YOUTH FUTSAL LEAGUE RULES

PLAYERS & ROSTERS 

The match is played 5v5, one of whom is the goalkeeper. 

A match may start if either team has a minimum of 3 players. 

Roster size: 12 players max can be suited to play in a game. All players must have their parents sign a waiver before each season.

Game Duration – 23-minute halves, running clock, with a 2-minute halftime.

BASIC GAME RULES 

1. Substitutions – Unlimited and on the fly. Must enter and exit between the substitution zone lines. The incoming player cannot step on the court until their teammate is off. They are penalized with an indirect free kick if a substitution is not done correctly, taken from the spot where the ball was at the time of the illegal substitution. Note: Substitution of goalkeeper is the same as with any other player.

2. Keep a distance of 5 meters on all restarts (kick-offs, kick-ins, and corner kicks. The defending team cannot invade that space until the ball is played. Suppose a defending player within the 5-meter area attempts to play the ball. In that case, the referee may sanction an indirect free kick against the defending team. Repeated infractions of this type may also result in a yellow card. 

3. Kick Ins: the ball must be on or behind the line, stationery, and played within 4 seconds. They cannot score directly from a kick-in. A change of possession from the spot where the kick-in was taken occurs if not taken correctly. TIP: encourage players to spot the ball with their hand, not their feet, before executing a kick-in.

4. Corner Kicks: the ball must be on the corner area, stationary, and played onto the court within 4 seconds. They can score directly from a corner kick. A goal clearance is awarded to the defending team if not taken correctly. TIP: encourage players to spot the ball with their hand, not their feet, before executing a kick-in.

5. Four seconds on all restarts: kick-ins, corner kicks, goal clearances, kick-offs, and direct and indirect free kicks. The referee will make the count visible except on indirect free kicks when the count is silent. Suppose the ball isn’t played within the four-second count. In that case, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the ball, except on kick-ins (kick-in awarded to the opposing team) and corner kicks (a goal clearance is awarded to the defending team). NOTE: Referee must signal with whistle on kick-offs, direct and indirect free kicks (unless played quickly), and penalty kicks. 

6. Pass back to the goalkeeper rule: once the goalkeeper plays the ball, the ball cannot be passed back to them unless there is a change of possession: An indirect free kick is awarded against the team for this violation at the spot where the goalkeeper received the pass back Note: if received inside the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken at the edge of the penalty area.

7. Goal clearances: A goal clearance is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored. The goalkeeper must play the ball with their hands and on their half to restart play. An indirect kick at the halfway line is awarded if the ball is played directly over the halfway line. A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance. NOTE: if the ball doesn’t go out of play and is in possession of the goalkeeper, they can play the ball anywhere on the court with their hands or feet. (Punts and drop kicks are allowed, and you can score directly by these means, you CAN NOT score directly with a throw)

8. The goalkeeper has four seconds to play the ball. In all situations, when the goalkeeper comes in contact with the ball, they have 4 seconds to play the ball. An indirect free kick is awarded against the team for this violation at the spot where the goalkeeper had the ball at the time of the violation. Note 1: if inside the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken at the edge of the penalty area. Note 2: there is no four-second count if the goalkeeper possesses the ball in his attacking half.

9. Time outs: each team has one 1 minute time out per half. A timeout can only be taken when the ball is in the team’s possession and is out of play. The coach must ask the referee for a timeout.

10. Accumulated fouls: all fouls awarded a direct free kick are accumulated fouls. Once a team reaches five accumulated fouls in a half, every accumulated foul after is a direct free kick from the second penalty spot and without a wall. Note: referee will announce when a team has reached five fouls in a half. Once the second half starts, all accumulated fouls from the first half are erased.

11. Kick Offs: Taken at the beginning of each half and after a score. The referee must signal with the whistle for the start. CAN SCORE DIRECTLY FROM A KICK-OFF

EQUIPMENT

Score Table is & Game Time – The referee manages both the score table and keeps time.

Ball – Futsal ball of the proper size for the age playing. Size 3 for U6 thru U13, and size 4 for U14 and older.

*Home team provides the game ball.

