The Ball
- Size #4 Official Futsal ball
LAW II – Number of Players
- Number of Players to Start Match: 5, one of whom shall be a goalkeeper
· Minimum Number of Players to Start & Finish Match: 3 (If a team does not have 3 players to start the game within 5 minutes after the start time the game becomes forfeit) 1 must be a Goalkeeper
· Substitution Limit: None
· Substitution Method: “Flying substitution” Sub on the Fly (all players but the goalkeeper enter and leave as they please; goalkeeper substitutions can only be made when the ball is out of play and with a referee’s consent) Players must enter and exit from the designated area.
Players’ Equipment
Numbered shirts of the same style and color, shorts, socks, protective shin-guards and footwear with Non-Marking rubber soles
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.
Timekeeper
- Duties: Start game clock after kick-off, 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)
Duration of the Game
- Duration: Two equal periods of 20 minutes for U10 –U12, Two equal periods of 22 minutes for Middle school through adult. Time can be prolonged only to take a penalty kick.
- Half-time: Maximum of 2 minutes
Each team will be allowed a single one-minute time-out per half that only is called by a team in possession of the ball on a dead ball situation.
The Start of Play
Procedure: Away team starts with the ball; opposing team waits outside center circle; ball deemed in play once it rolls; the kicker shall not touch ball before someone else touches it; ensuing kick-offs taken after goals scored and at start of second half. Kickoff can be any direction. You cannot score from the kick off.
Ball in and out of Play
- Ball out of play: When it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline; when a referee has stopped the game; 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.
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).
Goals can be made from the anywhere on the court.
Fouls and Misconduct
Indirect 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)
- 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 holds the ball for more than 5 seconds
Players shall be cautioned (i.e., shown yellow card) when:
- A substituting player enters the pitch from an incorrect position or before the player he is substituting has entirely left the pitch
- He persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
- He shows dissent with any decision of the referee
- He is guilty of ungentlemanly conduct
Players shall be sent off (i.e., shown the red card) for:
- (a) serious foul play
- (b) Violent conduct
- (c) Foul or abusive language
- (d) Second instance of cautionable offense (i.e., second yellow card)
- (e) intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity (e.g. through a “professional foul”)
- (f) Intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity in the penalty area by handling the ball
Indirect free kicks (or penalty kicks) accompany the expulsion for (a), (b), (e) and (f); indirect free kicks, for (c) and (d) (from the top of the 3-point arc when the infringement takes place in the penalty area).
5 fouls
After a team has received 5 fouls the opposing team will be awarded a Direct kick for each new foul from the spot of the foul for the remainder of the game.
Rules of Expulsion:
- The player shown a Yellow card must be sent out of play. They cannot have a replacement until the 2-minute penalty is upheld.
- The team of the player shown a Yellow can substitute for that player after 2 minutes of playing time or after the opposing team scores — whichever comes first.
- The 2-minute punishment shall be checked by the timekeeper (or by the assistant referee, if there is no timekeeper).
- The substitute cannot come on until the ball is out of play and he has a referee’s consent.
- The player sent off (shown a red card) is out for the rest of the game and is not even permitted to sit on the reserves’ bench.
Player shown a red card cannot be subbed for. Team must play a man down for the duration of the game.
Players that receives a red card will not be permitted to play their next game. They will serve a 1 game suspension for that team. If a player is rostered on more than 1 team they will not be able to play on any team until their suspension is served.
Free Kick
- Types: indirect free kicks
- Wall: At least 2 yards away until the ball is in play
- Ball in Play: After it has rolled
- Time Limit: Kick must be taken within 5 seconds
- Restriction: Kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it
Kick-in
- To be taken in place of the throw-in.
- The ball is placed on the touchline before kicking.
- The kicker’s foot not kicking the ball must be outside or at least on the touchline; if it crosses the touchline all of the way, into the pitch, the kick-in is given to the opposing team.
- The kick-in must be taken within 5 seconds; if it is not, the kick-in is given to the opposing team.
- The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until another player has played it; infringement of this rule entails an indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.
- Players on opposing team must be at least 2 yd. away from point of kick-in.
- Cannot score directly from a kick-in.
Goal Clearance
- To be taken in place of goal kick.
- From inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper throws the ball into play.
- The ball is not in play until it has passed outside of the penalty area. If the goal clearance is received inside of the penalty area, the goal clearance shall be taken over.
U12 and U10 – Cannot throw ball over half. Ball must touch a player or the court on the keeper’s side before crossing half.
Balls thrown over half will become the opposing teams kick from the centerline.
Middle School – Adult– Keepers can throw over the half way line, But CANNOT throw into the Opposing Goal Box
Corner Kick
- Ball placed on the corner (no corner-kick arc). If ball is misplaced, the corner kick is taken over.
- Must be taken within 5 seconds; failure to do so entails indirect free kick to the opposing team from the corner mark.
- The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until another player has played it; infringement of this rule entails an indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.
- Players on opposing team must be at least 2 yd away from point of the corner kick.
- Can score goal directly from a corner kick.
Picking up players Policy
To avoid a Forfeit and to play at full strength
If a team is shorthanded, but has a minimum number of players to start the game “3” they may pick up players from teams playing in the previous game (or from any team within the teams bracket). If no players can be picked up, you still can play as long as you meet the minimum number of players needed to play as described in current rules. When picking up players, you MUST inform the opposing captain, referee & Scorekeeper.
Pick up players must be on a roster within your Bracket. You cannot pick up more than 2 players, so only 5 total players. If one of your regular players shows up late, one of the pickup players must stop playing. Using illegal or extra players will result in forfeit.
Protesting: If your team thinks that the opponent picked-up too many people, or neglected to inform you & the referee, or that an illegal player was used; you must bring it to the attention of the referee BEFORE the game is over. The referee will note the protest and talk to the opposing team after the game, the referee will NOT make a decision on the protest but will gather information and forward to Hott FC, so the Hott FC staff person can decide the appropriate penalty.
The Reason for this rule is that we get the feeling that teams would rather play against full strength teams and not play a shorthanded team, or worse yet receive a forfeit and not play. Everyone is there to play and have fun. This rule allows you to pick up players already in the league but not “outsiders or ringers” that have not signed the waiver form and are not familiar with the league rules.
This rule will only be in effect during regular season, in order to participate in playoffs a player MUST be on the roster and have played in the regular season games.