In this guide, we’ll break down the basics: how futsal works, what makes it different from traditional football, and the key rules you’ll need to understand before stepping onto the court or tuning in to a match.
 |
|
What Is Futsal?
At its core, futsal is an indoor variant of association football (soccer). The goal is simple: score more goals than the opposing team. But while the objective stays the same, the way teams reach that goal changes significantly because of futsal’s unique format and restrictions.
A standard futsal game features two teams. Each team can have up to 14 players on the roster, but only 5 players — one goalkeeper and four outfield players — are on the court at any given time. Unlike outdoor football’s vast grass fields, futsal is played indoors on a much smaller hard court measuring 40 meters long by 20 meters wide. The goals are also scaled down: just 3 meters wide and 2 meters high, surrounded by a 6-meter arc marking the goal area.
How the Game Is Played
The basic mechanics of futsal are familiar to any football fan: players pass, dribble, tackle, and shoot in an effort to move the ball into the opponent’s net. A goal counts only if the entire ball crosses the goal line.
Players can touch the ball with any part of their body except their arms and hands (goalkeepers, of course, are the exception inside their area). Passing and dribbling are at the heart of the game. Because the court is small and the ball is specially designed to have less bounce than a regular football, precise footwork and tight control are essential.
The Game Clock and Structure
A futsal match is played in two halves of 20 minutes each, for a total of 40 minutes of active game time. One major difference from outdoor football is that the clock stops every time there is a stoppage in play — no extra time is added at the end of each half. The team with the most goals at the end wins.
Key Differences from Outdoor Football
While futsal shares much with soccer, its distinct rules and conditions make it a different game tactically and technically:
-
The Ball: Futsal uses a smaller, Size 4 ball with reduced bounce. This encourages ground play and quick passes rather than long aerial kicks.
-
No Offside Rule: There is no offside in futsal, which opens up more creative attacking strategies.
-
No Slide Tackles or Shoulder Charges: Physical play is more restricted, promoting skill and agility over brute force.
-
Goalkeepers: Keepers have only four seconds to release the ball after gaining control, keeping the game flowing fast.
-
Unlimited Substitutions: Teams can make unlimited substitutions during play, but they must happen through a designated substitution zone on the sideline.
Common Fouls and Disciplinary Actions
Like football, fouls in futsal include reckless tackles, illegal physical contact, and handling the ball deliberately. Players who commit fouls may receive yellow cards (warnings) or red cards (dismissals). Two yellow cards equal a red card, which sends the player off the court.
However, if a player is sent off, the team can replace them — but only after two minutes have passed or the opposing team has scored a goal.
Fouls add up too: if a team commits five fouls in a half, every additional foul gives the other team a direct free kick without a defensive wall, making discipline crucial.
Set Plays: Kicks, Throws, and Corners
If the ball goes out of play, how it re-enters depends on where it exited:
-
If it crosses the sidelines, the other team gets a kick-in.
-
If the defending team touches it last and it crosses their own goal line, it’s a corner kick for the attacking team.
-
If the attacking team touches it last and it crosses the defender’s goal line (but not into the goal), the defending team gets a goal throw.
All restarts must happen within four seconds, or the opposing team gets possession.
Penalties and Direct Free Kicks
Certain fouls lead to big opportunities:
-
If a defender handles the ball or fouls an attacker inside the goal area while they have a clear scoring chance, the referee awards a penalty kick from the six-meter mark.
-
Accumulated fouls after the fifth lead to a direct free kick from ten meters out, with no defensive wall.
Timeouts
Teams are allowed one 1-minute timeout per half. Timeouts don’t carry over, so if you don’t use it, you lose it. Coaches use this break to tweak tactics and give players a breather.
Why Play Futsal?
So why is futsal so popular? The smaller court, heavier ball, and stricter rules put a premium on quick passing, ball control, creativity, and teamwork. Players get more touches on the ball and more opportunities to develop close control and decision-making skills. It’s no coincidence that many of the world’s best footballers — from Pelé to Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo — honed their skills playing futsal as kids.
Ready to Watch or Play?
If you’re a football fan, futsal might seem familiar at first, but watch a match and you’ll quickly see how its unique rules and rapid pace create a different, electrifying dynamic. So grab some friends, find a local indoor court, or tune into a match online — and enjoy one of the world’s fastest, most skillful sports.