Evergreen Futsal - Rules of Play
- Players
- Game Play:
- 5V5 (4 field players and 1 goalkeeper)
- Roster:
- 5 minimum players - 10 maximum players
- Gear:
- Bring TWO jerseys, light (home) and dark (away). In the event of conflicting colors the home team will change.
- No jewelry/watches of any kind
- Shin guards are mandatory for youth and recommended for adults
- Players must wear indoor court shoes or futsal shoes with a flat, non-marking rubber sole. NO cleats or turf shoes allowed
- Goalkeepers:
- Must wear different color jersey
- Encouraged to wear goalie gloves
- May wear long pants and/or other padding deemed appropriate by referee
- Equipment
- Court:
- Court size and markings will vary by location. Check with referees before the start of a match if ever unclear.
- Goals:
- Goals used are regulation 2mx3m
- Balls:
- Size 3 Futsal ball used for U12 and under
- Size 4 Futsal ball used for U13 and above
- NOTE: If multiple age groups are combined in the same bracket the youngest age group’s ball will be used
- Evergreen Futsal will provide the game ball
- Game Play:
- Timekeeping
- All games will use a running clock. There will be no timeouts or clock stoppages unless otherwise stated in a specific event’s rules.
- Substitutions
- Done on the fly
- Sub may not enter the game until the player leaving the game has completely come off the court
- Restarts
- Kick-offs: A goal may be scored directly against the opponent from the kick-off. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
- Kick-ins: are indirect. The ball must be placed on the line and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. A kick-in that goes directly in the opposing goal is a goal clearance for the opposing team. A kick-in that goes directly in the defensive goal is a corner kick of the opposing team. If the kick-in does not enter the pitch or if the kick is not taken within 4 seconds, the ball is turned over to the opponent.
- Goal Clearances: are awarded when the ball exits the court beyond the end-line. The ball is thrown or released from any point within the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team. The ball must be released within 4 seconds (either at referee signal or as goalkeeper is ready). Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
- Corner Kicks: are direct. The ball must be placed in the corner arc area (or on the corner when no arc is marked) and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. If the kick is not taken within 4 seconds the restart becomes a goal clearance for the opposing team.
- Free Kicks: may be indirect or direct. The ball must be stationary before the kick may be taken.
- Penalty Kicks: are taken from the penalty spot, which will be 6m from the goal (or the top of the 3-point arc when played on a basketball court) and must be taken by a clearly identified kicker. Defenders may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and must be even or behind the ball when the kick is taken.
- Fouls & Misconduct
- Fouls
- Indirect Free Kicks: When a player plays in a dangerous manner, impedes an opponent, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with his/her hands, goalkeeper takes more than 4 seconds to release the ball when in possession in his/her own half, plays the ball again within his/her own half after releasing the ball and the ball doesn’t touch an opponent or has gone out of play, or commits any offense for which play is stopped to caution or eject a player, an indirect free kick is awarded.
- Direct Free Kicks: When a player kicks an opponent, tackles an opponent, trips an opponent, jumps at an opponent, charges an opponent, strikes an opponent, pushes an opponent, holds an opponent, spits at an opponent or handles the ball deliberately, a direct free kick is awarded.
- Accumulated Fouls: All direct free kick fouls are recorded on the scoresheet. If one team accumulates 6 or more direct free kick fouls in one half, the opposing team will take a direct free kick without a wall. If the foul occurs farther from the attacking goal than the second penalty spot, the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall 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), the attacking team may choose whether to take the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall from the second penalty spot or from the spot of the foul. All Direct Free Kicks Without a Wall must be kicked with the intention of scoring a goal by a clearly identified kicker. The defending team may not make a wall and may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball when the kick is taken. The goalkeeper may be off the goal-line but may not be nearer than 5 meters (approx 16 feet) from the ball. Accumulated fouls are reset to zero at the beginning of the second half and carry over into extra-time if being played.
- Penalty Spot: 6 meters (~19.5 feet) from goal-line and the center of the goal and placed at the top of the penalty area line. When played on a basketball court, this spot will be the top of the 3-point arc.
- Second Penalty Spot: 10 meters (~32 feet) from goal-line and the center of the goal. When played on a basketball court, this shall be 3 paces beyond the top of the 3-point arc, as marked by the referee).
- Advantage: Advantage is applied in Futsal. Direct free kick foul will count as accumulated fouls if advantage is applied even if play is not stopped by the referees. If the referee gestures with both arms, the foul was a direct free kick foul and will be counted accordingly. If the gesture is with one arm, the free kick would have been indirect and will not count as an accumulated foul.
- Misconduct
- Yellow Card / Caution: The offending player is shown a yellow card. If a player is shown two yellow cards in a match, he is shown a red card.
- Dissent
- Persistent infringement
- Unsporting behavior
- Delaying play, etc
- Red Card / Send-off: The offending team plays with one less player for two full game minutes unless the team with fewer players is scored upon before the two-minute penalty expires. The offending player serves a minimum one-match suspension.
- Serious foul play
- Violent conduct
- Abusive language
- Denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
- Second caution, etc
- Goalkeeper
- Goal clearances must be thrown (no punting or drop kicks)
- Cannot score directly from a goalkeeper throw
- Goalkeeper has 4 seconds to release ball
- If exceeded, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the place where the offence occurred (or on the penalty area line if inside the area).
- Heading
- U11 and younger NO heading
- U12 and older heading permitted
- NOTE: In the event where multiple age groups are in the same bracket we fill follow the youngest age group’s header rules
- Slide Tackling
- Slide tackles are prohibited at all ages and levels of play. If a player commits a slide tackle, a direct free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team and the referee may issue a yellow or red card, depending on the severity of the tackle.
- Game Format
- Tournaments:
- Game length 20 mins
- Each team guaranteed 3 games with potential of final for top 2 teams
- Scoring:
- Point system: Win = 3 points Tie = 1 point Loss = 0 points Shutout = 1 point bonus.
- In the event of a tie: Goal Differential, Goals For, Shootout
- Shootout: 5 kicks each team
- Kicks must be taken by eligible players (any player that has not been withdrawn as injured or sent off)
- If still tied after each team has taken 5, proceed to sudden death
- Every eligible player must take a kick before any player may repeat
- Leagues
- Game length 40 mins (2x20 minute halves, 2 minute half-time)
- Scoring:
- Point system: Win = 3 points Tie = 1 point Loss = 0 points Shutout = 1 point bonus.
- In the event of a tie: Goal Differential, Goals For, Shootout
- Shootout: 5 kicks each team
- Kicks must be taken by eligible players (any player that has not been withdrawn as injured or sent off)
- If still tied after each team has taken 5, proceed to sudden death
- Every eligible player must take a kick before any player may repeat
In any event where the rules above do not clearly address a situation, the official Laws of the Game, as published by FIFA will be the governing document. In any situation where the rules specified above deviate from the FIFA Laws of the Game, the rules described above will take precedence.