Players must wear non marking soled (rubber-soled) shoes, shin pads covered by long socks and 'sport' shirt and shorts (referees can prevent players entering the court if not dressed correctly).
No jewellery including; watches, wrist straps or bobby pins, etc. may be worn.
Each team has 5 players on the court - one of whom MUST be the goalkeeper.
Team squads can be up to a maximum of 12 players (usually 6 to 8 suffice).
Flying substitutions are allowed throughout the game without notifying the referee. Player leaving court must do so before substitute enters the court (G/K's should only be substituted during a stoppage in play and only after referee consent).
A goal CANNOT be scored directly from a sideline kick in or an indirect free kick BUT CAN BE SCORED DIRECT FROM A KICK OFF
Other than above, a goal may be scored from anywhere on the court (within the necessary rules of the game).
The whole of the ball must CROSS the whole of the line for the referee to award a corner, goal, goal clearance etc.
There are NO offside's!
Slide tackles are NOT allowed in a game of futsal by any players except goalkeepers.
Goalkeepers can only slide (side on) within the confines of their own penalty area. Sliding feet first toward an opponent is illegal (dangerous play).
Shoulder charging is NOT allowed.
Careless reckless or excessive force and or aggressive dangerous play is NOT allowed.
There is a 4 second time limit placed on all set plays (corners, free kicks, etc), however referees may allow some tolerance.
5 accumulated team fouls resulting in DIRECT FREEKICKS are allowed each half (per team).Each subsequent foul is rewarded by a 10 metre penalty shot to the opposition team.
To restart the game from the sideline a KICK IN replaces the throw in. Ball placed on sideline, player must have both feet on or outside the sideline. All opponents must be at least 5 metres away.
To restart the game by a GOAL (kick) CLEARANCE, the g/k must THROW the ball into play.
A goalkeeper IS permitted to throw or dropkick/punt the ball over the half way line on the 'full'.
The following Law will be enforced by Referees.
Once distributed by the g/k (in his/her own half) the ball may NOT be touched again by him/her until the ball has either touched an opponent or has crossed the halfway line. ( 2 Touch).
A g/k may NOT handle the ball from a back pass or kick in and is restricted to 4 seconds on the ball in his/her own half of the field of play. (some tolerance of the 4 second rule may be permitted by Referee).
Goalkeepers may only handle the ball within their own penalty areas (“D”s).
Players must retreat 5 metres from the ball at all 'set' plays. Except Kick offs where they must be at least 3 metres away.
Players CANNOT play the ball whilst (“lying”) on the ground if an opponent is within playing distance of the ball.
Referees ALWAYS have the final say in ALL match decisions, please accept those decisions and respect our officials and the sometimes difficult work they do! (No refs, No games ?).
Referees control games (if necessary) with YELLOW (caution) and RED (expulsion) cards.
Sports Centre Futsal Judiciary panel is responsible for deciding penalties (match suspensions) for those players found guilty of persistent rule breaking, foul play, dissent etc.