The Ball: Is a Futsal reduced bounce version of a FIFA size 4 ball
The Team & Players: 5 players on the pitch including the goalkeeper but a team can have 12 players. If there are less than 3 players (inc. the goalkeeper), the match is abandoned.
Rotating substitutes (sub): Sub’s can be made at any time regardless of whether the ball is in play or not.
Duration of the match: The match will last 40 minutes and comprises of two 20 minute halves played in normal time. Half time will be 1 minute. At the end of the half, if the ball has been kicked towards goal the referee must wait for the kick to end before he may sound the whistle. Teams are entitled to a 1 minute time-out in each half. The following conditions shall apply:
Start and re-start of play: The game is started by a kick-off in the same manner as a normal 11 a-side football match. The following should be noted however:
A goal may not be scored directly from the kick-off
The opponents of the team taking the kick-off must be at least 3m from the ball until it is in play
Ball in and out of play: The ball shall be deemed in and out of play in the same way as normal 11 a-side football. If the ball hits the ceiling it is deemed out of play and the game is restarted with a kick-in to the opponents of the team that touched the ball last. This shall be taken from the touch line at a point nearest to the place on the ground above which the ball hit the ceiling.
Method of scoring and winning a match: This is the same as normal 11 a-side football
Fouls and misconduct: The procedure for a direct or an indirect free kick is exactly the same as 11 a-side football. Every infringement resulting in a direct free kick results in an accumulated foul. A penalty kick is awarded in the same way as normal 11 a-side football for any infringement inside the penalty area resulting in a direct free kick. If a goalkeeper commits any of the following offences an indirect free kick is awarded:
After clearing the ball, he touches it again following a deliberate pass by a team mate, before it has been touched by an opponent.
Controls the ball with his hands from a back pass.
Controls the ball with his hands or feet in his own half for more than 4 seconds.
An indirect free kick shall also be awarded to the opposing team for the following:
Plays in a dangerous manner
Deliberately obstructs a player
Disciplinary sanctions: Yellow and Red cards are shown in the normal way for fouls and misconduct. The following differences should be noted:
A substitute player may enter the pitch 2 minutes after a team mate has been sent off.
Free kicks: The procedure is the same as normal 11 a-side football but with the following differences:
All opponents shall be 5m from the ball until it is in play
When a defending team is taking a free kick from inside its own penalty area, all opponents shall remain outside the area
If the team taking the free kick takes more than 4 seconds, the referee shall award an indirect free kick to the opposing team
Accumulated fouls: Each team will be allowed to give away 5 direct free kicks in each half. On the 6th foul a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team and the defending team is not allowed to position any players (other than the GK) between the ball and goal. The kick may be taken from a 10m mark or if the foul was committed closer to the goal than the 10m mark, then the kick may be taken from where the foul took place.
Penalty kick: This follows the same procedure as normal 11 a-side football
The kick-in: Used to restart the start the game after ball has crossed the touchline. The ball is kicked back into play from the touchline at a position where the ball crossed the touchline. The ball must be stationary on and up to 25cm off the touchline and the feet of the player taking the kick-in must not cross the line. The player taking the kick-in must do so within 4 seconds. If this is not done, then the kick-is is awarded to the opposing team.
Goal Clearance: This is used to re-start play after the ball has crossed the goal line. A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance. To re-start play the ball can be thrown from any point inside the penalty area by the goalkeeper. If the ball is not thrown directly out of the area, then the goal clearance shall be re-taken. The opponents shall remain outside the area until the ball is in play. If the goal clearance is not taken within 4 seconds of the goalkeeper taking possession of the ball; then an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team on the penalty area line from the place nearest to where the infringement occurred.
Corner Kick: Is used to restart play by the attacking team and is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line, having touched a defending player last – as in normal 11 a-side football. The ball shall be placed inside the corner arc of the nearest corner. The defending team players must be 5m away from the corner arc until the ball is in play. The ball is kicked into play by an attacking player. But the kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
