Rules for Futsal

(downloadable pdf)

Introduction

These rules of futsal apply at all venues operated by Evolution Futsal. These rules are FIFA rules unless specified below. It is the responsibility of each player to be familiar with these rules.

Duration of a Game & Season regulations

Fee Payment

Registration and Last Game Bond

1. If the registration fee is not paid by the third game of the season, 2 points may be deducted from the team’s total points until full payment is received.
2. To ensure player eligibility for finals teams must mark their participating players on the team registration card before each game.
3. Players are required to play a minimum of THREE games after registration is paid, or FIVE games and then pay registration, to be eligible to play finals. In turn, unregistered (Fill in) players are not eligible to play more than 7 games throughout the season and may not play more than 3 matches in a row.
4. Registration is Non-refundable. Teams who do not complete the season forfeit their registration fees
5. A last game bond fee which is equivalent to a team’s match fee must be paid before the commencement of the season. The last game bond will be used to pay match fees if a team forfeits during a season; otherwise, if a team has no forfeits, the bond will be used to pay the team’s fees in the last round of a season before the season’s finals.
6. Any team with outstanding money owing to Evolution Futsal is not eligible for finals.

Teams

1. A team must have a minimum of three players on court for a game to begin.  No more than five players will be allowed on the court at any time.  A team may have up to five substitutes.

Injuries

1. Except in finals, there will be no extra time for injuries.  An injured player must be helped from the court as soon as possible. In finals, injury time is 3 minutes only.
2. If a player is bleeding he or she must vacate the court immediately.

Uniforms

1. All teams must wear the same coloured shirts except for the goal keeper. Goalkeepers must wear a different colour top or clearly define their position.
2. Goalkeepers who become general field players by substitution are to change to the team’s uniform (or wear a bib).
3. No hats or caps are to be worn in the course of play.
4. Except for the goalkeeper, track suit pants are not allowed
5. Uniform penalties will apply to substitute players who are not in the team’s colours. This does not apply to players provided by the Centre as a substitute.
6. All players must wear non-marking sport-shoes.

Jewellery

1. To minimise the risk of injury to other players all adornment must be either removed or taped over if it cannot be removed. Adornment includes but is not limited to, rings, watches, necklaces, body piercings and baseball-caps.

Unacceptable Language and Behaviour

1. Swearing, bad language, racist comments are unacceptable. In the direction of another player or referee, these will be treated as red card offences.
2. A player who uses unacceptable language or behaviour towards the referee or other players, will not be warned but will be asked immediately to leave the court and will have no further participation for the duration of the game.
3. The position of an offending player cannot be filled. If the offending player is the goalkeeper only an on-court player may change to goalkeeper.
4. The referee will ask spectators (including players not on the court) who use unacceptable language or behaviour to leave the premises.  Failure to do so will result in the game being abandoned and the offending team deemed to have lost on forfeit.

Red Card

1. A player who receives two yellow cards in one match will be classed as having received a red card.
2. If a player receives a red card, he or she must vacate the court immediately and will be suspended from playing for a minimum of one week, dependant on the offence.  He or she can only be replaced after 4 minutes or when a goal is scored by the opposition, whichever comes first.
3. Should a red card player abuse a referee after being sent off the player will be suspended for a further two weeks.
4. Any player to receieve three yellow cards in four or less games will receive a one match suspension.
5. If a captain allows a suspended player to play the following week the team will lose 8 premiership points and the captain will be suspended for 2 games.
6. Any player who receives 3 red cards in a season will be suspended from the competition for the rest of the season.  Any player who receives a red card will be automatically suspended from winning any player of the final award.

Referees

1. There shall be one referee per match. The referee’s decision is final.
2. If a player becomes too aggressive on the court, at the referee’s discretion and in lieu of a red or yellow card, he/she may be sent from the court for a cooling off period of 5 minutes.
3. Should a fight occur between teams during a game, the referee will automatically stop play. There will be no appeal and both teams may be asked to leave the competition.
4. Any queries that players may have about rules and their interpretations are only to be asked of the referee at half or full time.

Kick Off

1. At the kick off the ball may move in either direction (forward or backward)
2. The kick-off is treated as an indirect free kick a goal can not be scored directly from kick off.

Court Rules

1. On an indoor court if the ball hits the roof or a light, the game will be restarted by a kick in from the sideline by the non-offending team or by an indirect free kick if the impact occurred as a result of an indiscriminate kick.
2. A goalkeeper may slide in the defence of the goal if he or she begins the slide inside the goalkeeper’s D. If a goalkeeper’s slide continues outside the D the goalkeeper must not make contact with an opponent. No sliding except for the goalkeeper is permitted and will result in a red card against the offending player and a penalty shot awarded to the opposition.
3. An on court player may substitute at any time, provided the substitution occurs at the teams designated position i.e. in front of team bench.  The substituting player may not enter the court until the on-court player is over the side-line.
4. When the ball goes out of play, a player may kick the ball back into play from anywhere behind the white line.
5. No goal can be scored with a direct kick from the outside line.
6. A player has 4 seconds to kick the ball back into the court.  Failure to do so will result in a turnover as opposed to a free kick to the opposition.
7. A penalty shot awarded on the siren (marking half time or full time) must be played.

Goalkeeper

1. In order for the goalkeeper to handle the ball, the ball and the goalkeeper must be inside the goalkeeper’s D. The goalkeeper may roll or throw the ball out of the D or place the ball on the ground before kicking it.  The goalkeeper may throw or kick the ball in anywhere in the court.  A goalkeeper may not kick the ball from his or her hands or drop-kick the ball. A free kick outside the D will be awarded to the opposition.
2. The goalkeeper has 4 seconds to clear the ball from the D.  Failure to do so will result in a free kick outside the D.  The goalkeeper once outside the D will be treated as an on court player.
3. If the goal keeper steps outside the D while handling the ball it will be deemed to be a deliberate handball and the opposition will be awarded a penalty kick.

Fouls

1. A defending player must stand back 3 metres from the ball when it is brought into play from a kick-in, a kick-off, a corner kick or a free kick. Infringing players will receive 1 warning and then a yellow card. If a quick free kick is taken and the defender is not 3 metres from the ball no offence has occurred.

• Red cards will be given and a penalty awarded to the non offending team for:
• Second yellow card offence
• Serious foul play
• Swearing, foul or racist language
• Slide tackling of any nature
• Kicking or charging the goalie
• Deliberate handball
• Striking
• Abusive behaviour towards a referee
• Equipment abuse
• Yellow cards will be awarded for:
• Shirt pulling
• Pushing, including pushing from behind
• Time wasting

Five Fouls

1. Teams may only accumulate five fouls per half.  After and including a sixth foul within a half, a direct free kick shall be awarded from the designated long penalty position.

Time Wasting

1. Time wasting will be determined by the referee and will result in a yellow card and a free kick.
2. Kicking the ball away from the designated play position after the whistle has gone is time wasting and will result in a yellow card and a free kick to the opposition.

Equipment

1. A player hanging from a goal crossbar shall be warned and then sent off for the duration of the game if the behaviour persists.
2. If equipment is damaged through vandalism or a player’s irresponsibility, the offending player or person shall be responsible for the cost of repair or replacement. An offending player will be given a red card.

Miscellaneous

1. No pets are allowed in the building.  No bicycles or roller blades are allowed on the court.
2. Venues are strictly no smoking.
3. No alcohol is allowed at venues.
4. Teams are to provide a minimum of two team contacts with home, work and mobile telephone numbers and e-mail address.
5. Only size 4 futsal balls may be used on the court.
6. Players play at their own risk.  Evolution Futsal accepts no liability for any injury that a player might receive in the course of a game.
7. Persons who have been asked to leave a venue and who do not do so immediately will be treated as trespassers.

Game Times

1. Fixtures will be provided by Evolution Futsal and available online
2. Evolution Futsal may change these times and will notify the team if this occurs.
3. The clock will be started at the fixtured time to ensure that all teams play their full game. Failure to be on court at the fixtured time will result in a one goal penalty. One goal every two minutes shall be awarded to the opposition if a team has not taken the court. Teams must have a minimum of three players to take the court.
4. An automatic forfeit will apply if a team is not on the court within twelve minutes of the start time.

Points

1. Teams shall be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss
2. Teams shall lose 3 points for a loss on forfeit.
3. Teams having a win on forfeit will receive 3 points points for a win if they play an organised scratch match whether they win, lose or draw the scratch match. If we cannot organise a scratch match, the non forfeiting team shall receive its three points as a win on forfeit.

Forfeit

1. Any team that forfeits a fixtured match loses its last game bond or must pay a forfeit fee equal to a game fee ($60 forfeit fee). Forfeiting teams are required to reinstate their last game bond at their next game. Teams that do not give 24 hours notice of their intention to forfeit will be required to pay their last game bond plus a game fee whether or not a scratch match is organised ($120 forfeit fee).
2. Any fees arising as penalties as a result of a forfeit must be paid prior to the start of the next fixtured game otherwise 2 points may be deducted each week until any arrears are paid.
3. If a forfeit occurs, a scratch match will be organised for the opposing team. The result of the scratch match will be recorded for that fixture at a score of 5 - 0 Win (3 points). If the opposing team declines the scratch match, they will receive a BYE only (0-0 Draw = 1 point). Should we be unable to organise a scratch match, then the opposing team will receive a 5 - 0 win (3 points).
4. Forfeit Fees are determind by the amount of notice the team provides us, and as a guideline is as follows: LESS THAN 72 HOURS = $60. LESS THAN 12 HOURS/DAY OF MATCH = $90. LESS THAN 4 HOURS = $120.
5. LAST MINUTE FORFEITS / NO SHOWS - The opposing team will be given the result of the scratch match, to a minimum of 5 goal win and a maximum of 10 goal win. "Last Minute" to be determined by Evolution Futsal at the time of forfeiture. There is no excuse for not contacting us prior to your kick off time to forfeit. Not showing up to a scheduled match will see your team removed from the competition.

Finals

1. All final times will be posted on the website. Times for these games will not change.
2. A player who has played in more than one team in the same division can only qualify for one team in the finals.
3. In a 14 game draw, a player must play 3 games after registration is paid, to qualify for finals. Players who have played 5 or more games unregistered are eligible for finals once registration is paid. Any game in which a Red Card is received will not count towards a players qualifying games.
4. If two or more teams are on the same points at the end of the season, the ladder position will be determined by the goal difference (amount of total goals scored minus goals scored against).
5. In finals, if there is a draw, teams will play extra time i.e. 3 minutes at each end. Golden Goal – the first team to score – will determine the winner. If no goal is scored in extra time a penalty shoot out will occur.

 ALL PLAYERS PLAY AT OWN RISK

Accidents

While all players play at their own risk, first aid equipment, including ice packs, are on site at all events. Injuries will be dealt with as they occur by staff. Depending on the severity of the injury, and the circumstances in which it has occurred, play will be halted until the injured party has been cared for, and the field of play is clear. Participation in organised sporting activities is inherently dangerous and involves an element of personal risk.  

While Evolution Futsal holds third party public liability insurance, we do not hold personal accident insurance to cover injuries occurring as a result of an individual’s regular participation in sport. All captains will be made aware of this upon registration and signs will be present at all venues/events, indemnifying Evolution Futsal against any and all claims arising or that may arise from participation in the organised sporting events. Players who do not agree may not participate.

Our Duty of Care

Evolution Futsal will always seek to ensure that the field of play is safe for all competitors.  This includes inspection of the playing surface; halting games if surfaces become wet or dangerous; and exclusion of particular players that may pose a risk to competitors.  Players may be excluded / sent off if they are Bleeding or Intoxicated.

Players may not take to the court wearing jewellery, in particular long earrings, rings and watches. If players have visible piercings, these must be removed if possible.