The Tri-Valley Futsal Local Laws for Local Games are tailored to address league specific needs due to age, physical or logistics limitations and supersedes the FIFA laws of the game when the game is played locally.

Tri-Valley Futsal Local Laws

1. The maximum roster is 12 players.

2. The goalie may not throw the ball over the half line without the ball hitting his own court or a player first. If case of an infraction indirect kick is conceded to the opposing team at the half line.

3. The start of play is an indirect kick.

4. We do stop the clock for Team or Referee Time-outs, otherwise the league uses a running clock approach.

5. No drop kicks are allowed. If case of an infraction indirect kick is conceded to the opposing team at the half line.

6. We use 3 meters or 9 feet as the distance the opposing player from infraction instead of 5 meters or 15 feet due to the size of our courts.

7. At the second period teams MUST switch sitting places.

8. Red carded players may be suspended for one game as per referee request to the league.

9. No Slaughter Rule 1: When a team reaches a 5-goal lead, the leading team has to drop the player count by 1 before the game restarts . To drop the player count, any position can be eliminated with the exception of the goalie. The leading team player count will remain down 1 player until the goal lead falls back to 4 goals.

10. No Slaughter Rule 2: For standings purposes, the goals beyond the 5-goal lead will not be computed.

11. Number of points: three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a defeat. If one team forfeits it looses by 5 goals. If both teams forfeit it counts as a 5x5 tie score.

12. There is NO OVERTIME, qualification for the playoffs and final tie breaker shall be determined as follows:
(a) Number of points, (b) Winner of head to head competition, (c) Goal difference, (c) Number of goals scored, (d) Least goals allowed, (f) drawing lots

FIFA Laws of he game Update 2006

All text in red pertains to new rules or rule clarifications which are in force immediately as mandated by FIFA

LAW III: NUMBER OF PLAYERS

1. A game is played with five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper.

2. The maximum number of substitutes is seven. The number of substitutions in a match is unlimited. Rosters may contain up to 15 registered players. At game time, only 12 registered players must be entered into the score sheet. For adult teams, when the coach is also a player he/she must have both a coachs' pass and a players' pass. One of the 15 allowed spots in the roster will belong to the coach.

3. A "flying" substitution is one, which is made when the ball is still in play. The substitution zone is situated on the same side of the pitch as the teams' benches and directly in front of them and is where the players enter and leave the pitch for substitutions (player out, player in). If, while a substitution is being made, a substitute enters the pitch before the player being replaced has completely left:
a. Play is stopped
b. The player being replaced is instructed to leave the pitch.
c. The substitute is cautioned, shown the yellow card and is ordered to leave the pitch to complete the substitution procedure.

4. If, while a substitution is being made, a substitute enter the pitch or a player being substituted leaves the pitch from a place other than his/her own team's substitution zone:
a. Play is stopped.
b. The offending player is cautioned, shown the yellow cardand is ordered to leave the pitch to complete the substitution procedure.

5. All substitutions are considered under the same procedure. " A substitution is one which is made when the ball is in or out of play.

Goalkeeper substitutions: Goalkeepers may change places with any other player provided they are ready to come in with equipment or during a time out. No time is granted for goalie substitution where the goalies have to exchange equipment.

5. No game will be permitted to begin with less than five players on a team. If, in the event of players being sent off, fewer than three players, including the goalkeeper are left in either of the teams, the match must be abandoned.

6. A team official may give tactical instructions to players during a match. However, team officials must not interfere with the movements of the players and referees and they must always behave in an appropriate manner.

LAW IV: THE PLAYER'S EQUIPMENT

1. All players must wear jerseys or shirts of similar color with numbers on the back. Shorts or sweats are mandatory.

2. All players must wear tennis shoes or shoes with rubber soles. No shoes that leave marks on the floor will be allowed on the courts. Shin guards are mandatory, these have to be completely covered by the socks.

3. The goalkeeper will wear a uniform of different color.

4. A player that has been sent out to adjust his/her equipment may reenter the game when the ball has ceased to be in play and only by permission of any of the referees. If the referees stop play to caution the offending player: Play is restarted with an indirect free kick, to be taken by a player of the opposing side from the place where the ball was located when the referees stopped play.

5. a. Players must not reveal undershirts that contain slogans or advertising. A player removing their jersey to reveal slogans or advertising will be sanctioned by the competition organizer.

b. Jerseys must have sleeves.

LAW V: THE REFEREE

1. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee and the second referee may only change a decision if they realize that they have made a mistake or if they deem it necessary to do so, provided that play has not restarted or the match terminated.

LAW VIII: THE DURATION OF THE GAME

1. The length of the game will be forty minutes, divided into two equal halves of twenty minutes with a rest period of no more than 5 minutes. 8 & Under through 12 & Under youth divisions will use the smaller Futsal ball. 14 & Under youth division and above will use the bigger Futsal ball.

2. Time-out (which is 1 minute in duration) may be requested by any team official at any time (one in each half), but will only be conceded when the team is in ball possession and the ball is out of play. When time-out is granted the substitutes must stay off the pitch. Players may only be substituted at the end of a time-out. The official(s) issuing the instructions may not enter the pitch.

3. If a team does not request a time-out during the first half of play, it can not be compensated for on the second half. The team will loose it. There are no time-outs granted in overtime. At the end of the first half, teams will immediately switch benches. The same will occur at the end of the first overtime period.

LAW IX: THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY

1. Home team will have automatic kick off. During the kickoff, the opposing team shall be no less than ten feet from the ball until is kicked off and put in play.

2. A goal can be scored directly from a kick-off for all youth and adult divisions. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. There is no need for the ball to travel the distance of its circumference.

Special Circumstances

A free kick awarded to the defending team in its own penalty area may be taken from any point within that penalty area.
An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in the penalty area of the opposing team must be taken from the penalty area line a the point nearest to where the offense was committed.
A dropped ball to restart play in the penalty area must take place on the penalty area line at the point closest to where the ball was when play was stopped.

LAW X : THE BALL IN & OUT OF PLAY

1. When a match is being played on an indoor pitch and the ball accidentally hits the ceiling the basketball hoop or the basketball board (if they are inside the pitch) the game is restarted by a kick-in, awarded to the opposing team to the one that last touched the ball. The kick-in is taken closest to where the infraction occurred.

LAW XII: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

DIRECT FREE KICK

1. A player who intentionally commits one of the following six offenses in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

a. Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent;
b. Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent;
c. Jumping at an opponent;
d. Charging an opponent; (Shoulder charge ok, without it being reckless, foolish or excessively forceful)
e. Pushing an opponent;
f. Striking or attempting to strike an opponent;

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following five offenses:
g. Spitting at an opponent;
h. Holding an opponent;
i. Sliding in an attempt to play the ball, when it is being attempted to be played by an opponent, except for the goalkeeper in his own penalty area (sliding tackle);
j. Handling the ball deliberately, except for the goalkeeper in his/her penalty area;
k. Touching the opponent before the ball when attempting to win possession.

shall be penalized by the award of a direct free kick from the spot where the fault occurred and if the infringement happened in the penalty area irrespective of the position of the ball but provided that it is in play, a penalty kick shall be awarded. The above-mentioned fouls are accumulated fouls.

INDIRECT FREE KICK

2. A player committing any of the following four offenses:

a. Playing in a manner considered by the referee to be dangerous;
b. Deliberately impeding the progress of an opponent when the ball is not being played;
c. Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands;
d. Committing any other offense, not previously mentioned in Law XII, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player,

shall be penalized by the award of an indirect free kick, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. The referees indicate an indirect free kick by raising one arm above their head, maintaining the arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits one of the following offenses, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred, unless it happened in the penalty area, in which case the indirect free kick shall be taken from the goalie's box line at the point closest to the spot where the infringement occurred:

I. Following a kick-in taken by a player in his/her own team, the ball is directly passed to the goalkeeper, who touches or controls it with his hands;
II. Touches or controls it with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a teammate;
III. He/she touches or controls the ball with his/her hands or feet, for more than four seconds, except when he/she touches or controls the ball on the opponent's half of the playing court;
IV. After having released the ball, he/she receives the ball from a teammate, without it having first passed beyond the halfway line or has been played or touched by an opponent. The above-mentioned fouls are not accumulated fouls.

DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

CAUTIONABLE OFFENSES

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

a. Is guilty of unsporstmanlike behavior;
b. Shows dissent by word or action;
c. Persistently infringes the laws of the game;
d. Delays the restart of play;
e. Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, kick-in, free kick, or goal clearance;
f. Enters or re-enters the playing court without the referees' permission, except for the substitution zone;
g. Deliberately leaves the playing court without the referees' permission, except for the substitution zone

For any of these offenses, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.

3. A player shall be ejected from the playing court and shown the red card if in the opinion of the referee he/she:

a. Is guilty of serious foul play;
b. Is guilty of violent conduct;
c. Uses fouled or abusive language;
d. Is guilty of persisting misconduct after cautioning;
e. Spits at an opponent or any other person;
f. Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area);
g. Denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the players' goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick.

If play is stopped because a player is sent off the playing court for offense c or d, without having committed any additional infringement of the laws, the game is restarted by an indirect free kick.

Yellow and red cards may only be shown to players and substitutes. The referees have the authority to pronounce disciplinary sanctions on players from the moment they enter the pitch until they leave the pitch after the final whistle.

