Laws of the Game

Rules

As international governing bodies of futsal, FIFA and AMF are responsible for maintaining and promulgating the official rules of their respective versions of futsal. Like association football, futsal has laws that define all aspects of the game, including what may be changed to suit local competitions and leagues. There are eighteen laws in the Futsal Laws of the Game.

Law 1 – The Pitch

Law 2 – The Ball

• Size #4
• Circumference: 62-64 cm
• Weight: 390-430 grams
• Bounce: 55-65 cm on first bounce
• Material: Leather or other suitable material.

Law 3 – Number of Players

• Minimum Number of Players to Start Match: 5, one of whom shall be a goalkeeper
• Minimum Number of Players to Finish Match: 3
• Maximum Number of Substitutes: 7
• Substitution Limit: None
• Substitution Method: “Flying substitution” (all players but the goalkeeper enter and
leave as they please; goalkeeper substitutions can only be made when the ball is out of play and with a referee’s consent).

Law 4 – Players’ Equipment

Numbered shirts, shorts, socks, protective shin-guards and footwear with rubber soles.

Law 5 – Main Referee

• Duties: Enforce the laws, apply the advantage rule, keep a record of all incidents before, during and after game, stop game when
deemed necessary, caution or expel players guilty of misconduct, violent conduct or other ungentlemanly behavior, allow no others
to enter the pitch, stop game to have injured players removed, signal for game to be restarted after every stoppage, decide that
the ball meets with the stipulated requirements.
• Position: The side opposite to the player benches
• Power Unique to Main Referee: Can overrule Assistant Referee’s calls.

Law 6 – Second Referee

• Duties: Same as Main Referee, with the addition of keeping a check on the 2-minute punishment period after a player has been sent off,
ensuring that substitutions are carried out properly, and keeping a check on the 1-minute time-out.
• Position: The same side as the player benches.

Law 7 – Timekeeper

• Duties: Start game clock after kick-off, stop it when the ball is out of play, and restart it after all restarts; keep a check on 2-minute
punishment for sending off; indicate end of first half and match with some sort of sound; record time-outs and fouls (and indicate
when a team has exceeded the 5-foul limit); record game stoppages, scorers, players cautioned and sent off, and other
information relevant to the game.
• Position: Outside halfway line on the same side as the substitution zone (i.e., the players’ bench side).

Law 8 – Duration of the Game

• Duration: Two equal periods of 20 minutes; clock stopped whenever ball is out of play. Time can be prolonged only to take a penalty kick.
• Time-outs: 1 per team per half; none in extra time
• Half-time: Maximum of 15 minutes.

Law 9 – The Start of Play

Procedure: Coin toss followed by kickoff; opposing team waits outside center circle; ball deemed in play once it has been touched; the
kicker shall not touch ball before someone else touches it; ensuing kick-offs taken after goals scored and at start of second half.

Law 10 – Ball in and out of Play

• Ball out of play: When it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline; when the game has been stopped by a referee; when the ball
hits the ceiling (restart: kick-in at the place closest to where the ball touched the ceiling).
• Lines: Touchlines and goal lines are considered inside the playing area.

Law 11 – Method of Scoring

When the whole of the ball has passed over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar (except by illegal means).

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct

Law 13 – Free Kick

• Types: Direct free kicks and indirect free kicks
• Wall: At least 5 meters away until the ball is in play
• Ball in Play: After it has travelled the distance of its own circumference
• Time Limit: Kick must be taken within 4 seconds
• Restriction: Kicker cannot touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player.

Law 14 – Accumulated Fouls

Law 15 – Penalty Kick

• To be taken from the penalty mark on the mid-point of the 6-m-line.
• The kicker is to aim at goal, with the intention of scoring.
• All players must be out of the penalty area, and the players of the opposing team must also be at least 5 m from the penalty spot.
• The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

Law 16 – Kick-in

• To be taken in place of the throw-in.
• The ball is placed on the touch line before kicking.
• The kicker’s foot not kicking the ball must be outside or at least on the touchline; if it crosses the touchline all of the way, into the
pitch, the kick-in is given to the opposing team.
• The kick-in must be taken within 4 seconds; if it is not, the kick-in is given to the opposing team.
• The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entail an
indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.
• Players on opposing team must be at least 5 m away from point of kick-in.
• Cannot score directly from a kick-in.

Law 17 – Goal Clearance

• To be taken in place of goal kick.
• From inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper throws the ball into play.
• The ball is not in play until it has passed outside of the penalty area. If the goal clearance is received inside of the penalty area, the goal clearance shall be taken over.

Law 18 – Corner Kick

• Ball placed on the corner (no corner-kick arc). If ball is misplaced, the corner kick is taken over.
• Must be taken within 4 seconds; failure to do so entails indirect free kick to the opposing team from the corner mark.
• The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entail an indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.
• Players on opposing team must be at least 5 m away from point of the corner kick.
• Can score goal directly from a corner kick.