The pitch must be rectangular and marked with lines. These lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries and must be clearly distinguishable from the colour of the pitch.

Qualities and measurements

The ball is:

• spherical
• made of leather or other approved material
• of a circumference of not more than 64cm and not less than 62cm
• not more than 440g and not less than 400g in weight at the start of the match
• of a pressure equal to 0.6 – 0.9 atmosphere (600 – 900g/cm2) at sea level
• the ball may not bounce less than 50cm or more than 65cm on the rest rebound when dropped from a height of 2m

Players

A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper.
A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than three players.
The match is abandoned if one of the teams has fewer than three players on the pitch.

Official competitions

Up to a maximum of nine substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations.

The number of substitutions that may be made during a match is unlimited.

The basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:

• A jersey or shirt – if undergarments are worn, the colour of the sleeve must be the same main colour as the sleeve of the jersey or shirt
• Shorts – if undershorts are worn, they must be of the same main colour as the shorts. The goalkeeper is permitted to wear long trousers
• Stockings – if tape or similar material is applied externally it must be the same colour as that part of the stocking it is applied to
• Shinguards
• Footwear – canvas or soft leather training or gymnastic shoes with soles of rubber or a similar material

Each match is controlled by two referees, the referee and the second referee, who have full authority to enforce the Futsal Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which they have been appointed.

Two assistant referees may be appointed (a third referee and a timekeeper) who must perform their duties in accordance with the Futsal Laws of the Game. They are positioned off the pitch, level with the halfway line and on the same side as the substitution zones. The timekeeper remains seated at the timekeeper’s table, while the third referee may perform his duties either seated or standing up.

Periods of play

The match lasts two equal periods of 20 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two teams. Any agreement to alter the duration of the periods of play must be made before the start of play and must comply with the competition rules.

The Start and Restart of Play

A coin is tossed and the team that wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match.

The other team takes the kick-off to start the match.

The team that wins the toss takes the kick-off to start the second half of the match.

In the second half of the match, the teams change ends and attack the opposite goals.

Ball in and out of play

The ball is out of play when:

• it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air
• play has been stopped by the referees
• it hits the ceilingBall in playThe ball is in play at all other times, including when:
  • it rebounds off a goalpost or crossbar and remains on the pitch• it rebounds off the referees when they are on the pitch

Method of scoring

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Futsal Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.

There is no offside in futsal.

Fouls are penalised with a direct free kick, penalty kick or indirect free kick.

Fouls penalised with a direct free kick

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referees to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
• Kicks an opponent
• Trips an opponent
• Jumps at an opponent
• Charges an opponent
• Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• Pushes an opponent
• Tackles an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following three offences:

• Holds an opponent
• Spits at an opponent
• Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

The indirect free kick

The referees indicate an indirect free kick by raising their arms above their heads. They maintain their arms in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.

The direct free kick

The referees indicate an direct free kick by stretching their arms out to the side.

A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits any of the ten offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play.

A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.

Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each half or at the end of each period of extra time.

A kick-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touches the ball when the whole of the ball crosses the touch line, either on the ground or in the air, or touches the ceiling of the hall.

A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-in.

The corner kick is a method of restarting play.

A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.

The goal clearance is a method of restarting play.

A goal clearance is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance.