Futsal Rules and Regulations

General Rules-

Teams may call one one-minute timeout per half (when in possession of the ball, ball out of
play).
There is no overtime, injury time, or stoppage time.
Teams are comprised of four outfield players and one goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper must wear a different color jersey than the outfield players.
There is no offsides in futsal.

Substitutions-

All substitutions are on the fly, this includes goalkeeping substitutions. Referees will not
stop play for goalkeeping substitutions. A substitute may not enter the pitch until the player
leaving the pitch leaves through the substitution zone in front of his teams’ bench. Any
substitute who enters the pitch before the player being replaced has completely left the
field of play may be shown a yellow card. All substitutions must take place through the
substitution zone in front of his teams’ bench — not at the half-way line.
Teams will switch benches (and ends) at the beginning of halftime, ensuring that all
substitutions take place in the defensive half.

Restarts

Kick-offs:

A goal may be scored directly against the opponents from the kick-off. The ball is in play
when it is kicked and clearly moves. Tapped balls are not in play – the ball must move.

Kick-ins:

Kick-ins are indirect. The ball must be placed on the line and the kick must be taken within
4 seconds. (A kick-in that goes directly into the opposing goal is a goal clearance for the
opposing team. A Kick-in that goes directly into the defensive goal is a corner kick of the
opposing team.) If the kick-in does not enter the pitch or the kick is not taken within 4
seconds, the opposing team takes the kick-in.

Goal Clearances:

Goal Clearances are taken when the ball wholly crosses the goal line and not under the
crossbar and between the goalposts and after being touched last by the attacking team. The
ball is thrown or released from any point within the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the
defending team. The ball is in play when it is thrown or released and clearly moves. The ball
must be put into play within four seconds of the team being ready to put the ball into play
or the referee signaling that the team is ready to put it into play. Opponents must be
outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

Corner Kicks:

Corner Kicks are direct. The ball must be placed directly on the corner arc and the kick must
be taken within 4 seconds. If the kick is not taken within 4 seconds the restart becomes a
goal clearance for the opposing team.

Free Kicks:

Free Kicks may be indirect or direct. The ball must be stationary before the kick may be
taken.

Penalty Kicks:

Penalty Kicks are taken from the penalty spot and must be taken by a clearly identified
kicker. Defenders may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball
when the kick is taken.

Fouls and Misconduct

Indirect Free Kicks:

When a player plays in a dangerous manner, impedes an opponent,
prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with her hands, the goalkeeper takes more
than 4 seconds to release the ball when in possession in his own half, plays the ball again
within his own half after releasing the ball and the ball doesn’t touch an opponent or has
gone out of play, or commits any offense for which play is stopped to caution or eject a
player.

Direct Free Kicks:

When a player kicks an opponent, tackles an opponent, trips an
opponent, jumps at an opponent, charges an opponent, strikes an opponent, pushes an
opponent, holds an opponent, spits at an opponent, or handles the ball deliberately.

Yellow Card / Caution:

The offending player is shown a yellow card. If a player is shown two
yellow cards in a match, he is shown a red card.

Red Card/send-off:

The offending team plays with one less player for two full game minutes
or unless scored upon before the two-minute penalty expires. The offending player serves a
minimum one-match suspension.

Accumulated Fouls:

All direct free-kick fouls are recorded on the scoresheet and on the
scoreboard. If one team accumulates 6 or more direct free kick fouls in one half, the
opposing team will take a direct free kick without a wall. If the foul occurs farther from the
attacking goal than the second penalty spot, the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall is taken
from the second penalty spot. If the foul occurs nearer to the attacking goal than the second
penalty spot (but outside the penalty area, of course), the attacking team may choose
whether to take the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall from the second penalty spot or from
the spot of the foul. All Direct Free Kicks Without a Wall must be kicked with the intention of
scoring a goal by a clearly identified kicker. The defending team may not make a wall and
may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball when the kick is
taken. The goalkeeper may be off the goal line but may not be nearer than 16 feet from the
ball. Accumulated fouls are reset to zero at the beginning of the second half and carry over
into extra time if being played.

Second Penalty Spot:

30 feet from goal line and the center of the goal

Penalty Spot:

20 feet from goal line and the center of the goal and placed at the top of the
penalty area line.

Advantage:

Advantage is applied in Futsal. Direct free kick fouls will count as accumulated
fouls if advantage is applied even if play is not stopped by the referees. If the referee
gestures with both arms, the foul was a direct free-kick foul and will be counted accordingly.
If the gesture was with one arm, the free kick would have been indirect and would not
count as an accumulated foul.

The Goalkeeper-

• Must wear a different color shirt.
• He/She may wear long pants and/or other padding as deemed safe by the match
  referee.
• May receive a kick-in directly.
• May kick the ball directly over the halfway line.
• May score directly with his/her feet during the run of play.
• May not possess the ball for more than four seconds in his/her own half.
• May throw the ball directly across the halfway line.
• May not score a goal by using the hands (cannot throw or hit the ball directly into
  the goal)
• Cannot touch the ball again in any way within his own half after releasing the ball
  into play unless an opponent has touched it or it has gone out of play.