L&BBFC has several qualified FA Futsal Coaches, and was the first grass roots football club in the County to appoint a club coach dedicated to delivering and promoting this South American version of football within the club and local community. Working alongside partners such as the Worcestershire FA and Malvern Hills District Council, L&BBFC is keen to help ensure that Futsal is made available to it’s staff, members, and parents, as well as those individuals within local schools and the community.

For information on what events and sessions are happening within the club, local schools, and community, please contact the relevant Senior Coach who’s details feature on our ‘Who’s Who’ page. Details will also feature in our regular monthly newsletter, the ‘Badgers Scene’, club website, and other club information outlets.

What Is Futsal?

Futsal is the format of small sided football that is recognised and supported by FIFA and UEFA with World and European Championships for clubs and National Teams.

The name 'Futsal' simply combines the Spanish words for ‘Hall’ – Sala and ‘Football’ – Futbol into Futsal. It is a five-a-side game, played with ‘hockey sized’ goals and a smaller ball with a reduced bounce.

It is a small sided game (5 vs 5) where players are constantly placed in situations where they must receive or play whilst under pressure or in confined spaces. It places considerable demand on technique, movement, tactical awareness, and fitness.

What Are The Rules Of Futsal?

The official rules for Futsal, ‘The FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game’, are published by

FIFA and cover all aspects of the rules that the game should be played to, and the

disciplinary actions that players face when they infringe upon those rules.

There are 18 laws in all, ranging from the technical requirements of the ball and pitch through to the exact workings of the accumulated foul rule. Below is a list that guides you through the laws, highlighting the basic principals of the game that

make it different from any other versions of five-a-side soccer, that you might have played before:

The Pitch

Futsal is played on a marked pitch and the ball can therefore go out of play.

The Ball

Is a fundamental factor in making the game and is by virtue of the laws of the game,

required to be a smaller, heavier, ‘low bounce’ version of an 11 a-side ball.

Head Height

There are no restrictions (apart from the ceiling of the sports hall!) as to how high the

ball can be kicked in Futsal.

Rotating Substitutions

Up to 12 players can be used in one match and there is no limit on how long a player

must stay on or off the pitch. Players must enter and leave the field of play via the

‘substitution zone’ that is marked on the pitch in front of the team’s benches.

Kick-Ins

In order to restart the game after a ball has gone out of play the ball is kicked back

into play from the touchline and from corners. The ball must be placed stationary on

the touchline and the feet of the player taking the kick-in must not cross the line.

The Four Second Rule

For kick-ins, free kicks, goal clearances and corner kicks the player in possession of

the ball has four seconds to restart play which the referee will count with their fingers in

the air. If play isn’t restarted within four seconds, an indirect free kick will be awarded

to the opposing team. The goalkeeper is not allowed to control the ball for more than

four seconds in his own half.

The Five Metre Rule

Players are required to keep a distance of 5 metres from the player in possession of the ball on free kicks, corners, goal clearances, kick-ins and penalties.

Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers are allowed to come out of and players are allowed to go into the

penalty area. A goal clearance must be thrown out and the goalkeeper cannot touch

the ball again until it has crossed into the opponents half or a member of the

opposition has touched the ball.

Accumulated Fouls

Each team will be allowed to give away five direct free kicks in each half, then on the

sixth foul a direct kick is awarded to the opposing team and the defending team is

not allowed to position any players (other than the goal keeper) between the ball and

the goal. The kick may be taken from the 10 metre mark or, if the foul was committed

closer to the goal, then the kick may be taken from the position

where the foul actually took place.

Real Time

A Futsal match consists of two twenty minute half’s that are played ‘real-time’ which

means the clock stops whenever the ball goes out of play.

Time Outs

Each team is allowed a one-minute time out in each half lasting 60 seconds.

Sliding Tackles

Sliding tackles are not allowed in Futsal but players are allowed to slide on the

pitch, for example to stop the ball from going out of play. For a player sliding to be

considered an offence, the tackler’s opponent must have possession of the ball.

Referees will not give a foul for a slide if the opponent does not have possession of

the ball.

Red Cards

If a player is sent off then the team to which the player belongs must remain with four

players until either two minutes have passed, or the opposition have scored a goal.

Match Officials

In an International Futsal match there are three referees and one timekeeper, here is what they should be responsible for:

First Referee

The first referee is responsible for controlling the match and has full authority to enforce the laws of the game. He/she will keep a record of the match and provide the appropriate

authorities with a match report if required and will act as a timekeeper if one isn’t present.

Second Referee

The second referee is also permitted to use his/her whistle to stop the game for any infringement of the laws and will ensure that the substitutions are carried out correctly.

Third Referee
The third referee assists the timekeeper and the other referees by recording details of the game on the match report sheet such as times of goals, stoppages and the number of

accumulated fouls. The third referee should also try to control the bench area for the two teams, only allowing the coach to stand and give instruction to the players.

For more details about this version of the ‘beautiful’ game, log onto FIFA.com

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