Futsal Rules:

NPJ SC House Rules

• Futsal is a lower-contact sport, but just like soccer contact will be made. Please remain under control and remember everyone has work, families, and a life to get back to after the game. Fair Play = Fun Play!

• Coed/Any-Gender divisions can have a maximum of two cisgender men on the court during game play (not including goalies)

• The match will last two equal periods of 22 minutes of running clock

• Teams must switch sides at half

• Home Teams= White | Away Teams= Black

• The ball must be stationary and kicked from the point where it left the pitch

• The goalkeeper can only touch the ball once per possession. The goalkeeper plays the ball to a teammate with hands or feet; the goalkeeper cannot touch the ball again on his/her own defensive half until the possession changes. Goalkeeper acts as a field player when playing in the offensive half.

• Goal keeper can NEVER THROW the ball over half-court unless it touches the pitch or another player first. If done so, an indirect free kick from the center line is awarded to opposing team.

• Goal keeper can kick over half-court on a live ball.

• Teams must communicate 4 hours prior to game time if they will not be able to play. Teams that no show will owe the NPJ Sports Complex $20 for the missed game if they do not communicate prior to 4 hours in advance.

• Teams must play league games with players ONLY from their roster. A substitute outside of the roster puts that team as a forfeit. Forfeited games turn into scrimmages that do not count towards the league

  • A team may play with minimum 4 players

• Players can only play on one team per division/competition level

• All kick ins: Opposing teams must be 4 squares (2 normal steps) away from ball.

• Teams that forfeit without a 3 hour notice will incur a $25 no-notice fee.

• Reminder- players cannot kick in from the side (similar to throw ins). Players can kick in from half line, corner, and direct kicks (sliding penalties).

PLAYERS

• A match is played by two teams of not more than five players on the court, one of whom is the goalkeeper.

• A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than three players.

• The match is abandoned/forfeited if one of the teams has fewer than three players on the pitch after 10 minutes of running clock.

  Player/Captain Conduct

• Players must communicate with the captain of their team about issues surrounding the game. They are NOT to approach the referee. Aggressive conduct and dissent will result in a card.

• Captains are to communicate gameplay questions during halftime or after the game with NPJ SC personnel NOT referees.

  • The fast paced nature of the game creates issues when teams try to talk with referees during play as they are not able to officiate the game correctly while engaging in conversation with the team captains.

EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY

• A jersey or shirt (The two teams must wear colors that distinguish them from each other and also the referees) (Each goalkeeper must wear colors that distinguish them from the other players and the referees)

• Shorts – The goalkeeper is permitted to wear pants

• Soccer/futsal socks

• Shin guards are recommended but not mandatory – must be entirely covered by the socks

• Futsal shoes, or footwear of canvas or soft leather training or gymnastic shoes with soles of rubber or a similar material. No cleats allowed

  • Non marking shoes only.

• A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player.

THE BALL

• NPJ SC will provide balls and jerseys for teams in need.

SUBSTITUTION PROCEDURES

• On the fly

• The player leaves and enters the pitch via their own team’s bench area.

• The substitute only enters the pitch after the player being replaced has left

• If a substitute enters the pitch before the player being replaced has left or, during a substitution, a substitute enters or leaves the pitch from a place other than their team’s substitution zone the referees may caution them for infringing the substitution procedure. Same rules apply for goalkeepers.

• Subs/team members not in play must wait at their benches NOT on the sides of the court

SUBSTITUTES AND PLAYERS SENT OFF

• A substitute player may replace a sent-off player and enter the pitch two full minutes after the sending-off, provided that they have the authorization of the referee or assistant referees..

PERIODS OF PLAY

• The match lasts two equal periods of 22 minutes of running clock.

• Players are entitled to a 2-minute interval at half-time.

• *The games will not start until referee fees have been paid.

• Clocks will start at the time of play- Game play will NOT start until the referee fees have been paid.

  • If a team only has 4 players ready at the start of the game, the opposing captain can elect to sit one of theirs to play 4v4 but does not have to.

  • After 10 minutes if the game has not started, the team lacking players or fees will result in a forfeit.

  • Teams on the Winning end of a forfeit will receive a 7-0 final score.

ENDING THE PERIODS OF PLAY

• After hearing the referee’s whistle or the timekeeper’s acoustic signal the game is over. Unless an indirect or direct free kick has been awarded, in which case the period in question is extended until the kick has been taken

• If the ball has been played towards one of the goals, the referees must also wait for the kick to end

• During the last 30 seconds of the game, the referee may stop the clock if a player or a team is deliberately time wasting

• Game ends when clock ends even during penalties

  Intentional Delays of Game

• If a team intentionally kicks a ball from out of bounds away from the team inbounding, it is considered an intentional delay of game.

• Goalies may not hold the ball for more than 6 seconds

• If either of these instances occur, then the player will receive a warning. If it happens to the same team after the warning, players will receive a yellow card. If the game has less than 5 minutes left and there is an intentional delay of game, then the player will automatically receive a card.

Overtime

• If the game is tied at the end of regulation, teams will go straight into Penalty Kicks.

• 5 each team.

• If still tied, then goalies will shoot starting sudden death.

KICK-OFFS

• All players, except the player taking the kick-off, must be in their own half of the pitch.

• The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves. The ball may move in any direction.

• A goal may be scored directly against the opponents from the kick-off; if the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.

BALL OUT OF PLAY

• The ball is out of play when it fully crosses any of the boundaries lines or if it hits the ceiling – If the ball hits the ceiling while in play, the game is restarted with a kick-in taken by the opponents of the team that last touched the ball. The kick-in is taken from the point on the touch line nearest to the place on the ground above which the ball hit the ceiling.

OFFSIDES

• There is no offside in futsal.

THE KICK-IN

• A kick-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline on the floor or in the air, or when the ball hits the ceiling while in play.

• A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in:

  • If the ball enters the opponents’ goal, a goal clearance is awarded.

  • If the ball enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded.

• Opposing players must stand 4 squares away from the kick in from the sideline.

Procedure

At the moment of delivering the ball:

• the ball must be stationary on the touchline at the point where it left the pitch or the nearest point to where it touched the ceiling;

• all opponents must stand at least 5m from the point on the touchline where the kick is to be taken.

The ball is played when it clearly moves.

The ball must be put into play within four seconds of the team being ready to put the ball into play or the referee signaling that the team is ready to put it into play.

If the kick-in is taken and then, after it has been in-play, the ball goes off the pitch over the same touchline where it was taken without touching any other player, it is retaken by the opposing team from the same location where the original kick-in was taken.

If a player, while correctly taking a kick-in, deliberately kicks the ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again but not in a careless or reckless manner or using excessive force, the referees allow play to continue.

The kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

THE GOAL CLEARANCE

• A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance.

• On a restart opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. Attacking players may be in the penalty area and receive the ball.

• Goal keeper cannot throw the ball over the halfway line unless it touches the pitch or another player first. If done so, an indirect free kick from the center line is awarded to opposing team.

• The ball is thrown or released from any point within the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team.

• The ball is in play when it is thrown or released and clearly moves.

• The ball must be put into play within four seconds of the team being ready to put the ball into play or the referee signaling that the team is ready to put it into play. If the goal clearance is not taken within four seconds, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the penalty area line at the place nearest to where the infringement occurred

• From a dead ball, the goalkeeper may not throw or kick the ball over the half-court line. This results in an automatic reset and the opposing team gets the ball at the half-court line

Goal Differential

• All divisions follow a seven goal differential. If a team scores a goal increasing their lead to more than seven, it will not be counted or retroactively added.

• Ex: If the losing team scores another goal, the winning team needs to score again to have the goal differential reach seven again.

THE CORNER KICK

• A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick

• The team taking the kick must deliver the ball within four seconds of being ready to do so

• If, when a corner kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance the corner kick is retaken by the same team, and the offending player is cautioned

• If the corner kick is not taken within four seconds, a goal clearance is awarded to the opposing team

• Opposing players must stand 5 squares away from the corner kick.

DIRECT FREE KICKS

• Are those penalized with a direct free kick or penalty kick

• The referees may allow play to continue by applying the advantage if the team has not previously committed 5 accumulated fouls and the opposing team is not denied a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

• If they apply the advantage, the referees will indicate an accumulated foul as soon as the ball is out of play

• All opponents must be at least 6 squares from the ball until it is in play

INDIRECT FREE KICKS

• A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal

• If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal clearance is awarded

• All opponents must be at least 6 squares from the ball until it is in play

• An indirect free kick conceded in the penalty area is taken from the penalty area line at the point nearest to where the offense was committed

DIRECT FREE KICKS BEGINNING WITH THE 6TH ACCUMULATED FOUL BY EACH TEAM

• If a player commits their team’s 6th accumulated foul in the opposing team’s half, the kick shall be awarded at the spot of the foul.

• If a player commits their team’s 6th accumulated foul in their own half of the pitch the kick shall be awarded at the spot of the foul.

• The goalkeeper stays at least 6 squares from the ball. The players, except the kicker and the defending goalkeeper, remain behind an imaginary line that is level with the ball and parallel to the goal line and outside the penalty area, at a distance of 6 squares from the ball. They may not obstruct the player taking the free kick. No player, except the kicker, may cross this imaginary line until the ball is in play.