Once expelled, the player concerned may not reenter the game or sit on the substitutes' bench as he must leave the vicinity of the field of play. He/she may be replaced 2 minutes after the expulsion, unless a goal has been scored before the 2 minutes have elapsed. In this case the following applies:

a. If there are 5 players against 4 and the team with the larger number scores a goal, the team with only 4 players may be completed;
b. If both teams are playing with 4 players and a goal is scored, both teams remain with the same number of players:
c. If there are 5 players against 3 or 4 against 3, and the team with the greater number scores, the team with 3 players may be increased by one more player only;
d. If both teams are playing with 3 players and a goal is scored, both teams remain with the same number of players;
e. If the team scoring a goal is the team with fewer players, the game shall continue without changing the number of players.
f. It is the duty of the score-timekeeper to keep track of the 3 minute penalty.

DECISIONS

Decision 1

Subject to the terms of Law XII, a player may pass the ball to his/her own goalkeeper using their head, chest or knee, etc. provided that the ball has already crossed the halfway line or has been touched or played by an opponent. If, however, in the opinion of the referees, a player uses a deliberate trick while the ball is in play in order to circumvent the Law, the player is guilty of unsporting behavior. They are cautioned, shown the yellow card and an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred.
In such circumstances, it is irrelevant whether the goalkeeper subsequently touches the ball with their hands or not. The offense is committed by the player in attempting to circumvent both the letter and the spirit of Law XII.

Decision 2

A tacke that endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Decision 3

Any act of simulation on the field that is intended to deceive the referees must be sanctioned as unsporting behavior.

Decision 4

A player who removes his/her jersey when celebrating a goal must be cautioned for unsporting behavior.

LAW XIII: FREE KICKS

1. When a player is taking a free kick, whether direct or indirect, all of the opposing players and the defending wall must be at least fifteen 15-feet/5 meters from the ball (quick free kicks are at the discretion of the referee, otherwise free kicks will be taken after a second whistle); and the wall can not move until the ball has been put in play. If a player of the opposing team encroaches within 15 feet of the ball, the free kick will be retaken. If the free kick is not taken within 4 seconds an indirect free kick will be given to the opposing team. When a defending team is taking a free kick from within its own penalty area, all opponents must be outside this penalty area. The ball is in play after it has been kicked or touched and has left the penalty area.

LAW XIV: ACCUMULATED FOULS

Accumulated fouls are all fouls mentioned in LAW XII, which are punished by a direct free kick.

1. Each team is granted the right, in each period of the game, to commit five accumulative fouls. A wall of players can defend these five fouls. These five fouls must be recorded in the summary of the game.

2. After a team commits its fifth accumulative foul, all free kicks starting with the sixth one (6) will be direct, irrespective of the infraction. They will be taken from the double penalty spot, unless any player commits a foul on the opponents half of the court or on his own half outside an imaginary line parallel to the center line but going through the double penalty spot, in which case the free kick shall be taken from that spot on the court. A goal may be scored directly from this free kick and a wall will no longer be permitted as defense against the direct free kick. The player taking the kick must do so with the intent of scoring a goal (may not pass the ball back to another player). All players will need to remain behind an imaginary line, which is in line with the ball and parallel to the goal line, and outside the penalty area. All players must be 5 meters/15 feet from the ball.

3. The goalkeeper must be in his/her penalty area and is to remain 5 meters/15 feet from the ball until it is kicked.

4. If the game goes into overtime, all accumulative fouls that have accrued from the second half of the game continue to count up in the overtime period.

5. The referees may allow play to continue by applying the advantage rule if the team has not yet committed five accumulated fouls and the opposing team is not denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity. When applying the advantage rule, the referees must use the mandatory signal to indicate an accumulated foul to the timekeeper and the third referee as soon as the ball is out of play.

Infringements/Sanctions

If a player of the defending team commits an infringement to this Law:

a. the kick is retaken, only of a goal is not scored.
b. the kick is not retaken if a goal is scored.

If a player of the same team as the player taking the kick infringes this Law:

a. the kick is retaken if a goal is scored
b.if a goal is not scored, the referees stop play and restart the game with an indirect free kick to the defending team, to be taken from the place where the ball was located when the infringement was committed.

If the player taking the kick infringes this Law after the ball is in play:

an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be 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.

If a player of the defending team and a player of the attacking team infringe this Law:
the free kick is retaken.
If the ball strikes an object after it has been played forward;
the free kick is retaken.
If the ball rebounds into play off the goalkeeper, the crossbar or the posts an then strikes an object:
The referees stop play, and restart it with a dropped ball at the place where the ball struck the object.

LAW XV: PENALTY KICK

1. Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each half or at the end of over time. Also, additional time is allowed for a double penalty at the end of each half or at the end of over time.

