Rules Totelos Internal Futsal Competition

Rule 1 The pitch

The pitch is formed by the black lines and the constant black line marks the goalkeeper area.

Rule 2 The number of players

A player is a person who is in possession of a sports card and who is subscribed to a team according to the database of the match commissioner.

2.1
There can be a maximum number of players on the field of 5, of whom one is the goalkeeper. A game should start with at least 4 players from one team. When during a match the number of players is less than four, the game will be ended.

2.2
A player can substitute with a team member at all times, when he is within 3 meters of the middle line.

2.3
The substitute can enter the field when the other player has left the pitch. When the substitute is executed in a wrong way, the opposing team will be given a free kick on the place where the ball was when the game was stopped, unless the ball was within the goalkeeper area, then the ball will be placed on the black line, positioned closest to the place where the ball was the last time. When repeatedly faulty substituting a penalty time of 2 minutes will be given to the player who is entering the pitch.

Rule 3 The tasks of the referee

3.1
He makes sure the game is played according to the rules and decides over every rule, at which difference can arise. As long as the game isn’t resumed after stopping the game, the referee can change his decision. The referee will not argue with players about his decisions.

3.2
The referee doesn’t need to punish in case he is convinced this will not have any consequences on the game.

3.3
He needs to keep track of the played time.

3.4
He will indicate which team is to resume play after a whistle blow by stretching his arm to the goal of the opponent.

3.5
He will indicate to a player a time penalty with his fingers

3.6
He will blow his whistle:

  1. at the beginning and the end of the match
  2. when a team has scored a goal
  3. when a team resumes play after a goal 
  4. when a penalty can be taken
  5. when the ball hits the ceiling 
  6. when the rules have been violated 
  7. if he thinks it is necessary to stop the play for what reason so ever

3.7
He has the next resources:

  1. to give a free kick
  2. to give a reprimand
  3. to temporary exclude a player from player for 2 minutes, which is done by giving the player a yellow card
  4. to remove the player from the game permanently, which is done by giving the player a red card
  5. to temporarily or finally end the match

3.8
The referee has the right to correct the linesmen.

Rule 4 The linesmen

The referee will be assisted by a linesman, coming from the team that is mentioned on the match form. The duties of this linesman are:

  1. Indicating whether the ball crossed the side- or backline.
  2. Indicating which team is to resume play

Besides this the linesmen may give advice to the referee when a fault is committed. It is up to the referee to decide what to do with this.

Rule 5 Duration of the game

A match lasts 25 minutes, to play in one session.

Rule 6 Starting the game

6.1
At the start of a game the kick-off should be taken by the team that is playing a home match according to the match form.

6.2
Every player should be positioned on his own half of the pitch. The opponent also should reside outside the kick-off circle.

6.3
After the kick-off whistle signal of the referee the ball should be kicked towards a teammate. This can be done either forward or backward. 

6.4
The kick-off should take place within 4 seconds after the whistle blow (penalty: free kick for the opponent)

6.5
The player who begins with the kick-off can only touch the ball one time. (penalty: free kick awarded to the opponent)

6.6
From the first ball touch there can be scored directly.

Rule 7 How to play the ball

7.1
By field players: the ball may be played in every way possible, as long as it doesn’t cause any danger to the opponent. The ball can’t be intentionally played by arm or hand. The protection of the face and privates is accepted.

7.2
By the goal keeper: the same rules apply to the goal keeper, only he can play the ball with his hand within his goalkeeping area. The keeper cannot kick away the ball from his hands (penalty: free kick on the black line). After the keeper retains possession of the ball, he needs to bring back the ball in play within 4 seconds. The stopping of the ball with any part of his hand or arm will also be considered as ball possession (of course we don’t mean a “save” with this rule (penalty: free kick on the black line). 

To play back on the keeper is allowed (also with the head) from every point of the pitch, but the keeper can’t touch the ball with his arm or hand (also if ball is headed back this rule applies) (penalty: free kick from the black line). If the ball is returned to the keeper by an opponent or unintentionally by a team member, the goalie is allowed to use his hands on the ball (there is no playing back to the keeper in this case).


