Rules & Regulations
Based on official FIFA Futsal rules, with some league-specific variations.
FIFA Futsal Rules
Key rules from the official FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game
Players & Equipment
The Team
5 players per side including goalkeeper. Minimum 3 players required to start a match.
The Ball
Size 4 futsal ball with low bounce. Standard outdoor footballs are not used.
Substitutions
Rolling subs, unlimited, made on the fly during play. No stoppage required.
Match Rules
Match Duration
Two 18-minute halves with a 1-minute break. Running clock — no pauses except for exceptional circumstances.
Kick-ins
No throw-ins. Ball is kicked in from the sideline within 4 seconds. Ball must be on the line. Failure to kick in time awards possession to the opposition.
No Offside
There is no offside rule in futsal.
Goalkeeper & Fouls
Goalkeeper
Cannot hold the ball, from a goalkick, for more than 4 seconds. Releasing late awards the opposition an indirect free kick from the top of the penalty area.
Accumulated Fouls
5+ team fouls per half result in a direct penalty kick with no wall.
Cards
Yellow = caution. Red = dismissal. Player may be replaced after 2 minutes of playing time or after the opposition scores — whichever comes first.
League Rules
Specific rules that apply to all Endeavour Hills Futsal competitions
Before the Match
Late Penalty
Teams are deducted 1 goal for every 2 minutes they are late, up to a maximum deficit of 5-0.
Team Absence
Teams must notify Futsal Admin staff at least 24 hours before kick-off. Failure to notify within this window results in an automatic forfeit and the team must pay their weekly match fee.
Forfeits
Forfeits are recorded as 5-0 losses. Teams that do not arrive before half-time automatically forfeit the game.
During the Match
No Tackle From Behind
Players cannot challenge for the ball from behind — even if the ball is won cleanly. This will be called as a foul.
Fill-in Players
Teams short on players may use fill-ins from other teams to reach a maximum of 5 players. No substitutions are allowed when using fill-ins. The team concedes 1 goal for each fill-in player used.
Eligibility & Finals
Semi-Finals & Finals
To play in the semi-finals and finals, players must have appeared in at least 5 games for their team across the regular season.
Suspensions
In-game red card: player is out for the remainder of the match; team may replace after 2 minutes or when opposition scores. Between matches: carry-over bans vary in length depending on the severity of the offence.