laws of the game
NEXT
LINKS

LAW I - THE FIELD OF PLAY

Dimensions
The field of play will be rectangular and it will be longer than wider

Domestic Games
Length                Minimum 28 metres
                             Maximum 40 metres
Width                  Minimum 16 metres
                             Maximum 20 metres

International Games
Length                Minimum 36 metres
                             Maximum 40 metres
Width                  Minimum 18 metres
                             Maximum 20 metres

Court Markings
1.     The playing areas will be marked with lines 8 cm wide.
2.     The two longer lines will be called side lines, the two shorter llines will be goal lines.
3.     The field of play will be divided in two halves by a line called the half-way line.
4.     The centre of the court will have a 10cm diameter mark surrounded by a 3 metre radius circle.
5.     The playing area will be surrounded by a 1 metre wide area, free of obstacles.

The Penalty Area
A penalty area will be placed at both ends of the court and will be marked as follows:
A line will be marked 6 metres from the outer side of each goalpost and both of them will be perpendicular to the goal line. At each end of these lines a quadrant will be drawn towards the nearest side, having a radius of 6 metres each measured from the outer part of the goalpost. The upper part of each quadrant will join together through a 3 metre and 16cm long line, parallel to the goal line between the goalposts.

The Penalty Mark
A 10cm diameter circle will be marked 6 metres from the goal line and equidistant to the goalposts.

The Second Penalty Mark
A 10cm diameter circle will be marked 9 metres from the goal line and equidistant to the goalposts.

The Substitute Area
It is the area on the side lines placed in front of each team’s technical area, used to get on or off the court of play. It will be 6 metres long and marked at both ends with two perpendicular lines 80 cm long (40cm long for inside half and 40cm long for outside half) and 8cm wide. The gap between the substitution areas will be 6 meters.

The Goals
The goals will be placed at the centre of each goal line. The goal will consist of two vertical posts (goalposts) made of wood or metal with a square or circular shape, equal distance to the goal line corners and joined together at the end of each post by a similar horizontal pole (crossbar).
The distance between the posts will be 3 metres and the distance from the lower side of each crossbar to the floor will be 2 metres.
The goalposts and the crossbar will have the same width or diameter, no more than 8cm.

The nets will be made of hemp, jute or nylon and will be secured to the back of the poles of the crossbeam while the lower end will be secured to the floor.

The use of portable goals will be allowed as long as they balance safely.

The Futsal Federation of Australia and Oceania has produced its own edition of Futsal Rules for the enlightenmentand knowledge of all players, officials and spectators.  These rules cannot be altered in anyway without written consent from FFAO.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         LAW I -               The Field of Play

         LAW II -              The Ball

          LAW III -             Number of Players

         LAW IV -             Player’s Equipment

         LAW V -              Player’s Substitutions

         LAW VI -            The Game

          LAW VII -            The Start and Restart of The Game

         LAW VIII -          A Goal

          LAW IX -            Violations

          LAW X -              Accumlulative Fouls and Free Kicks

         LAW XI -            The Penalty Kick

         LAW XII -            Goal Line Throw

          LAW XIII -          Throwins

         LAW XIV -          The back pass

          LAW XV -           Slide Tackles

        LAW XVI -          The Referee, The Second Referee and The Timekeeper

         LAW XVII -         The Goal Keeper

         LAW XVIII -       Working With Children Card
The Playing area
The playing area must be smooth and flat, free from ruggedness and not rough. The use of wood or synthetic material is recommended. The use of tar and concrete is not recommended in
Australia.

Technical Area
The team benches will be placed behind the side lines at least 1 metre away from each side line, next to the free area to each side of the timekeeper.

At the beginning of each half the team’s substitutes and officials will remain in their own team’s technical area in their defensive half of the court and change sides of the halfway line at half time.

LAW II - THE BALL

The Ball
It will be the FFAO approved size 57cm ball for over 12 years and size 52cm for 11years and under.
No other size balls are allowed.
Weight of the 57cm will be 400gms and 52cm will be 350gms. They will be calibrated to no more than 9lbs.

Replacing the ball
If the ball pops or gets damaged in play the game will temporarily be stopped to start again with a new ball and from the same place the first ball was damaged.
If the ball pops or gets damaged out of play (free kick, penalty kick, corner throw or throw in) the game will continue with a new ball in accordance with the rules mentioned.
The ball will not be replaced without the referee’s permission.
Before the game begins two balls must be shown and approved by the referee.

LAW III - NUMBER OF PLAYERS

1.      Each team will have 5 players on the court, including the goalkeeper, one of which will be the team captain.
2.      The team captain will have the following tasks;
      a      He will represent the team and will be responsible for the players’ behaviour before, during and after the match.
      b      He will sign the players’ list at the beginning of the match, guaranteeing that every one on the players’ list is present and FULLY REGISTERED.
      c      He will be the only one who can talk to the referees to receive essential information or instructions, always in a polite manner.
      d      He will be the only person to inform the referee or timekeeper of the substitution of the goalkeeper with a field player when the coach is absent.
      e      He will be identified by a clearly visible bracelet on one of his arms. He must also appoint a new captain if he is substituted.
3.      A match will not start without a minimum of 4 players, neither will it continue if one team ends up with less than 4 players. The referee will end the match if this occurs. 4.      Each team can sign in a maximum of 14 players in the players’ list. 5 will start the match and the rest will remain seated on the substitutes bench with the technical 
         staff. 7 will be substitutes.
5.      Defaults and forfeits on page 18.

LAW IV - PLAYER’S EQUIPMENT

1.      The uniform will be a shirt with either long or short sleeves, shorts, calf length socks, shoes made out of soft leather or material with soles covered by rubber. Shin    
         protection must be worn and must be completely covered by the socks. Shin protectors must be made of an appropriate material (plastic, rubber or similar) and must
         provide a suitable degree of protection.

2.      The goalkeeper’s uniform will be different from the rest of the team. It will be a different col our. The goalkeeper can wear long pants with no pockets, zippers or any 
         accessories that are a danger to him/her or the other players.
3.      It is obligatory to use shirts with numbers on the back ranging from 1 upwards, the numbers having a maximum height of 20cm and a minimum of 15cm. The colour 
         used for the numbers must be clearly different from that of the shirts. The use of the same numbers in the same team is not permitted.
4.      The wearing of dangerous or inappropriate objects is prohibited. If the referee’s judgement is that a player is not following these rules after being warned, that player
         may be subject to a sanction.
5.      If a player is not wearing the proper uniform according to the rules he will be taken temporarily out of play. Once his uniform is in accordance with the rules he will be
         able to enter the playing area again.

Referees and Timekeepers Uniforms
1.      The garments must have uniformity at each game, taking into consideration the following characteristics:
         Shirts with short or long sleeves of a certain colour.
         Long white slacks, black belt, white coloured socks and shoes.
         The national association will be able to adopt special designs to be used in all competitions.
2.      The timekeeper’s shirt will be the same as the referee’s while the rest of the uniform and shoes remain white.
3.      When the team has shirts that clash with the referee’s shirt, the referee must change his shirt. The rest of the uniform remains the same.
4.      The referee must have on the front of the shirt, in the upper left hand corner, his/her association’s insignia.
5.      During the winter season, in places with extreme weather conditions, the referee, timekeeper and annotator can wear a uniform in accordance to the temperature while
         keeping the basic original design.
6.      Referees and timekeepers are not to wear hats or caps.

The Technical Staff Members
Anyone who is in the area that is not a player must wear a shirt and tie during the hot weather, and shirt, tie and jacket during the cold weather. The referee is authorised to send away any person within the technical area who is not dressed in accordance to this rule and he is also authorised to stop the game until his orders are followed.

LAW V - PLAYER’S SUBSTITUTIONS

1.      Each player will be able to substitute another player without a maximum of substitutions. The substitutions can take place when the ball is in or out of play.
2.      The substitute player will not be able to enter the game until the player being substituted is fully off the court.
3.      The substitute will enter the court through the substitution area, except for those being substituted due to an injury.
4.      A player who was previously substituted is able to return to the court through another substitution. 
5.      A player who has been expelled (red carded) by the referee can be substituted but the expelled player is not allowed to remain in the court area.
6.      A change of position between the goalkeeper and another player will be conducted as per any other running substitution.

