League Rules

General Rules
All players MUST BE REGISTERED with the Female Futsal League.
  1. .Games are to be played on an indoor court.
  2. .A match will strictly be comprised of two periods of 20 minutes of actual play.
Game Rules
  1. .From kick off, the ball must be played forward.
  2. .A goal CANNOT be scored directly from a kick-off. If a player scores a goal immediately from kick off, it would not be counted.
  3. .There is NO offside in futsal, all players can score from anywhere in the court of play.
  4. .When the ball goes out over the side-line, a kick-in takes place. The ball must be placed stationary on the side-line and kicked in. All opposing players must be at least 5 meters from the ball.
  5. .For a ball to be out of play or a goal scored, ‘ALL’ of the ball must be over ‘ALL’ of the line.
  6. .There is a 4 second time limit at kick ins, corner kicks, free kicks and goal clearance.
  7. .Free kicks, the opposition must be 5 metres from taking of any free kicks, unless the team is awarded the free kick decides to take a quick free kick.
  8. .Players are not allowed to play at the ball whilst on the ground, except for the goalkeeper who can only do so within the goal ‘D’.
  9. .There is to be no slide tackling or other forms of dangerous play.
Unlimited ‘Flying’ Substitute
  1. .Players can re-enter the game as many times without notifying the referee. Goal keeper substitution can only be made when the ball is out of play and with a referee’s consent. Substitute must take place at half way.
Accumulated Fouls
  1. .Each team has 5 team fouls per half, any fouls after the 5th will be penalised with a 10-meter penalty shot by the opposition. A goal can be scored directly from this free kick.
  2. .The free kick awarded for 5 fouls can be defended by a wall of players. At least a 5 metres distance from the free kick position.
  3. .When a 6th foul in a half has been accumulated, a free kick is to be taken where the offence was committed or on the 10-metre mark. (the appointed referee is to provide an option to the player in this instance)
  4. .A defensive wall is no longer permitted in defence of the direct free kick.
  5. .6th foul onwards would be a result of a direct free kick.
  6. .The player taking the free kick shall kick with the intention of scoring a goal and shall not pass the ball to another player.
  7. .Once the free kick has been taken, no player may touch the ball until it has been touched by the goalkeeper or has rebound from the goal post or cross-bar.
  8. .In the event of extra time in a final match, accumulated fouls carry over into the extra time period for the entire duration.
  9. .A penalty kick awarded on the siren (marking the end of the half or the game) must be played. A direct free-kick awarded on the siren (marking the end of the half or the game) must be played.
  10. .The first penalty mark is 6 meters from the goal line and the second penalty mark is 10 meters. The goalkeeper CANNOT throw, dropkick or punt kick the ball over 2/3’s of the court.
  11. .To restart from a goal clearance, goalkeepers must throw the ball from the marked goal area (D). If they have saved the ball in general play at which time they can also drop or punt kick in accordance with rule.
  12. .The goalkeeper has a 4 second time limit to release the ball unless they are in the opposing half of the court, at which they have unlimited time.
  13. .Goalkeepers are NOT allowed to pick up a pass from any of their team mates (back pass).
  14. .Once a goalkeeper has released the ball from their possession, they may not receive it back unless the ball has been over the half way line or has been touched by an opposing player (2 touch rule).
Half-Time Interval
  1. .There are only 10 minutes between the 2 halves of futsal with each half compromising of 20 minutes.
Time-Outs
  1. .The teams in futsal are allowed to request a time-out of 60 seconds in each half. If the team does not request a time-out in first half, they cannot ‘carry it’ to the next half as time outs are strictly limited to one per half.
  2. .To request a time out, the requesting team must show their ‘time-out card’ to the time-keeper. The time-keeper will acknowledge their request by using whistle. Alternatively, if the time-keeper is not present, the team may ask the referee for a time-out.
  3. .A time-out will generally be given if the requested team has the possession of ball.
  4. .Time-outs will not be permitted during extra time.
  5. .Players are not permitted to leave the court during a time-out. The teams and coach must converse at the touch-line of the team bench.
Yellow Cards
  1. .Any player issued a Yellow Card is subsequently placed on a warning for an infringement of the rules.
  2. .To request a time out, the requesting team must show their ‘time-out card’ to the time-keeper. The time-keeper will acknowledge their request by using whistle. Alternatively, if the time-keeper is not present, the team may ask the referee for a time-out.
  3. .2 Yellow Cards in one match is equivalent to a Red Card and will result in a minimum of 1 match suspension.
Red Cards
  1. .Any player given a Red Card is to leave the court for the rest of the game and will receive a minimum of 1 game suspension. This would be dependent upon the severity of the offence.
  2. .It is at the referee’s discretion as to whether a player can be replaced after 2 minutes or when the opposition score.
  3. .After the player has been red-carded, she is NOT PERMITTED to sit on the substitution bench or be in a technical playing area.
  4. .The appointed referee also has the right to request the offending player (s) vacate the facility- depending on the severity of the offence.
NOTE: Per the above, red cards impose an automatic 1 match suspension, in addition to any other suspension imposed by Female Futsal League whereby a harsher penalty may be considered, depending on the offence. Any such suspension and any additional match suspension shall apply to the next/subsequent match involving the player’s team.
A red card will be issued for the following offences:
If a player is issued a red card, that played would be expelled immediately from the game.
  1. .Striking an official or player
  2. .Spitting at an official or player
  3. .Threatening an official or player with physical violence
  4. .Attempting to strike an official or player with ball or another object
  5. .Pushing an official with open hand, shoulder or hip
Depending on the severity of the infringement, the following offences will receive either a yellow or red card at the referees’ discretion:
  1. .Stopping an obvious goal scoring opportunity by tripping, holding, impeding, or handballing the ball.
  2. .Deliberately kicking and/or pushing an opponent in the back and or front
  3. .Deliberate elbowing of an opponent
  4. .Violent tackle from behind
  5. .Over the ball tackle
  6. .Slide tackling- intentional or not (at the referee discretion);
  7. .Intentional tripping of an opponent
  8. .Foul language
  9. .Racial Vilification
  1. .Unduly rough play
  2. .Intentional handball
  3. .Shirt pulling
  4. .Deliberate obstruction
  5. .Body charging
  6. .Time wasting
  7. .Persisting infringing the rule of competition
  8. .Unsporting behaviour
  9. .Provocation of players/ official/ spectators
  10. .Serous foul play
  11. .Violent conduct
The imposition of the mandatory 1 match suspension is immediate and effective regardless of whether or not a disciplinary notice from Female Futsal League was received by a team captain/ delegate. Therefore, if a player receives a red card in any given fixture, the player must miss the next official fixture that their team is participating in.
Note 1: Suspended players are not permitted to participate in any game during their suspension. For example, if you are suspended for a round 1 match with your team in the under 12’s junior team; you CANNOT participate in a round 1 match with under 14’s under any circumstances. The suspension is to be served on the ‘subsequent’ competition night of the matches and round(s).
Note 2: Female Futsal League reserves the right to review or confirm any suspension.

