General Rules
Each match consists of two equal halves of 24 minutes.
A two-minute half-time period will occur between halves.
Coaches may call one one-minute timeout per half.
There is no overtime, injury time or stoppage time.
Teams at U15 and older will switch sides/benches at the beginning of halftime.
Teams are comprised of four outfield players and one goalkeeper.
A team must have four players to begin a match.
The goalkeeper must wear a different color jersey than the outfield players.
All players must wear the following: shirt, shorts, shinguards, socks, sneakers -- no exceptions.
No jewelry, casts, splints or earrings are allowed.
There is no sliding in futsal (see goalkeeping exception below).
There is no contact or charging in futsal.
There is no advantage applied in futsal.
There is no offsides in futsal.
Substitutions
All substitutions are on the fly (like hockey), this includes goalkeeping substitutions. Referees will not stop play for goalkeeping substitutions. Coaches are requested to change goalkeepers during halftime, during timeouts and after the opposing team scores.
A substitute may not enter the match until the player leaving the match is at the touchline. Coaches are asked to have players slap hands at the touchline to ensure that no more than five players are on the court at once.
All substitutions must take place in front of the teach bench -- not at the half-way line.
All U14 and older teams will sides and switch benches at the beginning of halftime, ensuring that all substitutions take place in the defensive half.
Restarts
Kickoffs: are indirect. The ball must be played forward first. (In HS and adult leagues, kickoffs are direct.)
Kickins: are indirect. The ball must be placed on the line and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. The kicker's plant foot must be out of bounds or on the line. (A kickin that goes directly in the opposing goal is a goal clearance for the opposing team. A kickin that goes directly in the defensive goal is a corner kick of the opposing team.)
Goal Clearances: are taken in place of goal kicks. The goalkeeper must use his hands to roll, bounce or throw the ball from anywhere inside the penalty area to anywhere in his own half outside the penalty area. The ball may not cross the half-way line without first being touched by the ground or another player. (In HS and adult leagues, goalkeepers may throw the ball directly across the half-way line. In these leagues, goal clearances are indirect. A ball thrown directly into the opposing goal results in a goal clearance for the opposing team.)
Corner Kicks: are direct. The ball must be placed directly on the corner spot and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds.
Free Kicks: may be indirect or direct. The ball must be stopped completely before the kick may be taken.
Penalty Kicks: are taken from the penalty spot and must be shot at goal by a clearly identified kicker. Defenders may not be nearer to the ball than 10 feet and must be behind an imaginary line running from touchline to touchline even with the penalty spot.
Distance: For all of the above, except goal clearances, opponents may not be closer to the ball than 10 feet.
Ceiling: If the ball hits the ceiling, the team that did not touch the ball last restarts play with a kickin from the nearest point on the touchline.
Fouls and Misconduct
Indirect Free Kicks: When a player plays in a dangerous manner, impedes an opponent (without playing the ball), prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with her hands, commits any offence for which play is stopped to caution or eject a player.
Direct Free Kicks: When a player kicks or attempts to kick an opponent, slides or slidetackles an opponent (automatic yellow card/caution), jumps at an opponent, charges at an opponent, strikes or attempts to strike an opponents, pushes an opponent, holds an opponent, spits at an opponent, touches the opponent while attempting to win the ball, handles the ball deliberately.
Yellow Card / Caution: The offending player serves three-minute penalty. If opposing team scores within three minutes, any other player may replace the offending player. If the goalkeeper is cautioned, an outfield player may serve the three-minute penalty. If a substitute is cautioned, the team must remove an outfield player for a three-minute penalty period.
Red Card / Ejection: The offending player must leave match and facility. The offending team plays down for five minutes unless scored upon before the five-minute penalty expires. The offending player serves a minimum one-match suspension.
Accumulated Fouls / AFPK: At U12 and above, all penal fouls are recorded on the scoresheet and on the scoreboard. If red fouls blue a sixth time in one half, for that sixth penal foul and all subsequent penal fouls in that half, blue is awarded an accumulated fouls penalty kick. If the foul occurs farther from the attacking goal than the second penalty spot, the AFPK is taken from the second penalty spot. If the foul occurs nearer to the attacking goal than the second penalty spot (but outside the penalty area, of course), the attacking team may choose whether to take the AFPK from the second penalty spot or from the spot of the foul. All AFPK's must be shot at goal by a clearly identified kicker. The defending team may not make a wall and may not be nearer to the ball than 10 feet and must be behind an imaginary line running from touchline to touchline even with the spot of the kick. Accumulated fouls are reset to zero at the beginning of the second half. Confused ... don't worry, we'll show you!
Second Penalty Spot: 30 feet from the center of the goal
Penalty Spot: 20 feet from the center of the goal
The Goalkeeper
Must wear a different color shirt. May wear long pants and/or other padding.
Is the only player who may slide, but only when sliding in his own penalty area and only when playing the ball.
May receive a kickin directly.
May kick the ball directly over the half-way line.
May score directly with his feet during the run of play.
May not punt or drop-kick the ball.
May not possess the ball for more than five seconds in her own half.
