Futsal
Rules and Mechanics
The Pitch and Ball
• Follow the main basketball court
extended out to the gray lines on the
sides.
• Keeper’s box is the blue three point
line and the penalty kick line is the
free-throw line.
• We use a regulation futsal ball.
Players and Substitutions
• Each team consists of 5 players
–4 Players and 1 Keeper
• Futsal uses “on the fly” substitutions
–The players at any point can switch with a
teammate presuming that the both enter and exit in
the area in front of their bench.
–No team at any point should have 6 people on the
court
Player Equipment
• Standard Equipment
–Shorts (keeper can wear pants)
–Shirt/Jersey (keeper has to wear different color from
team
–Socks
–Shin-guards (need to be covered by socks)
–Court friendly shoes (tennis shoes)
–Goal keeper gloves are ok
• Illegal equipment
–Jewelry (earrings, watch, wristbands, etc.)
Timing and Periods
• Two 20 min halves
• Each team gets a single one minute timeout per half
–If unused it does not roll over
–Can be called anytime but only awarded when the
team has possession
–Same players who were on the court when the
timeout was called must return
Starting a game
• Kickoff is determined by the coin toss
• Kickoff happens at center of the court
–Players can score off the kickoff
–Everyone starts on their own half
–All but 2 players of the kickoff team must be outside
the center circle
–Players must kick the ball forward to start the game
• Drop ball used to restart a game after being stopped
with no other result (official’s stoppage, injury, double
penalty)
The Drop Ball
• Awarded when we have a stoppage with no other
starting position
• Includes one player from both teams
• The players are opposite each other facing the official
in the middle
• The ball is dropped between the two players
• The ball may not be touched by the players until it has
touched the ground at which point the ball becomes
live and either player can make a play on the ball
In and Out of Bounds
• Ball is out of bounds or in the goal when the entire ball
crosses the line
• Otherwise it is still in bounds
–Even after bouncing off the goal
• If needed blow the whistle to get the player’s attention
–Most of the time they already know or verbal
conformation and will allow it to be played correctly
• Out of bounds on the sidelines is a kick-in
• Out of bounds on the end lines is a goal clearance
(can roll) by the keeper
–Cannot cross the center line
Kick-In
• Awarded to the opposite team from who touched it last
when the ball goes out on the sideline
• Given on the area of the sideline closest to where it
went out
• Goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in
• Ball should be kicked in within 4 seconds
• Ball must be still when kicking it
• Kicker must keep both feet on or behind side line
• Kicker cannot touch it a second time before it is
touched by another player
• Defenders must be at least 5 meters away
Goal Clearance
• Awarded to the keeper when the offence kicks it out
on the end line
• Cannot score from a goal clearance
• Keeper must throw/roll the ball to another player from
anywhere in the penalty area
• Other team must remain outside the penalty area
• Keeper can’t touch it a second time before another
player
• Keeper cannot throw the ball over the half court line
must play it to his own side of the court
Corner Kick
• Awarded to the offensive team when the defense kicks
it out on their end line
• Can score directly
• Ball placed in the corner and offence plays it in from
there
• Opponents must be at least 5 meters away
• After kicking it in the player cannot touch it again until
another player plays it
Scoring &
Winning
• Goal is scored when the
entire ball crosses the line
within the net without a
penalty happening before
• The team with the highest
score at the end of
regulation wins
Fouls – Direct Kick
• Fouls resulting in a direct kick included
–Tripping
–Kicking
–Charges
–Strike or attempt to strike a player
–Pushing
–Holding
–Slide tackle
–Deliberately uses his hands
• Enforce from the spot of the foul
Fouls – Indirect Kick
• Indirect kick fouls include
–Keeper fouls
• Pick the ball up after it being played to him from
any teammate at anytime
• Possess the ball for longer than 4 seconds on his
side of the court
–Other players
• Plays in a dangerous manner
• Impedes the player by playing the player and not
the ball
• Prevents the goal keeper from releasing the ball
• Any other situations not already covered
Yellow Cards
• Unsporting conduct
• Dissent
• Persistent breaking of the rules
• Delays the restart of the game
• Fails to respect the distance needed for players to put
the ball in
• Entering and leaving the field incorrectly or without the
officials approval
• Result: Indirect free kick from location of the foul. If
committed in the penalty box then moved to edge
Red Card
• Serious foul play
• Violent conduct
• Spitting
• Purposely denies a team a goal or goal scoring
opportunity
• Deliberately uses their hands (if not the keeper)
• Uses foul language
• Receives a second yellow card
• Result: Same enforcement as a yellow card except
the player may not return and the team must play a
man down for 2 minutes or until the other team scores
Free Kicks
• All free kicks
–Ball must be still when kick taken
–Player cannot touch it a 2nd time before another
player touches it
–All players not taking the kick must be at least 5
meters away
• Direct Kick
–Can score a goal directly
• Indirect Kick
–Must touch another player before going in
Penalty Kick
• Ball
–Placed on the line
• Shooter is properly identified
• Keeper
–Must remain on his line, facing the player, between
the goal posts until the ball is kicked
• Other players
–Must remain on the court and outside the penalty
area
Overtime and Penalty Kick
Mechanics
• Overtime
− One 5 minute golden
goal
− Penalty Kicks if still
tied
• One goal chosen by
official
• Captain’s meeting to
determine order
• 5 kickers per team
• Alternate shooting
• Most at end wins if
tied then keep going
until someone
ahead for same
shots
• Have to go
completely through
their roster before
repeating a player
(including keeper)
• Players sent off
during the game
can’t shoot