Referees’ Rights

Referees have the right to warn, ask to leave or eject from the stadium any player or spectator whom they feel is bringing the game to disrepute.

The referee’s decision is FINAL.

Uniform
Players are required to wear the following:
  1. .A shirt with sleeves;
  2. .Shorts (the goalkeeper is permitted to wear long trousers);
  3. .Socks – tape or any material applied or worn externally must be the same colour as the part of the sock that it is applied to or covers;
  4. .A player whose footwear or shin guard is lost accidentally must replace it as soon as possible and no later than when the ball next goes out of play; if, before doing so, the player scores a goal or is involved in the scoring of a goal by playing the ball in the build-up, the goal is awarded.
For players that wear headscarves, these players are permitted to wear it provided it:
  • Is black or the same colour of the primary colour of the team’s shirt;
  • Is not attached to the shirt; and
  • Be worn in such a way that is not dangerous to the wearer (i.e., if they were to be tugged).
  1. .Non-dangerous protective equipment – for example, headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material – are permitted, as are goalkeepers’ caps and sports spectacles.
  2. .Players must not use or wear any equipment or other item that is dangerous.
  3. .All items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands, etc.) are forbidden and must be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery is not permitted.
The players must be inspected before the start of the match. If a player is wearing or using unauthorised/dangerous equipment or jewellery on the pitch, the referees must order the player to:
  1. .Remove the item; and
  2. .Leave the pitch at the next stoppage if the player is unable or unwilling to comply. A player who refuses to comply or wears the item again must be cautioned.
Players are permitted to wear knew and arm protectors provided that they are in the same colour as that of the team’s primary colour.