TEAM SIZE

·         Teams must consist of at least 5 registered players. 

·         There must be at least 3 on the court to begin a match

MATCH DURATION

·         Group matches consist of 2 x 18 minute halves 

·         In finals, extra time will include 3 minutes with golden goal rule applying

·         If still tied after extra time, penalty shootout will occur. Penalties will be taken from the end of the keepers boundary (semi-circle area)

KICK OFF

·         The game will start by order of the referee and the ball is considered to be in play soon as it moves forward

·         The player who takes the initial kick cannot touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player  

·         At the beginning of the game and each restart by kick off, players of the opposing team should be no less than 3 metres from the ball until it is in play.

·         After a goal has been scored the opposing team takes the kick off.

·         After the regulation half time break the teams will change court sides and the kick will be taken by the team that did not start the game

·         A goal can be scored from a kickoff.

SCORING GOALS

·         A goal is scored when the whole of the ball crosses the line. The exceptions to this include when a ball enters the goal:

1)     From an ‘in-direct’ free kick

2)     Opposing goal keeper throw that has not been touched by another player before the ball crosses the line;

3)     From a sideline kick in that has not been touched by another player before the ball crosses the line.

GOAL KEEPER

·         Goal keeper may not handle the ball outside his goal area (semi circle)

·         Goal throws must be taken from inside the semi-circle and must leave the semi-circle before another player touches it. Failure to do this will result in the goal throw to be retaken

·         The goalkeeper is the only player who may slide in order to save the ball (providing he/she does not use excessive force)

·         The goalkeeper can throw the ball over the half way line on the full

·         A ‘goalie ball’ must be thrown in to play.

·         A goal cannot be scored directly from a goalkeeper throw unless the ball touches one of the players (with the exception of the opposing goalkeeper).

·         The goalkeeper cannot pick up the ball from an intentional back pass from players of their own team. An infringement will result in an indirect free kick being awarded to the opposing team from where the infringement took place.

SUBSITUTIONS

·         Unlimited interchange can occur.

·         Goal Keepers can be changed at any time during the game so long as the Referee has been advised

·         During interchange the player coming off must be off the court before the replacement comes on. Failure to do so can result in an indirect free kick

INFRINGEMENTS

·         Free kicks are either direct or indirect.

·         For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball shall be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

·         Players of the team not taking the free kick must be at least 5 m away from the ball at the taking from a free kick.

IN-DIRECT FREE KICKS

·         A goal may only be scored from an in-direct free kick if another player has touched it 

·         If the ball enters the goal from an indirect-free kick, without having first been touched by another player, a goal throw will result;

·         An in-direct free kick will be awarded for any of the following infringements:

1)     Playing at the ball from the ground;

2)     Not playing the ball from where the initial free kick was awarded

3)     When the ball hits the ceiling, a player from the opposing team to that who last touched the ball will receive an in direct free kick from the side line

DIRECT FREE KICKS

·         A direct free kick will be awarded for any of the following infringements:

1)     Kicks or attempts to kick a player of the opposing team.

2)     Trip or attempts to trip a player of the opposing team.

3)     Jumps on or throws himself upon the opposing player.

4)     Charges a player of the opposing team

5)     Spits on or assaults an opponent.

6)     Holds the opponent or obstructs the player’s action with any part of the arm, legs or by holding the uniform.

7)     Pushes an opponent

8)     Touches, deflects, holds or projects the ball with the hand or arm intentionally, except for the goalkeeper within the limits of the goal area.

9)     Hinders or stops the goalkeeper’s free movement within the limits of his/her goal area.

10)  A goalkeeper using his/her hands to make a save outside their goal area.

11)  A double footed tackle.

12)  Any tackles from behind

13)  A player blocks the way between the ball and an opposing player to stop his normal movement (shepherding) or intentionally obstructs the vision of an opponent to hinder progress of their play.

·         A goal can be scored from a direct free kick without being touched by another player.

·         It should be noted that there is a 4 second time limit on Kick-ins, corner kicks, Free kicks and Goalkeeper throws. An infringement of this will result in the referee awarding the opposing team an indirect free kick from the point at which the infringement occurred.

