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.

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It is a 5v5 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.

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Outdoor soccer players around the globe play this game to refine and maintain their control skills and touch. It is superior to walled soccer in terms of developing better skills and technique. In traditional American 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.

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Futsal is the only "Official form of Indoor Soccer" as approved by the Internationale de Football Association, also known as FIFA. It is played in all the continents of the world by over 100 countries with a total of over 30 million players playing this sport. Futsal is played on a gymnasium hard-wood floor or all-purpose sports flooring. The game does not require the use of expensive dasher boards, as do other versions of indoor soccer, therefore making it a very economical and safe sport.

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Rules:

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General

- All rules are to comply with U.S. Futsal Laws Of The Game unless otherwise stated here

- Futsal is played with a ball that bounces less than a conventional football

- When the ball goes out of play, play resumes with a kick-in

- After half time, teams will NOT switch sides & their “bench” area

- “Bench” area must be kept completely clear, no items allowed except coach & players

- There is no offside rule

 

Duration Of Matches

- One Half of 20 minutes with a 5-minute break between games. 

- The clock does not stop unless there is an injured player.

 

Kick-ins

- When the ball goes out of play, play resumes with a kick-in.  There are no throw-ins in futsal.

- Kick-ins must be made within 4 seconds after the ball is set up or they will go to the

other team.

- The player must stop the ball completely using one hand. If the ball is set up with the

foot, it's called double kick and the kick in will be awarded to the other team.

- The ball can be placed on top of the line or behind the line, not beyond the line in the field of play.

- The player’s feet can be on top of the line or behind the line, but not inside the court.

- The opponent must be at least 4 meters from every kick-in.

 

Goalkeeper Distribution

- There are no goal kicks. Any time the ball goes over the endline play restarts with either the ball in the goalie’s hands for distribution or a corner kick (depending on which team touched it last.) 

- Goalkeepers can only hold the ball for 4 seconds.

- Goalkeepers are allowed to throw the ball from their area into the opposition half (regardless of age).

- Once a goalkeeper releases the ball into play, that goalkeeper cannot touch the ball again within their own half, UNLESS after the releasing the ball into play (1) an opponent touches the ball or (2) the ball goes out of play  
 

Team Fouls

- A count is kept of the amount of fouls committed by each team in each half that result in either a direct free-kick or penalty kick. If a match goes to extra time, the accumulated fouls from the second period continue to accumulate during extra time.

- When a team commits a sixth foul in either half, the opposing team is awarded a direct free-kick without a wall on the second penalty mark.  The second penalty mark is situated behind the first penalty mark, 10meters from goal.

- If a match goes to extra time, the accumulated fouls from the second period continue to accumulate during extra time. Extra time only occurs during playoff games.

- “Slide Tackles” are not allowed, players can go to ground to play the ball but not within the vicinity of another player or make any contact with an opposing player. 

 

Substitutions

- The player being substituted leaves the pitch via their own team’s substitution

zone and the player entering the field must enter through the substitution zone

-The player being substituted does not need to obtain the referees’

permission to leave the pitch.

- The substitute only enters the pitch after the player being replaced has left.

- A substitution may be made at any time, whether the ball is in play or not, except

during a timeout