2015 Futsal Rules What is Futsal? Futsal is the only form of indoor soccer endorsed by FIFA. It earned the status of FIFA’s official form of indoor soccer in the 1980s as it was recognized as a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors. It is a 5 v 5 small-sided game played on a hard surfaced, basketball sized court with a smaller, heavier low bounce ball. Futsal is played with touchline boundaries and without walls. This is the game that outdoor soccer players around the globe play to refine and maintain their control skills and touch. It is superior to walled indoor soccer in terms of developing better skills and technique. In traditional American indoor walled soccer, players regularly whack the ball (and sometimes their bodies) against the boards which promotes improper technique and too often rewards errant play. In futsal, players are constantly reminded to play the same quality control game that is required for success in the outdoor game. The following rules have been designed to ensure fair play for all participants. Each player is expected to understand these rules prior to their participation. Any questions concerning these rules should be directed to the Program Director. Program Structure • All teams will be co-ed • Once teams are formed a schedule will be created and released • Each team will play 6 games o 4 Team brackets: regular round robin play plus playoffs based on league standings o 6 Team brackets: 5 regular round robin games with a 1 game playoff based on league standings. Play-off games will be as follows: 5th and 6 th place in league standing will play for 5 th and 6 th place in league 3rd and 4 th place in league standings will play for 3rd and 4 th place in league 1st and 2 nd place in league standings will play for league championship Players' Equipment The players should wear soccer shorts, socks and tennis, court indoor soccer shoes. All players MUST wear protective shin-guards. Practice jerseys will be provided to both teams and must be worn by players. FUTSAL RULES The Playing Court CSA Futsal will be played indoors on a standard full-size basketball court. The three point arc will serve as the Futsal penalty Arc. And the 1st penalty mark will be the basketball free-throw line, and the 2nd penalty mark will be at the top of the basketball three point arc. The Ball A size 4 Futsal (low-bounce) ball will be used. Duration of the Game Normally the clock in Futsal is stopped every time the ball goes out of play and is restarted when play resumes. Due to time limits of the rental of the court the time clock will not stop. Each team will get 10 minutes to warm-up prior to the match, and the match will be comprised two 25 minute periods with a 5 minute half time; for a total of 55 minutes. Time outs There are no time-outs or extra time. Players and Substitutions The match will be played by two teams, each consisting of not more than five players (a goalkeeper and four outfield players) and a maximum of 5 substitutes. There is no restriction on the number of substitutions that may be made during a match. Substitutions may be made at any time, whether the ball is in play or not, but only in the substitution zones or in front of each teams bench the specially demarcated substitution zones. A substitute player may replace a sent-off player and enter the pitch two full minutes after the sending-off. They may, however, enter the pitch before the two minutes have elapsed should their team concede a goal while a player down. Goalkeeper substitutions can only be made when the ball is out of play and with a referee's consent. pg. 2 FUTSAL RULES Goalkeepers Goalkeepers have only four seconds in which to play the ball, with either their hands or feet, and may not touch it again if it has been deliberately played to them by a team-mate without an opponent playing or touching it. Goalkeepers are free to play anywhere on the pitch, but they may only play the ball with the hands inside the penalty area. The Goalkeepers may not distribute, or throw, the ball beyond the halfway line. Accumulated fouls and the second penalty mark Accumulated fouls are those penalized with a direct free-kick or penalty kick, regardless of whether advantage has been played or not. If a team commits a sixth accumulated foul, the opposing side may take the subsequent free-kick awarded to them without a wall, either from the second penalty mark or from a position even closer to the penalty area if the foul was committed between the goal line and the second penalty mark. Offsides Unlike 11-a-side football, in futsal there is no offside. Referees Main Referee • Duties: Enforce the laws, apply the advantage rule, keep a record of all incidents before, during and after game, stop game when deemed necessary, caution or expel players guilty of misconduct, violent conduct or other ungentlemanly behavior, allow no others to enter the pitch, stop game to have injured players removed, signal for game to be restarted after every stoppage, decide that the ball meets with the stipulated requirements. • Position: The side opposite to the player benches • Power Unique to Main Referee: Can overrule Assistant Referee's calls. Second Referee & Time Keeper • Duties: Start game clock after kick-off, stop it when the ball is out of play, and restart it after all restarts; keep a check on 2-minute punishment for sending off; indicate end of first half and match with some sort of sound; record time-outs and fouls (and indicate when a team has exceeded the 5-foul limit); record game stoppages, scorers, players cautioned and sent off, and other information relevant to the game. • Position: Outside halfway line on the same side as the substitution zone (i.e., the players' bench side) The Start of Play Home team will kickoff; away team waits outside center circle; ball deemed in play once it has been touched; the kicker shall not touch ball before someone else touches it; ensuing kick-offs taken after goals scored and at start of second half. Goals may NOT be scored from kick-off. Ball in and out of Play • Ball out of play: When it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline; when the game has been stopped by a referee; when the ball hits the ceiling (restart: kick-in at the place closest to where the ball touched the ceiling). • Lines: Touchlines and goal lines are considered inside the playing area. pg. 3 FUTSAL RULES Method of Scoring When the whole of the ball has passed over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar (except by illegal means). Fouls and Misconduct Direct free kick awarded when a player intentionally commits any of the following 11 offenses (penalty kick awarded when infringement takes place in penalty area) • kicking or attempting to kick an opponent • tripping an opponent • jumping at an opponent • charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner • charging an opponent from behind • striking, attempting to strike, or spitting at an opponent • holding an opponent • pushing an opponent • charging an opponent with shoulder (i.e., shoulder charge) • sliding at an opponent (i.e., sliding tackle) • handling the ball (except goalkeeper) Indirect free kick awarded when any of the following 8 offenses is committed (kick taken from the 6-meter line when infringement takes place in penalty area): • dangerous play (e.g. attempting to kick ball held by goalkeeper) • obstruction • charging the goalkeeper in the penalty area (i.e., goalkeeper charge) • goalkeeper throws ball directly over the halfway-line (without it first touching his own side of the pitch or any player) • goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a back pass • goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a kick-in from a teammate • goalkeeper controls the ball with any part of his body for more than 4 seconds • goalkeeper touches with any part of his body a back pass that has been played back to him before the ball has (1) crossed the halfway-line or (2) been touched by an opponent Players shall be cautioned (i.e., shown yellow card) when: • he persistently infringes the Laws of the Game • he shows dissent with any decision of the referee • he is guilty of not showing sportsman like conduct These 3 yellow-card offenses are punishable by an indirect free kick taken from the point of infringement (or from the first penalty spot when the infringement takes place in penalty area). Players shall be sent off (i.e., shown the red card) for: • serious foul play • violent conduct • foul or abusive language • second instance of cautionable offense (i.e., second yellow card) • intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity (e.g. through a "professional foul") • intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity in the penalty area by handling the ball pg. 4 FUTSAL RULES Direct free kicks (or penalty kicks) accompany the expulsion for (a), (b), (e) and (f); indirect free kicks, for (c) and (d) (from the 6-meter line when the infringement takes place in the penalty area). Rules of Expulsion • The player sent off (shown a red card) is out for the rest of the game. • The team of the player sent off can substitute for that player after 2 minutes of playing time or after the opposing team scores -- whichever comes first.