Indoor Hardwood (Futsal) Soccer Rules

Field/Court

•     Played in basketball courts.
•     Each penalty area is defined by the 3-point basketball line
•     Penalty spot is in the middle of the free throw line
•     Second penalty mark is in the middle of the 3-point line

Ball

•     Played with a #4 Futsal Ball

Players

•     There are 4 field players and a Goal Keeper (GK).
•     Maximum number of player: 5
•     Minimum number of players: 3
•     For Coed Leagues, each time must have at least one (1) female player, at least one (1) male player, and NO more than three (3) male players.
•     GK can only play the ball (by feet or hands) for 4 seconds in their own half.
•     If the GK is in the opponent’s half, the GK has no time restrictions.
•     Once the GK plays or releases the ball, they cannot touch the ball a second time in their own half unless it has been touched by an opponent.

Substitutions

•     Substitutions allowed at any time the ball is in play (“on the fly”)
•     Player MUST first leave the court in front of his/her own bench.
•     Substitute may enter ONLY after Player left the court.

Duration

•     24 minute halves for tournament and for league play.
•     3 minutes for half time
•     Each Team has a one-minute time out per half (use or lose) when in possession of the ball.
•     Time out requests are made to the referee, and allowed at the Referee’s discretion.

Offside

•     There is no offside in Futsal rules

Kickoff

•     Kickoff MUST be played forward.
•     A goal cannot be scored directly from a kickoff.

Kick in

•     A kick in is awarded when the whole ball leaves the court over the touchlines, OR touches the ceiling or a          structure above the court.
•     Opposing players must be at least 5 yards from the ball
•     Ball must be played within 4 seconds of being ready to do so.
•     The referee will give a visual count.
•     Players taking the kick in cannot step into the field before the ball is in play.
•     A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in.

Goal Clearance

•     A goal clearance is awarded when the whole ball leaves the court over the goal line and a goal was not scored.
•     The Goalkeeper MUST throw the ball (no kick) into play
•     Ball must be played within 4 seconds of being ready to do so.
•     The referee will give a visual count.
•     The ball is in play when it leaves the penalty area.
•     The Goalkeeper cannot touch the ball again until after is played by an opponent (no goal clearance to self)
•     A goal cannot be scored directly from a goal clearance.

Corner Kick

•     The ball must be placed within the corner arc.
•     Ball must be played within 4 seconds of being ready to do so.
•     The referee will give a visual count.
•     If there is no corner arc, the ball must be placed at the intersection (corner) of the goal line and touch line.
•     Ball is in play when it clearly moves
•     A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

Fouls and Misconduct Fouls

•     Futsal is a minimum contact sport.
•     Charges are illegal (No shoulder to shoulder challenges)
•     Sliding is allowed
•     Tackling is not allowed
•     Examples:

Player slides to play the ball, no opponents within playable distance – NO foul

Player slides to play the ball, opponents is within playable distance, no contact – Foul, IFK (dangerous play)

Player slides to play the ball, opponents is within playable distance, contact – Foul, DFK (tackling)

•     Ball must be played within 4 seconds of being ready to do so.
•     The referee will NOT give a visual count.
•     If a player commits a DFK foul against a TEAMMATE, the restart is on IFK (except handling)

Accumulated Fouls

•     Direct Free kicks accumulate on each period.
•     The restart after the 5th accumulated foul is a Direct Free Kick without a wall from the second penalty mark.
•     Ball must be played within 4 seconds of being ready to do so.
•     The referee will NOT give a visual count.

Cautions and Sendoff

•     If a Player is sent off, the player MUST leave the venue, their Team will play without the sent off player for two (2) minutes or after the opposing Team scores, whichever occurs  first.