Laws of the game

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Official FIFA Futsal Rules and Regulations as stated under the Laws of The Game will be enforced. Check out the Laws of the Game at US Youth Futsal.

GENERAL RULES

  • There are four field players and a goalkeeper.
  • There is no offside.
  • The goalkeeper may only play the ball (by feet or hands) for four seconds in his own half. If he is in the opponent’s half he has no playing restrictions. Once the goalkeeper plays the ball, he may not touch the ball a second time in his own half unless it has been touched by an opponent.
  • Halves for tournaments and league play are 22 minutes. Half time is three minutes and each coach may call one one-minute time out per half (use or lose) when in possession of the ball. There are no time outs in overtime/extra periods. Time out requests are made to the referee.
  • U12 and below use a size 3 ball, olders use a size 4 ball. The ball is softer and heavier than a regular soccer ball.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Free substitutions are made “on the fly”. Players may only enter or leave the game in the substitution areas marked by their respective benches and a player may only enter a game after the player he is replacing has left the field. Failure to do so will result in a caution and an indirect free kick is taken by the opposing team from where the ball was located when the game was stopped to caution the player.

KICK OFF

Opposing players must give five yards until the ball is in play. Ball can be kicked forwards or backwards to a team mate.

BALL OUT OF PLAY

KICK-IN

A ball kicked out over the touch line (side line) by one team becomes the other team’s ball. The team kicking in has four seconds to get the ball back in play or it becomes their opponent’s kick-in. Defenses must give five yards distance. The referee will give a visual count with his hand. A player taking a kick-in may not step into the field while kicking the ball back into play. Goals may not be scored from kick-ins.

If the ball hits the ceiling, a kick-in is taken at the closest point on the nearest touchline, running parallel to the goal line.

GOAL CLEARANCE

When the offensive team puts the ball over the end line, the other team is awarded the ball. The goalkeeper must put the ball back into play by throwing it within four seconds of retrieving it. The throw must leave the penalty area. Goalie is not allowed to throw the ball into the other team’s penalty arc. The opposing team must stay out of the penalty area during a goal clearance. If a player touches the ball before it leaves penalty area, the goalkeeper retakes the throw. The goalkeeper may not touch the ball again until an opponent touches it.

CORNER KICK

Corner kicks are taken inside the corner arc. If there is no arc, the kick is taken at the point where goal line and touch line meet (at the corner).

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

FOULS

Futsal is a minimum contact sport. However, some contact may occur as long as it is done in a legal manner. It may not be done by play that is careless, reckless, or with excessive force. NO Slide tackling is allowed.

SIXTH ACCUMULATED FOUL

Upon a team’s sixth accumulated foul in each half and all other accumulated fouls within the half, the opposing team is awarded a free kick taken from the 10 meter penalty mark, or where the infraction occurred if it is in a more favorable spot. The defending team may not make a wall to block the kick. The player taking the kick must be clearly identified and the player taking the kick must make an attempt at the goal.

ACCUMULATED FOULS RESULTING IN A DIRECT KICK

  • Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent
  • Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent
  • Jumping at an opponent
  • Charging an opponent
  • Striking or attempting to strike an opponent
  • Pushing an opponent
  • Tackling
  • Holding an opponent
  • Spitting at an opponent
  • Handling the ball (except for the goalkeeper in his own penalty area)

SENDING OFF FOULS

  • Handling the ball deliberately, except for the goalkeeper in his area.
  • Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity by handling the ball (except for the goalkeeper in his own penalty area).
  • Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity by fouling an opponent moving toward the goal. The player sent off may not re-enter the game. Substitution is allowed after two minutes.

INDIRECT FREE KICK

The defense may set up a wall no closer than five yards from kicker. The ball is in play after it has been touched. If the kicking team takes more than four seconds to take the kick it becomes the opponent’s indirect kick.

The referee may issue a yellow card to a player or coach for misconduct as warning. If the referee issues a red card to a player or coach; they must sit out the remainder of the game in which the card was issued and the team must continue the game a player short. In addition, they must sit out the next game in its entirety. The red card will be reviewed by the league director to see if further discipline may be taken such as more suspended games or team suspension for the remainder of the season depending on the gravity of the foul or incident.