7.      A change in position between the goalkeeper and another player will not be allowed to take place during a penalty kick unless the goalkeeper is seriously injured.
         This will be determined by the referee.
8.      In the case of injured players the game will be stopped for a maximum of 15 seconds. If it takes longer than 15 seconds the referee will order the substitution of the
         player.
9.      If the player being substituted is the team captain he will give the new captain the captain’s bracelet within the playing area.
10.    In accordance to Law 3, on the substitute bench provided for technical staff and the players, there will be a maximum of 7 players who may enter the game, and never
         more than 3 technical staff members all of whom will be duly identified.
11.    Considering that the referee’s duties will start at the very moment the referee enters the court of play, he is permitted to warn any player or technical staff member
         acting in an inappropriate manner or even sanction them depending on their misconduct. Any player or technical staff member dismissed before the match starts may
         be replaced.

If what is described in point 6 occurs, both players will keep their original number.
If what is described in point 6 is not followed, the player becoming goalkeeper must be sanctioned (yellow card)


RUNNING SUBSTITUTIONS (This includes goalkeepers):      These are permitted at all times under FFAO rules but the substituting player must be off the court before the replacement player enters the court. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a yellow card for the player entering the court and a direct free kick from the place of illegal entry plus an accumulative foul for the player and the team.

LAW VI - THE GAME

1.      The game will last 40 minutes by game clock time, divided into two equal halves of 20 minutes with a 10 minute break in between the two halves (international games).
         These game times will be in effect for the categories of men and women over the age of 16. In the categories of men and women under the age of 16 the duration of
         the game will be 30 min utes by game clock time divided into two 15 minute halves with a 10 minute break in between the halves. In non international games half time
         breaks will be only 2 minutes.
2.      Only in competitions where a result other than a draw is needed, the duration of any two halves will be extended to permit the execution of extra time and if needed, a
         penalty shoot out, until a result is reached. ie 2 x 3min halves for local games and 2 x 5min halves for national league and international games.
3.      The request for time outs (in International or national league games) will be requested by;
     - the official delegate or coach, who will be able to request it to the timekeeper
     - or the captain, who will be able to request it to the referee.
4.      The teams will have the right to ask for one minute of dead time in each period, in accor- dance with the following rules:
     - the team coaches are authorised to ask for one minute of dead time from the time keeper -the timekeeper will give dead time when the ball is out of play, using a whistle
       or an accoustic signal different from the one used by the referee.
5.      During time outs the coach cannot enter the court. Players may receive instructions in the technical area.
6.      If a team does not ask for the dead time it is entitled to in the first half it will still only be enti- tled to one minute dead time in the second half.
7.      Regarding the request for dead time, in case of playing extensions or overtime. Overtime is the continuation of the regulation second half.
8.      The coach will be permitted to talk and direct his players during the game. The coach can not pass outside the marked technical area nor interfere, or bother the work
         of the referees and the time keeper.
9.      A coach who is expelled may be substituted by another member of the technical staff from the same team, who should be duly accredited (technical assistant or
         physical trainer).
10.    If for any reason a team does not have a coach and dead time is requested, the players from that team will not be permitted to come to the bench and receive
         instructions. They must remain in the centre circle receiving instructions from the team captain. The referee in that case can only authorise the team doctor or
         masseuse to enter the court to assist the players.
11.    In the case of overtime any player deliberately causing a delay (wasting time) will be
         disciplined with a yellow card, giving away a team and personal foul.
12.    Each team will have up to 15 seconds to get the ball past the central line of the court, if the ball was not previously touched by a member of the opposing team.

Timeouts Due To Accidents In Internationals
1.      The game clock will be stopped for: warnings and disciplinary measures to players and coaches, also timeouts for accidents, or any other event deemed necessary by
         the referee.
2.      If during the game an accident occurs or a player is hurt, the referee will continue the game until the ball is out of play. If the game is stopped immediately to get
         medical assistance be cause the seriousness of the injury warrants it, the game will restart with a drop ball.
3.      Unless a player is hurt and needs to have special attention, the coach has 15 seconds to remove the injured player from the court and make a substitution. This does
         not apply if the goalkeeper is the one injured, since this situation deserves special attention. Up to one minute of stoppage time is allocated by the referee.
4.      The referee will have the authority to request dead time as many times as it is necessary.
5.      If a simulated injury occurs, or any other attempt to willfully delay the game to waste time, the referees will continue the game giving the disciplinary sanctions to the
         violator (yellow card).
6.      The game will not be stopped to fix a player’s garment.

*Contact Us
*National League
*Clubs
*International Tours
*Home
*Latest News
& Future Events
*Australian Sports Commission
*Coaches and Courses
*Referees and Courses
*Mission Statement
& About Us