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Here, Planet Futsal guides you through the laws, highlighting the basic principals of the game that make it different from any other versions of five-a-side or indoor soccer that you might have played before:
The field
Futsal is played on a marked field and the ball can go out of play
The ball
The ball is a fundamental factor in making
the game and is by virtue of the laws of the game required to be a smaller, heavier, ‘low bounce’ version of 11
a-side ball
Head height
There are no restrictions (apart form the ceiling of the gym!) as to how high the ball can be kicked in Futsal.
Rotating substitutions
Up to 12 players can be used in one match and there is no limit on
how long a player must stay on or off the field. Players must enter and leave the field of play via the ‘substitution
zone’ that is marked on the pitch in front of the team’s benches.
Kick-ins
In order to restart the game after a ball has gone out of play the ball is kicked back into play from the touchline
and from corners. The ball must be placed stationary on the touchline and the feet of the player taking the kick-in must not
cross the line.
The 4 second rule
For kick-ins, free kicks, goal clearances and
corner kicks the player in possession of the ball has 4 seconds to restart play which the referee will count with their fingers
in the air. If play isn’t restarted within four seconds an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.
The goalkeeper is not allowed to control the ball for more than 4 seconds in his own half.
The 5 meter rule
Players are required
to keep 5 meter from the player in possession of the ball on free kicks, corners, goal clearances, kick-ins and penalties.
Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers are allowed to come out of and players are allowed to go into the penalty area. A goal clearance must
be thrown out and the goalkeeper cannot touch the ball again until it has crossed into the opponent's half or a member
of the opposition has touched the ball.
Accumulated fouls
Each team will
be allowed to give away 5 direct free kicks in each half, then on the sixth foul a direct kick is awarded to the opposing
team and the defending team is not allowed to position any players (other than the goal keeper) between the ball and the goal.
The kick may be take from the 10 meter mark or, if the foul was committed closer to the goal than the 10 meter mark, then
the kick may be taken from the position where the foul took place.
Real-time
A Futsal match consists of two twenty minute halfs that are
played real-time which means the clock stops whenever the ball goes out of play.
Time outs
Each team is allowed a one minute time out in each half lasting
60 seconds.
Sliding Tackles
Sliding tackles are not allowed in Futsal but players ARE allowed to slide on the pitch, for example to stop
the ball from going out of play. For a player sliding to be considered an offence, the tackler’s opponent must have
possession of the ball. Referees will not give a foul for a slide if the opponent does not have possession of the ball.
Red Cards
If a player is sent off then the team to which the player belongs
must remain with 4 players until either two minutes have passed, or the opposition have scored a goal.
- Duration of Game - Running time may be used. (No stoppage of clock)
- Size of Balls - Under 12 players will use a Size #3 Futsal Ball, Under 13+ will use a Size #4 Futsal Ball
- Rosters - The maximum roster size is 10 players
- Size of Field - Fields will be adapted to the space available
- Goalkeepers - They may not throw the ball over the half way line
- Kick Off - Scoring from the kick off is only allowed on an International field (130 feet or greater)
- Penalty Kicks - Position and movement of goalkeeper for a kick from 2nd Penalty spot is the same as from the regular penalty spot (Goalkeeper must be on goal line until ball is kicked).
- Red Cards - If teams have a player sent off they must play with a man down for the remainer of the game.