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Basic Laws of Futsal
Here are the basic laws of Futsal. For more detailed laws of the game please look at the FA Link under the Futsal header.
- The pitch –
Futsal is played on a marked pitch and the ball can go out of play.
- The ball - Is
a fundamental factor in making the game and is by virtue of the laws of the
game required to be a smaller, heavier, ‘low bounce’ version of 11 a-side ball
- Head height –
There are no restrictions (apart form the ceiling of the sports hall!) as to
how high the ball can be kicked in Futsal.
- Rotating
substitutions – Up to 12 players can be used in one match and there is no limit
on how long a player must stay on or off the pitch. Players must enter and
leave the field of play via the ‘substitution zone’ that is marked on the pitch
in front of the team’s benches.
- Kick-ins – In
order to restart the game after a ball has gone out of play the ball is kicked
back into play from the touchline and from corners. The ball must be placed
stationary on the touchline and the feet of the player taking the kick-in must
not cross the line.
- The 4 second
rule – For kick-ins, free kicks, goal clearances and corner kicks the player in
possession of the ball has 4 seconds to restart play which the referee will
count with their fingers in the air. If play isn’t restarted within four
seconds an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. The
goalkeeper is not allowed to control the ball for more than 4 seconds in his
own half.
- The 5m rule –
Players are required to keep 5m from the player in possession of the ball on
free kicks, corners, goal clearances, kick-ins and penalties.
- Goalkeepers –
Goalkeepers are allowed to come out of and players are allowed to go into the
penalty area. A goal clearance must be thrown out and the goalkeeper cannot
touch the ball again until it has crossed into the opponents half or a member
of the opposition has touched the ball
- Accumulated
fouls – Each team will be allowed to give away 5 direct free kicks in each
half, then on the sixth foul a direct kick is awarded to the opposing team and
the defending team is not allowed to position any players (other than the goal
keeper) between the ball and the goal. The kick may be take from the 10m mark
or, if the foul was committed closer to the goal than the 10m mark, then the
kick may be taken from the position where the foul took place.
- Real time – A
Futsal match consists of two twenty minute halfs that are played real-time
which means the clock stops whenever the ball goes out of play.
- Time outs –
Each team is allowed a one-minute time out in each half lasting 60 seconds.
- Sliding
Tackles – Sliding tackles are not allowed in Futsal but players ARE allowed to
slide on the pitch, for example to stop the ball from going out of play. For a
player sliding to be considered an offence, the tackler’s opponent must have
possession of the ball. Referees will not give a foul for a slide if the
opponent does not have possession of the ball.
- Red Cards – If a player
is sent off then the team to which the player belongs must remain with 4
players until either two minutes have passed, or the opposition have scored a
goal.
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