League Rules
To participate in our Futsal leagues all players must Be Newcastle University Students or Staff & be Sport & Fitness Centre Members.
If a team fields Non-Newcastle University students/staff and /or Non-Sports & Fitness Centre Members, the sanctions for that team will be as follows:
First Offence
- Lose the game 5-0
- 3 point deduction
- £50 fine
Second Offence
- Lose the game 5-0
- 6 point deduction
- £100 fine
Third Offence
- Lose the game 5-0
- Expelled from the league
The Intramural Futsal league plays to an abbreviated version of FIFAs Futsal Laws of the Game to make them more appropriate and relevant to this recreational Futsal league format.
General Rules
These are adapted playing rules specific for the Intramural Futsal league.
All players, including goalkeepers, must wear shin-pads at all times when on the pitch.
A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to themselves or another player, including any kind of jewellery. Jewellery should be removed.
Players must wear appropriate flat-soled, non-marking footwear.
Playing Rules
Futsal is played to lines. In order to restart the game after a ball has gone out of play the ball is kicked back into play from the touchline and from corners or thrown-out by the goalkeeper for a goal-clearance.
For kick-ins, free kicks, goal clearances and corner kicks the player in possession of the ball has 4 seconds to restart play which the referee will count with their fingers in the air.
For a kick-in, the ball must be placed behind the touchline and the player must have one foot on the touch line or behind it and the ball must be stationary.
A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-in.
From corners, kick-ins and free-kicks, opponents must be a distance of at least 5 yards from the ball.
After a goal is scored play is restarted by a centre kick. A goal may not be scored directly from a centre kick. Opponents must be 5 yards away from the centre kick.
Goalkeepers are allowed to come out of the penalty area and players are allowed to go into the penalty area.
The goalkeeper is not allowed to control the ball with either hands or feet for more than 4 seconds in their own half.
A goal clearance must be thrown out and the goalkeeper cannot touch the ball again unless a member of the opposition has touched the ball- Infringement – in-direct free-kick
A goal may not be directly scored from a goal clearance.
The goalkeeper may not pick the ball up from a back-pass. An indirect free-kick is awarded on the edge of the penalty area in-line with where the ball was picked up.
There is no offside in Futsal.
Fouls & Misconduct
Fouls and infringements outside of the penalty area are awarded as direct free-kicks, unless specified as indirect by the referee. Fouls and infringements inside the penalty area are awarded as penalty kicks taken from the penalty mark 6m in front of goal. All players must stand behind the penalty taker until the ball has been kicked forward.
A team may concede five fouls (direct free-kicks) in each half of the game. On the sixth and any subsequent fouls that the team commits a direct free kick will be awarded to the opposition from the 10m penalty mark. The defending team may not place any players other than the goalkeeper to stop the shot.
If the 6th, or subsequent, foul takes place ahead of the 10m penalty mark the team awarded the free kick may choose to take the kick from the 10m penalty mark or where the foul took place.
All players must remain behind the kick-taker when a penalty is taken for accumulated fouls.
If a player is sent off then the team to which the player belongs must remain with 4 players until either two minutes have passed, or the opposition have scored a goal. The player that has been sent-off is not able to play in the remainder of the match and will face further suspension in line with the league rules.
Yellow and Red cards are used in Futsal
Playing Squads & Substitutions
Five players may be on the pitch for each team at any one time, unless players have been dismissed from the pitch.
Rolling subs. Substitutions can be made at any time during the game, and the number of substitutions is unlimited. A player that has been substituted may return to the pitch as a substitute for another player.
The player being substituted must leave the pitch via the substitution zone, which is the area in front of their team bench. The substitute can only enter the pitch once the player being replaced has left, and they must enter the pitch via the substitution zone.
Duration of Play & Timeouts
Matches will be divided between two equal periods of 20 minutes – 5 minute half time
Games will play to a running clock, which means that the clock will not be stopped when the ball goes out of play or there is a stoppage in the game.
Timeouts are not permitted in this format of Futsal.
The Referee
There will only be one referee per match, who will officiate the game and keep the time.
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.
The referee will enforce the Laws of the Game.
Cup Rules
- Top 4 teams of each league will qualify for the play-offs.
- No extra time – penalty shoot out. 5 penalties per team followed by sudden death (if required).