TEAM REGISTRATION Teams must register and pay the registration fee to participate in the tournament. Teams should register into a division based upon player age, gender and playing experience. Any team or player determined by the Tournament Directors to have falsified their age for the purposes of creating a competitive advantage could be dismissed from the tournament. Teams that span more than one age group should register in the division of the oldest player on the team. Teams are responsible for registering in the appropriate division. Failure to properly register may result in disqualification from the tournament and the registration fee will not be refunded.
TEAM ROSTER & CHECK-IN: Each team must check-in prior to their first game and submit any outstanding registration fees at that time or they may be disqualified from the tournament. Roster changes can take place up until the team’s first scheduled game time. Teams cannot add or change players after the start of their first game. Tournament officials have the right to demand proof of age for any player included on the roster.
RULE 1: Number of Players — The recommended roster size is 4-6 players, but there is no limit. A team must have a minimum of 3 players on the field to start a game. Players may only play on one team per division.
RULE 2: Game Duration & Timekeeping — The game shall consist of one twenty-four (24) minute period. A coin toss will determine direction and possession before the start of the game. Games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie, except in the playoffs. There are no team timeouts and the game clock does not stop for official timeouts.
RULE 3: Kick Off – The kick off is considered an indirect kick and may be taken in any direction.
RULE 4: Kick Ins – The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of thrown in. Kick ins are considered an indirect kick. The ball is considered in play when the ball is touched and changes position.
RULE 5: Restarts – All dead-ball kicks (kick-ins, kick-offs, free kicks) are indirect with the exception of corner kicks and penalty kicks. Indirect kicks must only change position before the ball will be considered in play. If a free kick is awarded within five yards of the opposing goal box the ball with be moved back to five yards from the box. It is the referee discretion where the ball will be placed.
RULE 6: Goal Kicks – Goal kicks may be taken from any point of the end line.
RULE 7: Penalty Kicks – PKs shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction (the infraction does not automatically result in a red card). Penalty kicks are direct kicks taken from the center of the mid-line with all players (on both teams) behind the mid-line. Penalty kicks are dead ball infractions. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick.
RULE 8: Goal Scoring – A goal may only be scored from a touch (offensive or defensive) within the team’s offensive half on the field. The ball must be completely on the offensive half of the field, and cannot be touching the mid-line (e.g., kick-off). If a player in their defensive half kicks the ball across the midline and the ball hits another player (offensive or defensive) and the ball goes in the goal, a goal will be awarded. If a ball is kicked from the defensive half and is not touched before the ball rests in the goal, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. A goal cannot be scored from an indirect kick, such as a kick-in from out-of- bounds.
RULE 9: 5 Yard Rule – In all dead-ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal is closer than five yards, the ball shall be played five yards from the goal box in line with the direction of play prior to the penalty.
RULE 10: Substitution — Subs may be made during dead-ball situations, regardless of possession. Teams must gain the referee’s attention and players must enter and exit at mid-field.
RULE 11: Goalkeepers — There is no goalkeeper in 4v4 Futsal.
RULE 12: Offside – There is no offside in Futsal.
RULE 13: Slide Tackling – Slide tackling is not permitted. If a player is sliding for the ball, contact with any player(s) from the other team is NOT ALLOWED. If a player slides and contact is initiated, a free kick shall be awarded. This does not prevent players from sliding to stop/intercept a ball where contact is not initiated during the slide. Example: a player may slide to save a ball from going out-of-bounds.
RULE 14: Handling – Deliberate handling of the ball that denies a team of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity will result in the following: (1) A penalty-kick (at the discretion of the field marshal) (2) A yellow or red card given to the player committing the hand ball (at the discretion of the referee).
RULE 15: Protests of Rules – Protests will not be accepted. You are welcome to complain in your car on the way home as much as you like.
RULE 16: Game Balls – The tournament will provide futsal balls for each game.
RULE 17: Field Dimensions – The playing field shall be 84 feet long by 50 feet wide (basketball court or similar) yards wide. The goals are approximately four feet high and 6 feet wide.
RULE 18: Goal Box – The goal box is ten feet wide by six feet long located directly in front of the goal. There is no ball contact allowed within the goal box, however, all players may pass through the goal box as long as they do not touch the ball while in the box. If the ball comes to a rest in or on the goal box line, a goal kick is awarded regardless of who touched the ball last. Any part of the ball or player’s body on the line or inside the plane of the box is considered in the goal box and an extension of such. If a defensive player touches the ball after it has entered the plane, a goal will be awarded to the offensive team. If an offensive player touches the ball after it has entered the plane, a goal kick will be awarded to the defensive team. The plane of the goal box extends upward infinitely.