Rule 8 How to obtain a goal

8.1
If the ball has completely crossed the goal line, it is a goal.

8.2
A goal can be scored from all over the pitch.

8.3
If a goal keeper throws the ball in the opponent’s goal, it’s not a goal. It will be regarded as a keeper’s ball.

8.4
From the kick-in or free kick you can never score directly.

Rule 9 Referee ball

After an interruption which isn’t followed by a free kick, the referee can resume play with a referee ball. He does this by drop the ball between two players from knee height. At the moment the ball bounces at the floor, the play is resumed. All other players should remain at a distance of 5 meters. If the ball is touched before it reaches the floor, it will be replayed.

Rule 10 Violations and Misbehavior

A player should be punished by rewarding the opposing team with an indirect free kick if he intentionally commits one of the following fouls. If one of these fouls is committed within the goalkeeper area, a penalty will be awarded:

  1. He kicks an opponent or tries to
  2. He recklessly duels for the ball
  3. He makes an opponent fall 
  4. 4. He jumps to an opponent 
  5. He attacks an opponent in a rough or dangerous way 
  6. He attacks an opponent from behind 
  7. He hits an opponent or spits at an opponent 
  8. He holds back his opponent 
  9. He pushes his opponent 
  10. He gives his opponent a shoulder bash 
  11. He tries to tackle the ball away from an opponent’s foot 
  12. He plays the ball with his hand or arm
  13. He gains an advantage with an unintentional handball

A player who commits a foul as indicated in the next section will be punished by an indirect free kick by the opponent and not a penalty but a free kick on the black line if the foul is committed in the goal keeper area:

  1. He plays the ball in a way the referee thinks it is dangerous
  2. He intentionally impedes a oponent while he doesn’t have the ball 
  3. He holds the ball between his feet
  4. He plays the ball while he’s sitting or lying at the floor even while the’re is no player around (not to be confused with a sliding)
  5. He disrupts the game by kicking away the ball without any reason 
  6. He intentionally waits for too long to get the ball 
  7. He shouts to an opponent to mislead him 
  8. If he behaves improperly 
  9. If he keeps the ball under his feet intentionally

A goalkeeper who commits an offense as described below must be penalized with an indirect free kick for the opposing team. If the offense occurs inside the penalty area, it does not result in a penalty kick, but rather a free kick from the black dashed line. (No card is given, except possibly in cases of repeated offenses.)

  1. touches the ball with the hand or arm after it has been deliberately passed to them by a teammate. 
  2. fails to put the ball into play within 4 seconds. 
  3. kicks the ball out of their hands.

In addition to awarding an indirect free kick or penalty kick, a player is penalized with a 2-minute suspension (this will be announced verbally and a yellow card shown). This 2-minute suspension is lifted if the opposing team scores within that time. This applies in the following situations: 

  1. performing a slide tackle when an opponent is being challenged. A slide is allowed if no opponent is nearby. 
  2. he attacks an opponent in a rough or dangerous way 
  3. holding or pushing an opponent with the arm or hand 
  4. unsportsmanlike conduct (e.g., swearing at the referee or repeatedly breaking this rule). 
  5. deliberately ignoring the required distance during restarts. 
  6. engaging in time-wasting or game-disrupting behavior. 
  7. committing any action that negatively affects the proper execution of a penalty kick.

A player must be permanently sent off (this will be announced verbally and a red card shown) if they: 

  1. commits a violent act. 
  2. repeatedly engages in unsportsmanlike conduct. 
  3. denies a clear scoring opportunity (this concerns a ‘breakaway player’ who is moving towards the goal with no other defenders in front of them).
  4. threatens, discriminates against, or repeatedly insults an official or opponent.

A player who has been permanently sent off may no longer participate in the match. Five minutes after this removal, their team may be replenished with another player (this five-minute period is lifted if the opposing team scores during this time). The referee has the option to issue a 2-minute penalty, extend it by an additional 2 minutes, and then permanently send off the player (so the maximum total penalty time is 9 minutes).