Uniforms – Players on the same team must wear the same color uniforms — Shin guards and footwear with flat soles (no turf or cleats allowed). The goalkeeper’s uniform must be a distinctly different color from that of his team, the opposing team, and the referees. The home team changes color in case of clashing colors. For league play, uniform numbers aren’t mandatory. 

– A player wearing a soft cast is permitted to play with the referee’s permission.

 – Hard casts are not permitted.

GAME TIME

The referee’s whistle indicates the start and end of each period.

Time is extended if a penalty kick or direct free kick must be taken or retaken; the period in question is extended until the direct free kick has been taken.

Time Outs – Each team has ONE timeout per half and can only be taken when in possession of the ball and it’s out of play. 

NOTE: The referee can ask for a timeout at any time.

FOULS & VIOLATIONS 

A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses against an opponent in a manner considered by the referees to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:

• charges 

• jumps at

• kicks or attempts to kick 

• pushes 

• strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt) 

• tackles or challenges

• trips or attempts to trip 

•  “Careless” is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration 

•  when making a challenge or acting without precaution. No disciplinary 

•  sanction is needed. 

•  “Reckless” is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or 

•  consequences for an opponent and must be cautioned. 

•  “Using excessive force” is when a player exceeds the necessary use of 

•  force or endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off. 

A direct free kick is also awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses: 

• a handball (except the goalkeeper within their penalty area)

• holding an opponent

• impeding an opponent with contact

• Biting or spitting at someone 

• Throwing/kicking an object at the ball, an opponent, or a match official, or making contact with the ball with a held object.

• tackles or challenges

• trips or attempts to trip

All the offenses listed in this section count as accumulated fouls (All offenses awarded with a direct free kick [a penalty kick if committed inside the pearly area] count as accumulated fouls)

Indirect free kick awarded when any of the following offenses is committed (kick taken from the edge of the penalty area when infringement takes place in the penalty area):

• dangerous play (e.g., attempting to kick the ball held by the goalkeeper) A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible, provided it is not dangerous to an opponent.

• obstruction – impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made (moving into the opponent’s path to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing distance)

• charging the goalkeeper in the penalty area (i.e., goalkeeper charge)

• 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 controls the ball with any part of his body for more than 4 seconds on their half. NOTE: 4 seconds rule doesn’t apply to goalkeepers when they control the ball with their feet in sho or her attacking half.

• goalkeeper touches with any part of his body a back pass that has been played back to them before the ball has changed possession or been touched by an opponent

• on a goal clearance, the goalkeeper touches the ball again before it touches another player.

• Illegal substitution (kick taken from the spot where illegal substitution occurred) 

• The player taking a direct or indirect free kick, a kick in, or a corner kick plays the ball a second time before another player plays the ball.

• On a goal clearance, the goalkeeper throws the ball over the half-line when the ball has previously gone out of play.

• If, when a free kick is taken, an attacking team player is less than 1m from a ”wall” formed by two or more defending-team players, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team. 

• Suppose a direct or indirect free kick is not taken within four seconds. In that case, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from where the free kick was to be taken.

Indirect free kicks are taken from where the infraction occurred unless it occurs in the penalty area, then taken at the edge of the penalty area. 

MISCONDUCT 

Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered technical fouls. A player, manager, or coach ejected will have an automatic minimum one (1) game suspension regardless of the cause of the ejection. Depending upon the severity of the unacceptable conduct, suspensions for more games may occur. 

Yellow Cards are not accumulated from game to game. If a Red Card is given to a player/coach and sent off, they must leave the court and cannot remain on the bench. A game suspension is served during the next scheduled match. 

*CONTROL OF SIDELINE CONDUCT* 

Players, managers, coaches, and fans are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. League Staff has the authority and the responsibility to remove any person(s) from the facility for conducting abuses. The team manager/coach will be responsible for their fans’ behavior. The referee will have the authority to warn and ultimately send off any manager/coach and the fans who behave in an abusive or disruptive manner. 

Games that end due to disruptive behavior will also result in a fine of $100 

GAME FORFEITS

A forfeit communicated within 24 hours of the scheduled game results in a $45 Forfeit Fee. No Shows result in a $60 No Show Fee. In either case, the fee must be paid within 24 hours by Venmo to @cityfutsal (Esteban Mariel – 1952).