FUTSAL - Officials Training

General Rules

• 15 min halves

• 1 time out per half

• 5 players

• 1 must be the keeper

• 4 minimum to play

• 2 females minimum for co-ed

• Games tied at the end of regulation will either go to penalty kicks, overtime, or remain ties at the discretion of the supervisor

Direct Kick

Basic Positioning

• Futsal requires two officials on the court and one managing the score sheet and clock.

• The table side official is the head official and should ensure that the time and foul count is correct throughout the game.

Any official can call any foul they clearly see, but the nearest official to the play should usually make the call.

Officials must make sure that any foul they call is communicated clearly to the table and added to the foul count.

Captains Meeting and Kickoff

Captains Meeting• Call one captain from each team, give them a

captains sticker and inform them of the following:– Only captains may discuss calls with officials

– Captains are responsible for the conduct of their players

– There is no sliding

– Rules for goal area, out of bounds rules, and cumulative fouls

Kickoff• A goal can be scored on the kickoff

• Head official should make sure that:– Goalies on both sides are ready

– The other official is ready

– The time keeper is ready

– The opposing team is outside the box formed by the white lines around the halfGoal signal - point to midfield

Goalie Area

• Defined by the thick red line, and the solid red box.

• ONLY the goalie may play the ball in the goalie area.

• Defense plays ball in goalie area

– Offense is awarded a free kick at midfield.

• Offense plays the ball in goalie area

– Defense is awarded a free kick from within the goalie area.

The goalie may leave the goalie area but may only advance to the first white line on his/her

defensive half.

Goalie Rules

• Goalies must wear a jersey different from the colors of both teams.

• Goalies may not punt the ball.

• All balls thrown by the keeper must be rolled underhand.

• Keepers may use their hands in the event one of their teammates pass it back to them.

Punting is not allowed

Fouls

• Futsal is a non-contact sport.

• Players must play the ball and not

the opposing player.

• Any time a player moves their

arm to ward off an opponent the

official MAY call a foul.

• Any contact at all, deemed to

have given an advantage, can be

considered a foul.

Cumulative Fouls Rule

• After a team commits 5 penalties, the opposing team will be awarded an unobstructed free kick from the second white line for every subsequent penalty.

• All other players must remain behind this line and may not move forward until the ball is kicked.

• The ball is live only after the ball touches the keeper, back wall or goal posts.

• Fouls do not carry over into the second half.

Advantage calls also accumulate toward this penalty count.

Foul Indication

• After an advantage call, the official who made the call should:

– Raise one finger above their head

– Point towards the goal of the offending team with the other hand

• When the action slows down or exits that official’s area of focus they should confirm the call with the table and ensure it was recorded correctly.

Advantage called, foul signaled

Advantage

• Once an Advantage call is determined, the official will declare, “Play On!” and give the advantage signal followed by the foul indication.

• Calling advantage does not, in effect make the foul go away. It shall still be counted towards the accumulated foul count.

• Play deserving of a card never “goes away”, but must be granted after the conclusion of the situation.

• Advantage calls must be communicated clearly to the table to ensure that the foul count is accurate.

“Play on”, signaling advantage

Walls

• Walls will only be “created” by the official when the offense requests intervention

• The official will stop play, tell players to wait for a whistle, and set up the wall by marching off 3 yards

• Return to a proper position to officiate the action and blow the whistle Never turn your back on a wall

Encroachment

• Players must remain 3 yards from the ball in every direction after a foul

• Violation of this rule is a yellow card offense3 yards

Defense must remain 3 yards away from the ball after a foul

Dangerous Plays

• Dangerous plays are indirect fouls

• A player may not raise their foot towards a players head

• A player cannot lower their head towards a players foot

• A player may not play the ball while they are on the ground

Sliding

• Sliding results in an automatic yellow card every time.

• Sliding is the number one cause for yellow cards.

• The penalty for sliding is always a direct free kick.

• Award a penalty kick for slides by the keeper, the keeper must come out hands first.

Sliding is not allowed and must be penalized with a yellow card

Red and Yellow Cards

Yellow Cards:

Result in a 2-5 minute penalty (at the discretion of the official) – power play

Penalized player may return after a goal

Two yellow cards result in an ejection

Red Cards:

Result in an automatic ejection from the facility

Penalized team must play shorthanded for the remainder of the game

Player must be escorted from the facility and will be suspended for at least one game

Yellow Card Offenses

• Yellow cards are a way that an official cautions a player that their behavior is unacceptable. Yellow card offenses include:

– Sliding

– Dissent by word or action

– Delay of Game

– Unsporting Behavior

– Deliberate Foul

Yellow Card

Red Card Offenses

• Red Cards are a tool for officials to regulate a match and remove and players from a facility. Red card offenses include:

– Severe Foul

– Violent Conduct

– Spitting on a player or official

– Handballs or fouls that stop a goal

– Abusive language or acts

– Second yellow card

Red Card

Halftime and Ending the Game

• 1st Half

– The clock will stop for free kicks in the last 10 seconds

• 2nd Half

– Stop time for the last 1 minute of the game

– Clock stops for out of bounds and free kicks

• 1-minute warning – head official will remind teams that this is their last chance to:

– Substitute

– Change their keeper

– Call timeout