laws of the game
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.