• The 6th accumulated foul will also result in a yellow card for the player.

INFRINGEMENTS AND SANCTIONS TO DIRECT AND INDIRECT FREE KICKS

• If the team taking the free kick takes more than four seconds, the referees award an indirect free kick to the opposing team. The kick is to be taken from the place where play is to be restarted

AN INDIRECT FREE KICK IS AWARDED TO THE OPPOSING TEAM IF A GOALKEEPER COMMITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OFFENSES

• Controls the ball with their hands or feet in their own half of the pitch for more than four seconds

• Touches the ball with their hands inside their own penalty area after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate

FOULS PENALIZED WITH A DIRECT KICK

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

• Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent trips an opponent jumps at an opponent

• Charges an opponent

• Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

• Pushes an opponent

• Tackles an opponent

• Holds an opponent

• Spits at an opponent

• Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within their own penalty area)

• Slide tackles an opponent (*)

FOULS PENALIZED WITH AN INDIRECT KICK

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if:

• Goalkeeper controls the ball with his/her hands or feet in his/her own half of the pitch for more than four seconds

• Plays in a dangerous manner in the presence of an opponent

• Impedes the progress of an opponent

• Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from their hands

YELLOW CARD

A player or substitute is cautioned if they commit any of the following offenses:

• Yellow card = 2 minute sit (team plays down one)

• Unsporting behavior

• Persistent infringement of the Futsal Laws of the Game

• Delaying the restart of play (Intentional delay of game)

• Failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or kick-in (defending players)

• Leaving, entering or re-entering the pitch without the referees’ permission or infringement of the
  substitution procedure

• 2 yellow cards= red card and player ejection BUT the team may substitute back to full strength after 2 minutes.

RED CARD

A player or substitute who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the pitch. A player or substitute is sent off if they commit any of the following offenses:

• Serious foul play

• Violent conduct

• Dissent by word or action

• Spitting at an opponent or any other person

• Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within their own penalty area)

• Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

• Receiving a second yellow card in the same match

• A red card given for excessive foul play that hurts another player, disrespects the facility, staff, refs, or the game itself will be subject to a 2 week suspension (2 games) following the conclusion of the game. That player is immediately ejected from the game and complex.

  • If a team accumulates more than 2 red card in a single game, both players will be suspended and the team will forfeit the remainder of the game.

RED CARD POLICY

• In the event that a red card is administered, the officiating referee will collect the offending competitors name.

• Players that receive a violent red card will be asked to leave the facility immediately

• A red card penalizes the players for the current game but does NOT limit them from future play UNLESS, the red card was given due to violence or unsportsmanlike behavior determined by the NPJ SC Staff and Referees. Furthermore, all red cards are subject to review, NPJ SC reserves the right to enforce any, and all additional penalties deemed necessary.

• Rules of Expulsion:

  • The player sent off is out for the rest of the game and is not even permitted to remain in the building.

  • The team of the player sent off cannot substitute a player back on. They will play down for the remainder of the game.

• In the event of a fight deemed by a physical altercation (including but not limited to kicking, punching, throwing equipment, etc.) the player responsible will receive an automatic ban from the current league and will not be able to return for any game action for the remainder of the league. Their return to the next leagues will be subject to approval by NPJ SC staff.

  • Should a brawl (more than 2 people from the same team) occur, that team is banned from the league for the remainder of the season. Their return is subject to approval by NPJ SC.

REFEREES

The authority of the referees

Each match is controlled by referees who have full authority to enforce the Futsal Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which they have been appointed.

Powers and duties:

• Enforce NPJ SC Laws of the Game

• Ensure that any ball used meets the requirements of the game

• Ensure that the players’ equipment meets the requirements of the rules

• Keep a record of the match

• Stop the match, at their discretion, for any infringements of NPJ SC Laws of the Game

• Allow play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in their opinion, is only slightly injured

• Ensure that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the pitch. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the referees, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped

• Allow play to continue when the team against which an offense has been committed stands to benefit from such an advantage and penalize the original offense if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time

• Punish the more serious offense when a player commits more than one offense at the same time

• Punish the more serious misconduct when a player commits more than one act of misconduct at the same time

• Take disciplinary action against players guilty of caution-able and sending-off offenses. They are not obliged to take this action immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play

• Ensure that no unauthorized persons enter the pitch

• Provide the appropriate authorities with a match report, which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players and/or team officials and any other incidents that occurred before, during or after the match

• The decisions of the referees regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. The referees may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect.