1. The Ball
Size 3 for U13 and under – Size 4 for U14 and older

2. Players
8-9 per team, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper
– Minimum Number of Players to Start Match: 5, one of whom shall be a goalkeeper
– Minimum Number of Players to Finish Match: 5

3. Players Equipment
Players on the same team must wear the same colored uniforms. Shin guards and footwear with rubber flat soles are mandatory. The goalkeeper’s uniform must be a distinctly different color from that of his team and the opposing team. In case of clashing colors, the home team changes color.
– A player wearing a soft cast can play with the referee’s permission.
– Hard casts are not permitted.

4. Game Duration
Two 24-minute halves + 3-minute halftime. The referee manages the game clock. The game ends when the referee signals with a whistle. Time is prolonged only to take a direct free kick or penalty kick.
There are no timeouts. Teams switch sides and benches at halftime. The team bench must be in each team’s defensive half.

5. Substitutions
Unlimited and on the fly. Players must enter and exit between the substitution zone lines, and the incoming player cannot step on the court until their teammate is off. Note: Substitution of the goalkeeper is the same as with any other player.

6. Keep a distance of 5 meters on all restarts (kick-offs, kick-ins, corner kicks, goal clearances, direct and indirect free kicks
The defending team cannot invade that space until the ball is played. The attacking player can opt to (a) play the ball quickly even if and when the defending team players aren’t keeping the required 5-meter distance or (b) ask the referee for the required distance before playing the ball. The referees must remind the defending team players to be at least 5 meters from where the kick-in will be taken. When necessary, the referees warn any defending players not to respect the minimum distance before the kick-in is taken. If a defending player interrupts the play initiated by the attacking player while within the required 5 meters, the referee may sanction an indirect free kick against the defending team. Repeated infractions of this type may also result in a yellow card. 

7. Four seconds on all restarts:
on kick-ins, corner kicks, goal clearances, kick-offs, and direct and indirect free kicks. The referee will make the count visible except on indirect free kicks when the count is silent. Suppose the ball isn’t played within the four-second count. In that case, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the ball, except on kick-ins (kick-in awarded to the opposing team), and corner kicks (a goal clearance is awarded to the defending team). NOTE: Referee must signal with whistle on kick-offs, direct and indirect free kicks (unless played quickly), and penalty kicks.

8. The goalkeeper has four seconds to play the ball.
When the goalkeeper comes in contact with the ball, they have 4 seconds to play it. An indirect free kick is awarded against the team for this violation at the spot where the goalkeeper had the ball at the time of the violation. Note 1: if inside the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken at the edge of the penalty area. Note 2: there is no four-second count if the goalkeeper possesses the ball in their attacking half.

9. Pass back to the goalkeeper rule:
Once the goalkeeper plays the ball, the ball cannot be passed back to them unless there is a change of possession: An indirect free kick is awarded against the team for this violation at the spot where the goalkeeper received the pass back. Note: if received inside the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken at the edge of the penalty area.

10. Offside
No offside in futsal

11. Fouls and Misconduct

Direct free kicks are awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses against an opponent in a manner considered by the referees to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:
– charges
– kicks or attempts to kick
– pushes
– strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)
– trips or attempts to trip
“Careless” is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration
when making a challenge or acts without precaution. No disciplinary
sanction is needed.
“Reckless” is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to or
consequences for an opponent and must be cautioned.
“Using excessive force” is when a player exceeds the necessary use of
force and/or endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off.
A direct free kick is also awarded for a handball (except the goalkeeper within his/her penalty area)

Penalty Kick
A penalty kick is awarded if a player commits a direct-free-kick offense inside their penalty area

Indirect Free Kick
Awarded when any of the following offenses is committed (kick taken from the edge of the penalty area when infringement takes place in the penalty area):
– dangerous play (e.g. attempting to kick ball held by goalkeeper) A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible provided that it is not dangerous to an opponent.
– obstruction – impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made (moving into the opponent’s path to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing distance)
if a player is guilty of dissent, using offensive, insulting or abusive language and or gestures or other verbal offenses.
If a player prevents the goalkeeper from releasing or shoving the ball from the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing or throwing it.
· goalkeeper picks up or touches with their hands a pass by a teammate
· goalkeeper picks up or touches with their hands a kick­ in from a teammate
· goalkeeper controls the ball with any part of their body for more than 4 seconds while on their own half. NOTE: 4 seconds rule doesn’t apply to goalkeepers when they control the ball with their feet in their attacking half.
· goalkeeper touches with any part of their body a pass that has been played back to them by a teammate before the ball has changed possession or been touched by an opponent
– on goal clearance the goalkeeper touches the ball again before it touches another player.
– Illegal substitution (indirect free kick taken from spot where the illegal substitution occurred)
– player taking a kick off, direct or indirect free kick, or a kick in plays the ball a second time before another player plays the ball.
– goalkeeper throws the ball over the half-line on a goal clearance.
If, when a free kick is taken, an attacking-team player is less than 1m from a ”wall” formed by two or more defending-team players, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team.
If a direct or indirect free kick is not taken within four seconds, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the spot where the free kick was to be taken.

Disciplinary Action: Players shall be cautioned (i.e., shown yellow card) when:
· they commit a serious foul play or continuously commit fouls.(this yellow card is punishable with a direct free kick taken from the point of infringement)
Players shall be sent off (i.e., shown the red card) for:
(a) violent foul play
(b) violent conduct
(c) foul or abusive language
(d) second instance of caution-able offense (i.e., second yellow card)
(e) intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity (e.g. through a “professional foul”)
(f) intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity in the penalty area by handling the ball
Rules of Expulsion: The player sent off (shown a red card) is out for the rest of the game and is not permitted to sit on the reserves’ bench.
· The team of the player sent off can substitute for that player after 2 minutes of playing time or after the opposing team scores ­­which ever comes first.
· The substitute cannot come on until the ball is out of play and he has a referee’s consent. 

Free Kicks
Types: Direct free kicks and indirect free kicks
· Wall: At least 5 meters away until the ball is in play
. Ball Placement: ensure the ball is properly placed and is static.
· Ball in Play: when it is kicked and clearly moves.
· Time Limit: Kick must be taken within 4 seconds
· Restriction: Kicker cannot touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player.
On Indirect Free Kicks give the appropriate hand signal for the restart, holding the hand signal until the ball has been touched or played by another player or goes out of play. Monitor to ensure wall is properly placed and doesn’t move up or defending team players charge before the ball has been touched.
An indirect free kick must be retaken if the referee fails to signal that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal.
If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded.
– If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal clearance is awarded to the opponents (unless the indirect-free-kick signal was not made by the referees, and kick must be retaken).
– If a direct or indirect free kick is kicked directly into the kicker’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.

12. Kick-Offs:
Taken at the beginning of each half and after a score. Referee must signal with whistle for start. CAN SCORE DIRECTLY FROM A KICK OFF

13. Goal clearances:
A goal clearance is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored. The goalkeeper must play the ball with their hands and on their own half to restart play An indirect kick at the halfway line is awarded against if ball is played directly over the halfway line. A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance. NOTE: if the ball doesn’t go out of play and is in possession of the goalkeeper, the ball is considered  live and they can play the ball anywhere on the court with their hands or feet. (Punts and drop kicks allowed and can score directly by these means, you CANNOT score directly with a throw)

14. Kick-Ins:
the ball must be on the line or behind the line, must be stationary, and must be played within 4 seconds. Cannot score directly from a kick in. A change of possession from the spot where the kick in was taken occurs if not taken properly. TIP: encourage players to spot the ball with their hand, not their feet, before executing a kick in.

15. Corner Kicks:
The ball must be in the corner area, stationary, and played onto the court within 4 seconds. The defending team can score directly from a corner kick. If not appropriately taken, a goal clearance is awarded to the defending team. TIP: Encourage players to spot the ball with their hands, not their feet, before executing a kick-in.

16. POINT STANDINGS:

it will be based on a 10-point scale:

• 6 points for a win, 3 points for a tie, and 0 points for a loss, plus 1 point for each goal scored up to 3 and 1 point for a defensive shutout.

• 9 points will be given for forfeits in pool play (2-0). A forfeit must be approved by the Tournament Director before the game is considered an official forfeit. The

• Tournament Director has the option to replay a forfeited game if deemed necessary and if field space is available.

• IF NO ROSTER IS TURNED IN BEFORE THE FIRST GAME THE GAME COULD BE CONSIDERED A FORFIET.

The Referee will provide the winning coach a scorecard, which must be turned in to the registration tent immediately following the game! If not done promptly it could arise as a forfeit for the winning team.

17. OVERTIME RULES:

Games ending in a tie will be considered a tie, except during playoffs, where there will be one (1) five-minute “sudden death” overtime period. A coin toss will decide kickoff and direction. The first team to score during that period will be declared the winner. If the game is still tied after five minutes, penalty kicks will be taken to determine a winner. The players from each team that were on the field at the end of the overtime period will alternate taking the penalty kicks. The team that has scored the most penalty kicks at the end of the first round wins. If it is still tied at the end of the first round, the same players will rotate in a “sudden death” penalty kick format until a winner is decided.

18. TIE BREAKS:

Ties between 2 teams will be broken by:

1. Head-to-head results between teams.

2. Goal differential in pool play,

3. Goals against in pool play,

4. Goals scored in pool play, and

5. Coin toss.

Ties between 3 or more teams will be broken by:

1. Goal differential in pool play,

2. Goals against in pool play,

3. Goals scored in pool play,

4. Coin toss

19. CAUTIONED PLAYERS (Yellow Card):

Players that receive two yellow cards in one game will result in a red card. (Please see red card rules) Any player accumulating three yellow cards during a tournament will automatically be suspended for their next game (NO EXCEPTIONS).

20. PLAYER EJECTIONS (Red Card):

Referees have the right to eject a player, coach, or parent from the game. If a player on the field is ejected, the team must complete the game minus one player on the field (e.g.5v5 – would have to play with 4 players if a player was ejected). Substitutions may still take place, but the offending team will still be minus one player on the field. The player receiving the red card will automatically be suspended for their next game (NO EXCEPTIONS).

Players, coaches, or parents who are ejected by the referee must leave the field and area around the field. The game will not restart until the opposing player, coach, or parent has been removed, yet the game clock will continue. If a player, coach, or parent refuses to leave, the game may be forfeited in favor of the opposing team. All referee decisions, in this matter, are FINAL.

21. PROTESTS/DISPUTES:

No protests will be allowed when referring to a Referee’s ‘judgment call’ and all games will be considered final in this circumstance. The Tournament Director will resolve any situation not explicitly covered by the rules. The Tournament Director will also resolve any “Rule Interpretation Violation” made by the Referee. Disputes relating to the interpretation of the rules will be resolved with the Administrator/Coaches that are registered with the involved team(s) only. Individual parents or fans of the game may not represent a team if not registered as an Administrator/Coach with the involved team(s). If a “Rule Interpretation Violation” does occur a formal protest must be made by the Administrator/Coach of the team protesting during “Real-time” play.

Roster Checks will only be made during “Real-time” play and will not be done after a game’s end. In this case,e a coach will be allowed to send a representative of the team to the main tournament tent. Videotape will not be allowed as a form of protest or decision review. Initial protests are NOT accepted after the game is completed.

22. WEATHER RELATED ISSUES:

The Bottlenoses Futsal Tournament reserves the right to modify, reschedule, or cancel the tournament due to inclement weather. The Tournament Director has the right to move or reschedule games, as well as the right to shorten game time. You will not be notified about the cancellation. In case of bad weather, text messages will be sent out to all parents. If inclement weather cancels the tournament prior to a team’s first scheduled game of the tournament, a maximum of fifty percent (50%) of the team’s entry fee may be retained by the tournament to cover

start-up cost of the tournament. The other 50% will be reimburse to within 30 days.

The Tournament Director will have the final say on all disputes and interpretations of the Tournament Rules