The Sports Connexion FA Futsal Fives Playing Rules

The Sports Connexion FA Futsal Fives leagues play to an abbreviated version of FIFA’s Futsal Laws of the game in order to make them more appropriate and relevant to this recreational Futsal league format. These playing rules have been approved by The Football Association as appropriate for the Sports Connexion FA Futsal Fives leagues. The FA have tried where possible to maintain the ethos and integrity of Futsal within these playing rules, but due to the format and construct of the Sports Connexion FA Futsal Fives leagues it is impossible to play these leagues in line with the full Futsal Laws of the Game. These adapted playing rules are only applicable in the Sports Connexion FA Futsal Fives leagues. To see full Futsal Laws of the game please visit www.fifa.com.

General Rules

1. These are adapted rules specific for the Sports Connexion FA Futsal Fives leagues. Any situation not covered within these rules will automatically revert to either FIFA’s Futsal Laws of the Game or where appropriate The FA Rules and Regulations.
2. A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to themselves or another player, including any kind of jewellery. Jewellery should be removed.
3. Players must wear appropriate flat-soled, non marking footwear.

Playing Squad & Substitutes

4. All players must be registered to the team with the Sports Connexion FA Futsal Fives Coordinator before being allowed to actually play for the team.
5. Each team must accurately complete a team list prior to each season and register any new players during the season.
6. Five players may be on the pitch for each team at any one time, unless players have been dismissed from the pitch.
7. A team may consist of up to 12 players for each game, and up to seven substitutes.
8. Substitutions can be made at any time during the game, and the number of substitutions is unlimited. A player that has been substituted may return to the pitch as a substitute for another player.
9. The player being substituted must leave the pitch via the substitution zone, which is the area in front of their team bench. The substitute can only enter the pitch once the player being replaced has left, and they must enter the pitch via the substitution zone.
10. Up to three team officials (non-players) may sit in the technical area during a match.
11. A match may not start if a team has less than 3 players, and a match will be abandoned if a team has less than 3 players on the pitch.

 

Duration of Play & Timeouts

12. Matches will be divided between two equal periods of 15 or 13 minutes.
13. Games will play to a running clock, the clock will not stop for ball out of play or stoppages.
14. At half-time the interval should not exceed 1 minute and it is at the referee’s discretion to allow less time for the half-time interval.
15. Timeouts are not permitted in this format of Futsal.

Technical Rules

16. Each half starts with a kick off and after a goal is scored the game re-starts with a kick off.
17. A goal cannot be scored direct from a kick off.
18. In order to restart the game after a ball has gone out of play the ball is kicked back into play from the touchline and from corners. The ball must be stationary on or behind the touchline.
19. For kick-ins, free kicks, goal clearances and corner kicks the player in possession on the ball has 4 seconds to restart play which the referee will count with their fingers in the air.
20. For a kick-in, the player must have one foot on the touchline or behind it.
21. A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-in.
22. From corners, kick-ins and free-kicks opponents must be at least 3 metres (sports arena) or 5 metres (main arena) from the ball.
23. Keepers are allowed out of the penalty area and players are allowed in the penalty areas.
24. The goalkeeper is not allowed to control the ball with either their hands or feet for more than 4 seconds in their own half.
25. A goal clearance must be thrown out and the goalkeeper cannot touch the ball again until a member of the opposition has touched the ball or the ball has crossed the halfway line. This applies to all distribution from the goalkeeper.
26. If the ball touches the ceiling of the hall a kick-in will be awarded against the team who last touched the ball.
27. There is no offside in Futsal.
28. No sliding tackles are permitted.

Fouls & Misconduct

29. A team may concede five fouls (direct free-kicks) in each half of the game. On the sixth and any subsequent fouls that the team commits a direct free kick will be award to the opposition from the 10m penalty mark. The defending team may not place any players other than the goalkeeper to stop the shot.
30. If a player is sent off then the team to which the player belongs must remain with the 4 players until either two minutes have passed, or the opposition have scored a goal. The player that has been sent-off is not able to play in the remainder of the match and will face further suspension in line with the league rules.

The Referee

31. There will only be one referee per match, who shall officiate the game and keeps time.
32. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with the play are final.
33. The referee will enforce the Laws of the Game.