April 18, 2008
St. Louis Futsal
St. Louis Futsal will follow the United States Futsal Federation “Laws of the Game”, with the following modifications. The rules have a few twists from outdoor soccer - such as no throw-ins, goal kicks or offside - but you'll pick it up after playing a game or two.
- Players - 5 players on the court, including a goalkeeper/sweeper. You must have 5 players to start the game and only registered players are eligible.
- Substitutions - Substitutions may be made "on the fly" (while the game is in progress) from the substitution area next to your bench. Basics: the player who is leaving the court must be off the court before you may enter, and you must enter/leave from the marked substitution zone. The players exchanging positions on/off the field are expected to "high five" each other over while moving over the touchline (sideline). If you want to change goalkeepers, it's just like outdoor soccer-notify the referee and the change will be made at the next dead ball.
- Ball In, Out of Play, Scoring - just like outdoor soccer, the ball must be fully across the line to be out of play or to count as a goal. the referee has final say on all judgment calls.
- Kick-ins - When the ball goes out along either the touchline (sideline), the team that regains possession of the ball gets a kick-in from the spot the ball left the playing field. The ball should be placed on the line for the kick and the defending team must give the kicker 5 yards. You have 4 seconds to take the kick (referee will give a visual count with his arm). No goals can be scored direct from a kick-in. The kicker cannot touch the ball a second time until a after the ball is played by a teammate or opponent.
- Fouls - Same as outdoor soccer basically, except slide tacking and charging (including shoulder to shoulder) is not allowed and is added as an 11th major foul (resulting in a direct free kick). Goals can be scored directly from direct free kicks but not from indirect free kicks. All free kicks (direct or indirect) must be taken within 4 seconds from the spot of the foul. Five yards must be given by the defense. There are 4 minor fouls for field players (just like outdoor soccer) that result in an indirect free kick. There are also four minor fouls for the goalkeeper that result in indirect free kicks from the spot of the foul or the edge of the penalty are (if the foul occurs inside the area). No goals can be scored directly from an indirect free kick.
- Cautions, Ejections - Same as outdoor. We shouldn't have any, but if there is a red card given, the player's team receiving the red card will play short a player for 2 minutes.
- Accumlative Fouls - Under standard Futsal rules, each team is allowed 5 fouls in each half before additional penalties are applied. Beginning with the 6th foul and for each additional foul the opposing team is given a penalty kick 13 yards from the goal. In this case a "wall" is not allowed. Indirect kick restarts always allow for setting a wall.
- Penalty Kicks - Taken from the spot. All players other than the kicker and goalkeeper must stay outside the penalty area until the ball is played. The goalkeeper must be on the goal line and between the goal posts until the ball is truck. All defenders must be at least 5 yards from the ball. The ball is live if it rebounds into play off the keeper or the goal.
- Offside - There is no offside
- Goal Clearance - This is a futsal term for when the keeper throws the ball into play after the ball goes over the end line after last being touched by an opponent. This replaces the goal kick in outdoor soccer. The throw must leave the penalty area. The opposing team must stay out of the penalty area during the throw. If a player from either team plays the ball before it leaves the penalty area, the keeper retakes the throw. The keeper cannot touch the ball a second time until another player touches it.
- Corner Kicks - Just like outdoor soccer. A corner kick is awarded when the ball goes over the end line and was last touched by the defending team. You have 4 seconds to take the corner kick once the ball is placed on the corner spot. The defending team must give 5 yards for the kick. Goals can be scored directly from a corner kick.
- Game Length - The game is played in two equal halves with a running clock kept by the referee. There is no overtime. Games can end in a tie. U14 and younger play 22 minute halves, older age groups play 24 minute halves.
- Time Outs - Each team is allowed a one minute time out per half. The coach must be the one to ask for the time out. The time out will only be given when there is a stoppage in play or the team requesting the timeout has clear possession of the ball.
Some of the more difficult laws involve the goalkeeper. The keeper cannot dribble the ball into the penalty area and pick it up. The keeper can never pick up the ball with hands when intentionally passed to them by a teammate, including from a kick-in. Whenever the keeper has he ball in their possession by hands or feet and they are in their own defensive half of the court, they may possess the ball for no more than four seconds.
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