to the players. In 4v4 and 5v5 there is no retreating line. Instead, the scoring team drops back to halfway after a goal. 9v9 has no retreating line, and the penalty area applies as normal.

Question

Accepted Answer

The retreating line is a development rule in 7v7 (children born 2015 to 2017). It gives the goalkeeper and defenders time to play out from the back instead of kicking long.

The line is 13 metres from each goal line, marked with cones, flat markers or poles. The game supervisor can also mark it.
When the goalkeeper has the ball in their hands and play has stopped, or at a goal kick, all opponents must go back behind the line.
They can't come into that area until a defending outfield player has touched the ball.
The goalkeeper may still take a quick pass to keep the game going.
Coaches should agree how they will apply it before kick-off and explain it to the players.

In 4v4 and 5v5 there is no retreating line. Instead, the scoring team drops back to halfway after a goal. 9v9 has no retreating line, and the penalty area applies as normal.