NSW COMBINED HIGH SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION

NORTH WESTERN METROPOLITAN

 HIGH SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION

FUTSAL 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

A match is played by two teams, each consisting of no more than 5 players, one of whom is the goalkeeper.

At the start of a match, a team must have a minimum of 3 players on the pitch of which one must be the goalkeeper.

If, in the event of  players being sent off, fewer than 3 players (including the goalkeeper) are left in either of the teams, the match must be abandoned.

Substitution Procedures

The maximum number of substitutes permitted is 3.

The number of substitutions made during a match is unlimited. A player who has been replaced may return to the pitch as a substitute for another player.

A substitution is one which is made when the ball is out of play and for which the following conditions are observed:

• The player leaving the pitch must do so at his/her own substitution zone.
• The player entering the pitch must also do so at his/her own substitution zone but not until the player leaving the pitch has passed completely over the touch line. A substitute is subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referees whether called upon to play or not.
• The substitution is completed when the substitute enters the pitch, from which moment he/she becomes a player and the player whom he/she is replacing ceases to be a player.
• A goalkeeper may change places with any other player. New goalkeeper must wear a keeper top.

Shinguards

Shinguards must be worn by all players for the duration of the game. Any player not wearing shinguards will not be permitted to play.

Goalkeeper

If a field player replaces the goalkeeper, the keeper must have his/her own top. (Can not wear a keeper top)

THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY

Kick-off

A kick off is a way of starting or restarting play:

• at the start of a match
• after a goal has been scored
• at the start of the second half
• at the start of extra time period

A goal may be scored directly from kick off.

Procedure

• all players are in their own half of the field
• the opponents of the team taking the kick off are at least 5 meters from the ball until it is in play
• the ball is stationary on the centre mark
• the referee gives the signal
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward
• the kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player

After a team scores a goal, the kick off is taken by the other team.

Infringements/Sanctions

If the kicker touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player:

• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. However, if this offence is committed by a player in his/her opponents’ penalty area, the indirect free kick shall be taken from the penalty area line from the place nearest to where the infringement occurred.

For any other infringement of the kick-off procedure the kick-off is retaken.

Dropped Ball

A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage, which becomes necessary, while the ball is in play and provided that immediately preceding the stoppage, it has not passed over the touch line or goal line, for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game.

Procedure

The referee drops the ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped, except if it was in the penalty area, in which case he drops it on the penalty area line, at the place nearest to where the ball was located when the match was stopped.

Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.

The players contesting the drop ball must be at least 2 meters away from each other.

Infringements/Sanctions

The ball is dropped again:

• if it is touched by a player before it makes contact with the ground
• if the ball leaves the pitch after it makes contact with the ground, without a player touching it

THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

Ball 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 referee
• it hits the ceiling

Ball in Play

The ball is in play at all other times including when:

• it rebounds from a goal post or the cross bar onto the pitch
• it rebounds from the referee when on the pitch

Decisions

When a match is being played on an indoor pitch and the ball accidentally hits the ceiling, the game is restarted by a kick-in, awarded to the opposing team to the one which last touched the ball

The kick-in is taken from a point on the nearest touchline to the intersection between either touch line and the imaginary line that runs parallel to the goal line and the place below where the ball hit the ceiling.

THE METHOD OF SCORING

Goal Scored

Except otherwise provided by these Laws, a goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, unless it has been thrown, carried or intentionally propelled by the hand or arm by a player of the attacking side, the goalkeeper included.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

Fouls and misconduct are penalised as follows:

Direct Free Kick

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• kick or attempt to kick an opponent
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• jumps at an opponent
• charges an opponent, even with the shoulder
• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• pushes or pulls an opponent

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

• holds an opponent
• spits at an opponent
• slides in an attempt to play the ball when it is being played or attempts to be played by an opponent (slide tackle), except for the goalkeeper in his/her own penalty area and provided that he/she does not play in a careless, reckless way or using excessive force
• handles the ball deliberately, except for the goalkeeper in his/her own penalty area

A direct free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is awarded if a player commits any of the aforementioned offences inside his/her own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball but provided that it is in play.

Indirect Free Kick

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits one of the following offences:

• touches or controls the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a team mate

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred, if, in the opinion of the referee, a player:

• plays in a dangerous manner
• deliberately impedes the progress of an opponent when the ball is not being played
• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his/her hands
• commits any other offence, not previously  mentioned, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player.

The indirect free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred, unless this was in the penalty area, in which case the indirect free kick is taken from the penalty area line at the place nearest to where the infringement occurred.

Disciplinary Sanctions

Cautionable Offences

A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he/she commits any of the following offences:

1. is guilty of unsporting behaviour
2. shows dissent by word of action
3. persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
4. delays the star of play
5. 5.       fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with corner kick, kick-in, free kick or goal clearance (5 meters)

For any of these offences, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. If the offence was committed within the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken from the penalty area line at the place nearest to where the infringement occurred. A caution is also given provided that no graver infringement of the Laws has been committed.

Sending-Off Offences

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he/she commits any of the following offences

1. is guilty of serious foul play
2. is guilty of violent conduct
3. spits at an opponent or any other person
4. denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this  does not apply   to goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area)
5. denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or penalty
6. uses offensive, insulting or abusive language
7. receives a second caution in the same match

If play is stopped because a player is sent off the pitch for offences 6 or 7, without having committed any additional infringement of the Laws, the game is restarted by an indirect free kick, awarded to the opposing team, to be taken at the place where the infringement occurred. However, if the offence is committed in the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken from the nearest to where the infringement occurred.