Rule 11 The advantage rule

11.1
When an offense occurs that warrants a yellow or red card, the referee must always blow the whistle, and no advantage is to be played.

11.2
The referee may play advantage if the team against which an offense has been committed can benefit from it. For example, this can occur if the team is in a promising position to score or to launch an attack. The referee may stop play after a few seconds and award a free kick if the intended advantage does not materialize.

Rule 12 The free kick

Rule 10 specifies when a free kick is awarded.

12.1
The free kick is always indirect.

12.2
A free kick must be taken from the location of the offense. However, if a free kick is awarded inside the penalty area or within the black dashed line, it must be taken from a point on the black dashed line as close as possible to the location of the offense.

12.3
When taking a free kick, all opposing players must be at least 5 meters away from the ball.

12.4
The ball must be stationary when the free kick is taken.

12.5
A free kick must be taken within 4 seconds; otherwise, a free kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Rule 13 The penalty kick

Rule 10 specifies when a penalty kick is awarded.

13.1
A penalty kick must be taken from the goal area, 6 meters directly in front of the goal (on the black circle).

13.2
The ball must be stationary.

13.3
All players (except the penalty taker and the opposing goalkeeper) must be outside the striped line and at least 5 meters away from the ball.

13.4
The opposing goalkeeper must remain on the goal line between the goalposts, without moving their feet, until the ball is kicked.

13.5
The penalty kick must be taken within 4 seconds after the referee’s whistle.

13.6
If a penalty kick hits the post or crossbar and bounces back into the field, the penalty taker may not play the ball again. If the ball is touched by the goalkeeper, the penalty taker may play the ball again.

13.7
Feinting during a penalty kick is allowed.

13.8
The penalty taker must take the kick without interrupting their run-up.

13.9
If the penalty kick must be retaken during the match, both the penalty taker and the goalkeeper may be substituted.

Rule 14 The kick-in

A kick-in is awarded when the ball has completely crossed the sideline or when the ball has hit the ceiling of the hall.
14.1
The player may have one foot inside the field when taking the kick-in.

14.2
Opponents must stand at least 5 meters away (penalty: free kick).

14.3
The ball must be kicked in within 4 seconds, provided that point 2 has been observed.

14.4
A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in.

14.5
During a kick-in, the ball must be completely stationary (it may roll slightly, but must not bounce). The ball must also be on the black line (penalty: kick-in for the opposing team).

14.6
A player taking a kick-in may not deliberately kick the ball at an opponent (penalty: free kick for the opposing team).

14.7
If a player kicks the ball against the ceiling, the opposing team is awarded a kick-in from the sideline at the point where the ball hit the ceiling.

14.8
If a player deliberately jumps in front of the ball when a kick-in is being taken, a free kick is awarded to the team taking the kick-in.

14.9
A 2-minute penalty may be awarded for deliberately obstructing a kick-in.

Rule 15 The goalkeeper throw

A goalkeeper throw is awarded when the ball has completely crossed the goal line and was last touched by an opponent.

15.1
For a goalkeeper throw, the goalkeeper must throw the ball directly with one or both hands, either inside or outside the penalty area.

15.2
The goalkeeper throw must be taken within 4 seconds.

15.3
The ball may be received by a teammate within the penalty area.

15.4
A goalkeeper may not throw the ball to themselves during a goalkeeper throw. If the goalkeeper has caught the ball without it having crossed the goal line (i.e., not a goalkeeper throw), they are allowed to throw the ball to themselves. 

15.5
“Opposing players must stay at least 5 meters away during a goalkeeper throw.”

Rule 16 The corner

A corner kick is awarded when the ball has completely crossed the goal line and was last touched by a member of the defending team.

16.1
Opponents must remain 5 meters away from the corner mark until the corner kick is taken.
16.2
The corner kick must be taken within 4 seconds after the ball is placed, provided that point 1 has been observed.

16.3
A goal cannot be scored directly from a corner kick.