PENALTY KICKS

·         A penalty kick will be awarded if a player makes any of the above mentioned violations within the limits of the goal area, regardless of the position of the ball and as long as it is in play.

·         Penalties will be taken from the centre of the goalkeeper’s boundary

·         Team must nominate who is taking the penalty.

·         The player taking the penalty kick cannot touch the ball a second time unless it has been touched by another player.

·         No other players can enter the goalkeeper’s circle until the ball has been kicked.

YELLOW CARDS

·         A yellow card will serve as a warning and be given to a player that deliberate shows a lack of respect for the above rules. Two yellow cards will result in a Red Card.

·         A player shall be cautioned if he commits any of the following infringements:

1)     Unsporting behaviour

2)     Dissent by word or action

3)     Persistent infringement of the Futsal Laws of the Game

4)     Delaying the restart of play

5)     Failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, kick-in, free kick or goal clearance

6)     Entering or re-entering the pitch without the referees’ permission or infringement of the substitution procedure

7)     Deliberately leaving the pitch without the referees’ permission

·         A substitute shall be cautioned if he commits any of the following infringements:

1)     Unsporting behaviour

2)     Dissent by word or action

3)     Delaying the restart of play

RED CARD 

·         A red card will result in an immediate suspension from the game.

·         A Red Card will be issued if a player is guilty of:

1)     Violent conduct,

2)     Spitting at an opponent, official or spectator.

3)     Foul and abusive language directed at players and officials.

4)     Throwing or kicking the ball at an official in an aggressive or dangerous manner or threatens to strike or attempts to strike an official.

5)     Deliberately stopping the ball from entering the goal with his/her hand with the exception of the goalkeeper.

6)     Receiving a second yellow card during the game.

TIME WASTING 

·         Time wasting will be determined by the referee and will result in a yellow card and a free kick.

·         Kicking the ball away from the designated play position after the whistle has gone will result in a yellow card and a free kick to the opposition

ADVANTAGE

·         An advantage may be played at the referee’s discretion even though a prior foul may have occurred

CORNER KICKS

·         The referee will award a corner kick when the whole ball has crossed the goal having last been played by the defending team.

SIDELINE KICKS

·         A Sideline kick will be awarded as a means to restart play when:

·         The whole ball has crossed the sideline. The kick will be taken by a player of the opposing team to that which last touched the ball.

·         The ball has been kicked into the ceiling or any other obstacle. The kick will be taken by a player of the opposing team to that which last touched the ball.

·         Procedure:

1)     The player who is to kick in the ball (with the exception of the goalkeeper) will stand behind the side line at the same point through which the ball left the court.

2)     The ball will be in play from the moment it moves forward

3)     Opposing players must be 3 metres away from kick in.

4)     A goal cannot be scored directly from a side line kick, unless it has been touched by another player.

5)     If the player doesn’t comply with these procedures, the referee will award a side line kick to the opposing team.

REFEREES

·         Each match shall be controlled by a referee, who will have full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which they have been appointed.

·         The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.

NO FIGHT POLICY

·         Melb Uni Futsal Club enforces a zero tolerance on fighting.

·         Any abuse or gross misconduct directed at referees or other players will result in exclusion from the game and possible suspension of the team from the competition. Any team excluded from the competition forfeits their last game bond

 
LATENESS

·         The clock will begin at the fixture time. Teams running late will incur a 1 goal penalty for every 2 minutes late. An Automatic Forfeit will apply if a team cannot supply 4 team members after 10 minutes has elapsed in the first-half.

FORFEIT

·         A forfeit loss (LOF) will apply to the team creating the forfeit. Arrangement for fill-in players must be made if a team cannot front a game. Otherwise, the last game bond fee will be used and the team will have to re-pay the last game bond in order to compete in the next round of competition.

POINTS 

·         The points are allocated as follows:
WIN = 3 POINTS,
DRAW = 1 POINT,
LOSS = 0 POINT,
Loss On Forfeit (LOF) = – 5, Goals
Win On Forfeit (WOF) = + 5 Goals

PLAYER RESPONSIBILITY

·         Players play at their own risk. Melb Uni Futsal Club accepts no liability for any injury that a player might receive in the course of a game.