GENERAL RULES OF FUTSAL

There are 4 field players and a Goal Keeper (GK)

No offside

GK can only handle the ball (by feet or hands) for 4 seconds in their own half. If they are in opponents half, they have no time-handling restrictions.

20 minute halves for tournament and for league play. 3 minutes for half time and each coach may call (1) one-minute time out per half when in possession of the ball. Time out requests are made to the referee.

Substitutions

Free substitutions are made "on the fly". Player can only enter or leave the game in the substitution areas marked by their respective benches, and a player may only enter a game after the player they are replacing has left the field. Failure to do so results in a caution and an indirect free kick is taken from where the ball was situated when the game was stopped to caution the player.

Kick off

Opposing players must give 5 yards until ball is in play.

BALL OUT OF PLAY

Kick in

A ball kicked out over the touch line (side line) by one team becomes the other teams ball. The team kicking in has 4 seconds to get the ball back in play or it becomes opponent's kick in. Defense must give 5 yards distance. The referee will give a visual count with his hand. Players taking kick in can not step into the field while kicking ball back into play. Goals cannot be scored from kick-ins. If the ball hits the ceiling, a kick in is taken at the closest point on the nearest touchline, running parallel to the goal line.

Goal Clearance

Futsal for goal kick. When the offensive team puts the ball over the end line, the other team gets the ball. The goalie must throw the ball within 4 seconds of retrieving it and put it back into play by throwing it. The throw must leave the penalty area, but it must touch the ground on the GK's half of the field (can't throw ball past half-line). Opposing team must stay out of penalty area during a goal clearance. If opposing players touches ball before it leaves penalty area, GK retakes the throw. The GK cannot touch ball again until another player touches it.

Corner Kick

There is no arc, kick is taken at the point where goal line and touch line meet (at corner).

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

Fouls

Slide tackling is a major foul in futsal. It is not allowed in any situation where there is contact between players or where referees believe that contact could have resulted.

Exceptions

The GK is allowed to slide in an attempt to clear the ball, if in referees' judgment, his slide is an attempt only to make contact with the ball, not the opponent. If GK slid is reckless (a foot in air, a hook, rolling tackle) it is a foul and possibly a cardable offense. A field player may slide in instances where there is not an opponent close by and no injury is likely to occur. This would most likely happen when a player is attempting to stop the ball from going out of bound or an offensive player sliding to knock the ball into the goal where the is not other defensive player close to the play. Players and coaches should use this general rule, if you slide tackle near a player, assume if will be called a major penalty.

6th Accumulated foul

Upon a team's 6th accumulated foul in each half, the defending team cannot build a wall to block the kick. The player taking the kick must be clearly identified and the player taking the kick must make an attempt at the goal.

Accumulated Fouls resulting in Direct Kick

- Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent
- Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent
- Jumping at an opponent
- Charges an opponent
- Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
- Pushes an opponent
- Holding an opponent
- Spits at an opponent
- Slide tackles with exceptions above

Sending Off Fouls

Handling the ball deliberately, except for GK in their area.
Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving toward the goal. Player sent off cannot re-enter the game. Substitution is allowed after 2 minutes.

No shoulder charging.

Indirect Free Kick

5 yards of distance from kicker to set up wall, and ball is in play after it has been touched. If the kicking team takes more time than 4 seconds to take the kick, it becomes the opposition's indirect kick.

MFL HOUSE RULES

Goal Clearance

Futsal for goal kick. When the offensive team puts the ball over the end line, the other team gets the ball. The goalie must throw the ball within 4 seconds of retrieving it and put it back into play by throwing it. The throw must leave the penalty area, but it must touch the ground on the GK's half of the field (can't throw ball past half-line). Opposing team must stay out of penalty area during a goal clearance. If opposing players touches ball before it leaves penalty area, GK retakes the throw. The GK cannot touch ball again until another player touches it.

Corner Kick

There is no arc, kick is taken at the point where goal line and touch line meet (at corner).

