FUTSAL RULES OVERVIEW
The Differences Between Soccer and Futsal
Below are the major differences between Soccer rules and Futsal rules. If the law is not addressed below, you can assume that the rules of game are the same as outdoor
GENERAL RULES
- There are 4 field players and a Goal Keeper (GK)
- No offside
- GK can only handle the ball (by feet or hands) for 4 seconds in their own half. If they are in opponents half, they have no time-handling restrictions.
- GK cannot play by hand ANY ball played back to them including head and chest.
- Only one pass back to the GK per possession. Unless the ball crosses the half way line or is touched by an opponent.
- Substitutions - Free substitutions are made “on the fly”. Player can only enter or leave the game in the substitution areas immediately in front of their respective benches, and a player may only enter a game after the player they are replacing has left the field. Failure to do so results in a caution and an indirect free kick is taken from where the ball was situated when the game was stopped to caution the player.
- Kick off - Opposing players must give 3 yards until ball is in play
BALL OUT OF PLAY
Kick in
A ball kicked out over the touch line (side line) by one team becomes the other teams ball.
The team kicking in has 4 seconds after retrieving the ball to get it back in play or it becomes the opponent's kick in. Defense must give 5 yards distance. The referee will give a visual count with his hand. Players taking kick ins cannot step into the field while kicking ball back into play. Goals cannot be scored from kick-ins.
Goal Clearance
Futsal for goal kick. When the offensive team puts the ball over the end line, the other team gets the ball. The goalie must throw the ball within 4 seconds of retrieving it and put it back into play by throwing it. The throw must leave the penalty area, but it must touch the ground on the GK's half of the field (can't throw ball past half-line). Opposing team must stay out of penalty area during a goal clearance. If opposing players touches ball before it leaves penalty area, GK retakes the throw. The GK cannot touch ball again until another player touches it.
Corner Kick
There is no arc, kick is taken at the point where goal line and touch line meet (at corner)
FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Fouls
Slide tackling is a major foul in Futsal. It is not allowed in any situation where there is contact between players or where referees believe that contact could have resulted.
Indirect Free Kick
5 yards of distance from kicker to set up wall, and ball is in play after it has been touched. If the kicking team takes more time than 4 seconds to take the kick, it becomes the opposition's indirect kick.
Futsal Rules Overview