Futsal Regulations
Eligibility
The Intramural sport convener may modify these rules at their discretion. The Intramural sport convener and officials have the discretion to rule on any matter not covered by these rules.
Number of Players
• Minimum of four (4) players must be present ten (10) minutes after game time or game will be defaulted to opposition.
• If a team has less than 4 players available to play at any time during the contest (due to injury or ejection) the team forfeits.
• Coed teams must have 2 of one gender and one of another minimum to play. Teams may play one person down for the entire game or until a second person of that gender arrives.
The Game
In general, our rules are governed by FIFA. Please see our house rules below for exceptions.
I.Matches consist of two 20 minute halves (as long as time permits) with a running clock with no overtime during the regular season.
II.Penalty Spots Defined: The first penalty spot is located at the 3-point line of the basketball court, directly in front of the net, and will be marked on the surface. The second penalty spot is located on the red attack line of the volleyball court, directly in front of the net, and will be clearly marked.
• Penalty Area Defined: The area defined by the basketball international key lines, up until the red service line of the volleyball court. This is the area where the goaltender can control the ball with his/her hands. Any hand balls or fouls in this area by the defending team will result in a penalty kick being granted to the opposing team from the first penalty spot. All other players must remain behind the 3-point line until the penalty kick is taken.
III.Boundaries Defined: The boundaries of the futsal field are defined by the boundaries of the regulation size basketball court. Any ball that rolls completely into the grey area on the outside of the boundaries is considered out of bounds. Balls that are on the boundary lines are still considered in play.
IV.Teams are allowed to substitute on the fly when both players are within arm’s length of each other. Goaltenders wishing to sub must wait until there is a dead ball and notify the referee. Players who come on before the player substituting off is close to them will be given a yellow card, and forced to make the substitution again.
V.Any ball that is played out of bounds will result in an indirect kick from the sideline for the opposing team. To keep the speed of the game up, these kicks must be taken within six seconds from the time that the ball goes out of bounds. The only exception to this rule is if the ball goes around the curtain and into the other gym. The six seconds will begin being counted by the official when the ball is brought back into the appropriate gym of play.
VI.There are no goal kicks in futsal. If a ball is played out of bounds past the goal line by the attacking team, this will result in a goal throw-in. The goalkeeper must throw the ball from within the penalty area and it must be played or bounce before the halfway line. A violation of this rule shall result in an indirect kick being awarded to the opposing team from the closest point on the mid-court line to where the ball crossed.
VII.All defending players of a free kick shall not be within a 3 yard radius from the ball until it is in play.
VIII.The goaltender may handle the ball with his/her hands as long as one of his/her feet are inside or on the line of the penalty area. If a goaltender handles the ball outside the penalty area, an indirect kick will be awarded for the opposing team.
IX.Goaltenders may not punt the ball. Drop-kicks are legal.
X.Goaltenders may dive in their own penalty area to grab the ball away from an opponent as long as they dive hands first and their feet are inside the penalty area at all times during the dive.
XI.Any sort of slide tackle is extremely dangerous in an indoor setting. Therefore they are not allowed, and players not adhering to this rule shall be given a red card and ejected immediately.
XII.Futsal uses a system of accumulated fouls. Every foul that results in a direct free kick will be added to the teams accumulated fouls. Teams are allowed 5 accumulated fouls in a game. On the 6th and subsequent accumulated fouls, the opposing team will get a direct free kick from the second penalty spot. Before the free kick is taken, all members of both teams must be behind the player taking the free kick, and the goalie must remain on their goal line. Those players must remain behind the kicker until the ball has been touched. Teams will be responsible for keeping track of accumulated fouls during the game.
XIII.Fouls that are not called due to the official calling advantage on the play, will not add to accumulated fouls. The exception is if the official gives the player a yellow card after the play for the infraction.
XIV. Players who receive three yellow cards in three different matches during one season (regular season and playoffs inclusive) will be automatically suspended for their team’s following match (this can include the finals, if the third yellow card was received in a semi-final match).
XV.The following system of time-penalty minutes will be implemented:
a) A cautioned player (yellow card) will serve a two (2) minute penalty and their team shall play short until the penalty time expires or the opposing team scores, at which point they may return to the floor.
b) If there are two players serving minor penalties and a goal is scored, the player with the least amount of time remaining in their penalty can re-enter the floor.
c) Red card offences result in a five (5) minute major penalty and a game ejection. A teammate of the offending player who was on the floor at the time of the offense must serve the penalty for the ejected player. Only one player may serve the penalty, switching players serving is not allowed. The major penalty must be served in its entirety, regardless of the opposing team scoring a goal.
d) If a third player on the same team receives a penalty, they must leave the floor, but their penalty does not start until one of the other two player’s penalty time expires. The players shall then leave the penalty box in order of their penalty time expiring, but only when the team is allowed to have a player re-enter the floor due to the second or third player’s penalties expiring or at a stoppage of play. If this occurs, a substitute will come on for the third player, as a minimum of 3 players is required on the court to play.
e) Goaltenders must serve their own penalties. A substitute goaltender is permitted to enter but with no warm up. Teams shall still play one (1) player short.
XVI.Goalies may not be substituted directly before a penalty kick or free kick, excluding goal kicks and kick-off.
B. EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS
• Proper shin guards are mandatory (i.e. players with cardboard or socks tucked into other socks will not be permitted to play under any circumstances). Non-marking shoes are also required. Mouth guards are strongly recommended.
• Any player found wearing illegal equipment will be asked to leave the game and not permitted to continue until the illegal equipment is removed.
• It is important that all players bring both a white and dark shirt with them to all games. Generally the Home Team will be expected to wear white and the Away Team will be expected to wear dark. Any team that has a set of matching jerseys will be given priority to wear them regardless of if they are the Home Team or Away Team. If both teams present have jerseys of a similar colour then it is the home team that will be given preference and the away team will be expected to change. No gray or red shirts. Goaltenders must wear a different colour than either team.
C. OVERTIME PROCEDURES
• In all regular season games, there will be no overtime. Games finishing in a tie will be recorded as such in the standings.
• In all playoff games, if two teams are tied at the end of regulation time, each team will designate five (5) players to take part in a shoot-out. A coin toss will decide which order the teams will shoot in. Teams will alternate shots. If the score is still tied after 5 shooters, the shoot-out will move to a sudden-victory format.
D. PLAYOFFS
• Playoff formats will be determined by the Intramural sport convener.
Sportsmanship
Playing Field Conditions
• In the event of a problem with lights or leakages, captains will be notified and games will be rescheduled, if possible
• When in doubt, players should expect the game to be played and arrive at the indoor facility on time. If games get/are to be cancelled the sport convener will send out a message to those affected as soon as the decision to cancel has been made.
Game Reschedules
II. Team Requests for a Reschedule - Unfortunately, once our schedules are released online we only make changes due to facility closure, etc.
III. If you need to reschedule a game, email your opponent to gain their permission to a possible rescheduling. Only if the opponent agrees to a change of game time can you email your Intramural sport convener at least 48 hours prior to the game with your request (and proof of opponent’s agreement). Requests will be accommodated when possible, but are not guaranteed. If you wish to swap game times with another game in your division, you must contact the captains of all teams involved in the game swap. The swap can only occur if all parties agree. This must be completed at least 48 hours prior to the originally scheduled game. Proof of all agreements must be sent to the Sport Convener before the game time swap can be executed.
IV. Forfeit the game: If you give at least 48 hours’ notice to your sport specific convener that your team won't be playing and that the game is a ‘forfeit’. You will lose the game, but not your Performance Bond.