RULE 19: Delay of Game – The head referee has the official time. Any player may be cautioned with a yellow card if it is deemed by the referee that the player is intentionally wasting time, such as if a player intentionally kicks the ball long distances away from the playing field in order to waste time.
RULE 20: Forfeits – Teams are given five minutes from scheduled game time, or from delayed start time due to unforeseen circumstances, before the Ref issues a forfeit. Any team forfeiting one game during the playoffs may be removed from the tournament.
RULE 21: Sportsmanship – Coaches will be held responsible for the good sportsmanship of themselves, their players, players’ parents and spectators
RULE 22: Yellow Cards – Players that receive two yellow cards in one game will result in a red card. (Please see red card rule). Any player accumulating three yellow cards during a tournament will automatically be suspended for their next game (no exceptions).
RULE 23: Red Cards – Refs have the right to eject a player or coach from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending off. The team may then continue with their remaining two, three or four players, however, if the player receiving the red card was on the field of play, the team must complete the entire game a player short. The player receiving the red card will automatically be suspended for their next game (no exceptions). Players or coaches that are red carded must leave the immediate playing area, including the fan and team areas. If the player delays or refuses to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of opposing team (regardless of the score at the time of the incident). **If player(s) is (are) issued red card(s) for fighting, player(s) will be ejected from the tournament and are subject to removal from the facility for the duration of the event.
RULE 24: Coach/Parent Ejection – Refs have the right to eject a coach or parent from any game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants ejection. Coaches or parents whom are ejected by the referee or tournament official must leave the field and area around the field before play will continue. If a coach or parent refuses to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of the opposing team.
RULE 25: Weather-Related Issues – The Tournament Directors reserves the right to modify, reschedule, or cancel the tournament due to inclement weather. The Tournament Directors has the right to move or reschedule games, as well as the right to shorten game lengths. Team entry fees are non-refundable.
RULE 26a: Standings and Tiebreakers in Qualifying (Pool) Play – Games will be scored according to the following: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. Ties in standings between two or more teams will be broken by: 1) Head to head results between tied teams; 2) Goal differential (max of 5 per game); 3) Fewest goals conceded; 4) Most goals scored (max 5 per game); 5) Tournament Director decision.
RULE 26b: Tiebreakers in Bracket Play – Bracket games cannot end in a tie and there is not time in the schedule for overtime. Therefore in the event of a tie, the team scoring first will be declared the winner (exception: a Final, see rule 26c). If the teams tie 0-0, both teams will be sent home (just kidding). A 0-0 tie should be decided using a 3-minute-max golden goal overtime and then rock-paper-scissors best of 3.
RULE 26c: Final Overtime – Final games have a different tiebreaker process: a Golden Goal Overtime Period and a Golden Goal Shootout. Finals Overtime shall consist of one 3-minute “golden goal” overtime period. The first team to score in overtime wins. Golden Goal Shootout: if no team has scored in the 3-minute overtime, the winner shall be decided in a shootout with a coin toss to decide team-kicking order. Three players from each team remaining on the field at the end of the overtime period will be the only players to kick for their team. The 3 players will alternate in a sudden death penalty kick format until one team scores unanswered.
RULE 27: Heading – current heading restrictions that apply in US Youth Soccer (such as no heading at age U11 and under) also apply in futsal.
RULE 28: Uniforms – All players must wear matching colored shirts. In the event of a conflict, the team that changes will be based on a) mutual agreement by coaches; b) rock, paper, scissors; or c) coin toss. Pinnies can be worn to resolve a uniform conflict.
RULE 29: Shin Guards – All players must wear shin guards.
RULE 30: Shoes – Futsal shoes, indoor soccer flats, or other gym shoes are required for all surfaces. No cleats.
RULE 31: Protective Casts – Players wearing protective casts must receive approval from the Tournament Directors and will be required to check in prior to each game with the referee to be permitted to play. If the referee on the field of play deems a player’s protective cast is unsafe in any way, the player will not be allowed to play until the Tournament Directors and athletic trainer re-approves the wearing of the protective cast.
RULE 32: Awards – Cool awards will be awarded to the players on the top team(s) in each age group.
***The Tournament Directors will have final say on all disputes and interpretations of Tournament Rules.***