Rules
General Rules:
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Equipment required: shin guards, socks, and non-marking, flat-soled athletic shoes. Teams must provide their own pinnies.
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Teams play with four outfield players and one goalkeeper. Minimum of 3 players to start the game.
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There is no offside in futsal.
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The game clock does not stop (including timeouts), unless stopped by the referee.
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Teams may call one 1-minute timeout each half when in possession and the ball is out of play.
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Restarts:
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Indirect: Free kicks (at ref’s discretion); Sideline kick-ins (no throw-ins). The ball must be placed (and not moving) on the line, and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. Opponents must stand 5m away from where the kick in is to be taken. If it goes directly in the opposing goal, it is a keeper throw for the other team. If it goes directly in the defensive goal, it is a corner kick for the other team. If it does not enter the pitch or is not taken within 4 seconds, it is a turnover.
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Direct kicks: kick-offs; corners; penalties; or free kicks (at ref’s discretion).
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Goal Clearances: Keeper throws the ball from within the penalty area. The ball must be released within 4 seconds (at the ref’s signal or when the keeper is ready). Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. Once released, the keeper may not touch the ball again within their own half until an opponent touches the ball or the ball goes out of play.
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Accumulation of fouls: Penalized with a direct free kick at the penalty mark upon the occurrence of a sixth foul and for all subsequent fouls within that half.
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Defending team may not form a wall or stand between the ball and the goal.
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Cautionable offenses:
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Delaying the restart of a play;
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Unsportsmanlike behavior; or
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Dissent by word or action
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Sending off offenses:
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Violent conduct, (may include slide tackling, biting/spitting, etc.);
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Using offensive, insulting, or abusing language; or
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Receive a second caution in a match.
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Substitutes may only enter the pitch when the player being replaced exits the pitch.
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Substitutes are made anytime except during a timeout (similar to ice hockey).
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Slide tackling is not allowed in futsal, except that if no other players are within reach of the sliding player, players are allowed to slide to stop the ball from going out or to direct a pass towards the opposing goal.
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The league directors reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify players, teams, coaches, or observers from a game, a facility, the remainder of the session for serious or repeated violations under Rules 8 & 9. No refund will be given, and the league may prohibit future play in subsequent sessions.
Court Specific:
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Small court: the keeper may not throw the ball over the halfway line. It must touch their half or a player before crossing. An infraction will result in an indirect free kick for the other team with the ball placed on the halfway line at the ref’s discretion.
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Large court: the keeper may throw the ball over the halfway line.
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Ball Sizes
Futsal Balls have a controlled bounce of about 50-65% less than a soccer ball. They are smaller and heavier than a soccer ball.
Utah Futsal uses Select brand balls for its competitions.
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For ages U14 and up, we use a size 4 soccer equivalent (Senior in Select).
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For ages U13 and below, we use a size 3 soccer equivalent (Junior or 13 in Select)
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If you are looking for balls to train with, you might consider using an even smaller ball to encourage ball control. The chart below compares general futsal ball sizes to the size of soccer balls.​