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

Fouls

Slide tackling is a major foul in futsal. It is not allowed in any situation where there is contact between players or where referees believe that contact could have resulted.

Exceptions

The GK is allowed to slide in an attempt to clear the ball, if in referees' judgment, his slide is an attempt only to make contact with the ball, not the opponent. If GK slid is reckless (a foot in air, a hook, rolling tackle) it is a foul and possibly a cardable offense. A field player may slide in instances where there is not an opponent close by and no injury is likely to occur. This would most likely happen when a player is attempting to stop the ball from going out of bound or an offensive player sliding to knock the ball into the goal where the is not other defensive player close to the play. Players and coaches should use this general rule, if you slide tackle near a player, assume if will be called a major penalty.

6th Accumulated foul

Upon a team's 6th accumulated foul in each half, the defending team cannot build a wall to block the kick. The player taking the kick must be clearly identified and the player taking the kick must make an attempt at the goal.

The Playing Court

The size of the playing courts will be approximately 65' wide by 105' long. The playing surfaces will be a rubber synthetic surface. Official Futsal goals will be utilized.

Game Balls

The home team is responsible for providing the game ball. U8-U12 will use a size 3, and U12-Adult will use a size 4. Futsal balls may be purchased through the league.

Equipment

The wearing of shin pads will be mandatory for all players. A player will not be allowed to play without shin pads. Players shall wear non-marking sole indoor Futsal shoes.

Length and Number of Matches

Each match will be 40 minutes (Two 20 minute halves). The referees will keep the official time on the field.

Time Outs

Each team will be allowed one 1-minute time out per half.

Home Team

The team listed first on the schedule is the home team. In the case of a jersey color conflict the home team must change jerseys.

Score Table - Team Representative

Each score table will be comprised of the following 2 individuals:
1. A volunteer from that games home team.
2. A volunteer from that games visiting team.

Scorecards

Each team representative volunteering at the score table will check the final results, to include the score, cautions and ejections. The member must sign the scorecard under their teams name along with the referee. An MFL League administrator will then collect the scorecard and tally the official result.

Age Divisions/Groups

Boys & Girls U8-U19

Forfeited Games

If a team fails to show for a scheduled match, the referee shall allow a 5 minute grace period. After the 5 minutes, if the team has not yet arrived or does not have enough players to field a team, the game will be forfeited. The game will be tallied as a 4 to 0 loss for the forfeiting team and a 4 to 0 win for their opponent.

If the referee terminates a match for reasons other than an act of God or field conditions, the MFL Competition Committee will decide the result of the match after hearing the official reason from the referee, and both coaches. Teams forfeiting any matches will not receive a refund on their registration fee.

Point System

The determination within the group standings is as follows: 3 points for a win 1 point for a tie 0 points for a loss Forfeited games are recorded as a 4 - 0 loss

MFL Tiebreakers
1. Total Points
2. Goal Difference
3. Goals For
4. Head-To-Head Finals & Semi-Finals
If tied at the end of regulation, extra time shall be played, two 5 minute golden goal overtime periods will be played. If still tied at the end of the golden goal overtime period, penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner (See US FUTSAL rules.)

Ejections - Red Cards

a) Each Player Ejections
If a player is ejected from a match, the player's pass together with a referee's report of the incident shall be turned over to the MFL Competition Committee by the referee.
The minimum penalty for an ejection is that the player shall not be permitted to play in the immediate next match.
The maximum penalty, after review by the MFL Competition Committee, may result in the individual players or teams expulsion from the competition.
If a player is issued a red card during or after a match the player receiving the red card will NOT be permitted to play in his/her team's next match.
If any person starts a fight or is involved in a fight they will not be permitted to enter the facility for a one year period.

b) Coach Ejections
If a coach is ejected from any match, a referee's report of the incident shall be turned over to the MFL Competition Committee by the referee.
The minimum penalty for an ejection is that the coach shall not be permitted to coach or remain on the player's bench in the immediate next match.
The maximum penalty, after review by the MFL Competition Committee, may result in the individual coach or team's expulsion from the League.