2. The players are located outside the penalty area, behind or to the side of the penalty mark and at least 5 meters/15 feet from the penalty mark.

3. During the penalty kick the opposing goalkeeper has to remain on his own goal line until the ball has been kicked. During the penalty kick the goalie remains on the end line without moving side to side.

The above-mentioned Infringements/Sanctions for direct free kicks as of the sixth accumulated fouls also apply to kicks from the penalty mark .

LAW XVI: KICK IN

1. When the whole of the ball completely crosses over the touchline, it shall be kicked-in from the place where it crossed the touch line. The ball must be stationary on the touchline. The players of the opposing team shall be at least 15 feet away from the spot where the kick-in is being taken. If an opponent interferes with or hinders a kick-in from being taken properly: He/She is cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown the yellow card. Players taking the kick-in must do so within 4 seconds of taking possession of the ball.

2. A goal can not be scored directly from a kick-in. However when a kick-in is performed correctly and touched by any player including the goalie, and it goes into the net, it shall be counted as a goal.

3. The player taking the kick-in must have part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline. The kick-in is retaken by a player of the opposing team if the kick-in is taken incorrectly; if the kick-in is taken from a position other than the place where the ball passes over the touch line; if the kick-in is not carried out within 4 seconds of the player taking it after being in possession of the ball and if any other infringement of the Law occurs.

LAW XVII: GOAL CLEARANCE

1.YOUTH DIVISIONS (16 and under divisions and below): When the whole of the ball completely crosses the end line, the goalkeeper, standing within his/her own penalty area, shall only throw it back into play (no drop kick or goal kick) and the ball has to touch any player or the goalkeeper's own half of the pitch before it crosses the halfway line of the pitch. This is a way to restart the game and it is called goal clearance. If the ball is live (example: a goalie stops a shot on goal) the goalie must also throw it back into play whithin four seconds and it must touch a player or the goalkeeper's own half of the pitch before it crosses the halfway line of the pitch. In this case, (live ball) the goalie can also place and kick, drop kick, roll pass, or punt the ball past the half way line. If this is done correctly then a goal can be scored from this kick.

ADULT DIVISIONS: (including the 18 and under division) The ball may pass the halfway line of the pitch without first having touched the goalkeeper's own half of the pitch. This procedure also applies at any time when the goalkeeper has ball possession. If the ball is thrown to the other side of the pitch and it goes into the net without touching any player including the goalkeeper then the goal is not counted; if the ball is touched by any player including the goalie and it goes into the net, the goal will be counted.

2. If the ball is touched or played by a player of the same team as the goalkeeper who is making the goal clearance or by a player of the opposing team, inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the goal clearance shall be retaken.

3. If after having cleared the ball, the goalkeeper deliberately receives it back from a teammate and touches it or controls it with his hands or feet, an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team to be taken from the spot where the infringement occurred, unless it occurred in the penalty area, in which case it shall be taken from the penalty area line at the spot nearest to where the infringement occurred.

4. A goal can be scored from anywhere in the field of play, including the goalkeepers' box.

5. The goalkeeper is allowed to come out of his penalty area but he/she cannot retain the ball for more than four (4) seconds at a time, except while playing in the opponents' half of the pitch.

LAW XVIII: CORNER KICK

1. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team, whether the ball touches any player or not on its way into the net.

2. An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the corner line if the corner kick is not performed within 4 seconds or if the kicker touches the ball a second time, or if the kicker places one or two feet completely into the field of play (corner kick performed incorrectly).

3. Players of the opposing team shall not encroach within 15 feet of the corner arc until it is in play.

FOUR SECOND RULE

1. FREE KICK - If the team taking any free kick takes more than four (4) seconds to do so, after the referee whistles he/she shall award an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

2. KICK IN - If the kick-in is not carried out within four seconds from the time the player taking the kick takes possession of the ball, a player of the opposing team shall retake it.

3. CORNER KICK - If the corner kick is not carried out within four seconds from the time the player has taken possession of the ball, the referee shall award an indirect free kick to the opposing team from the corner mark.

4. GOAL CLEARANCE - If the goalie does not clear the ball within four seconds from the time of possession, whether by hand or foot, the referee shall award an indirect free kick to the opposing team from the outside edge of the goalie's area nearest to where the infringement occurred.

SPECIAL LEAGUE RULES

A. The clock will continue to run during the match, but only during the last two minutes of the game (second half only) will the clock be stopped for balls out of bounds, fouls and free kicks, and any other stoppage of play by the referee.
B. Forfeited games constitute a score of 3 to 0.

C. For playoffs and finals when a winner is necessary the following rules must be observed

1. Two overtime periods of 5 minutes each (with no stop clock)

2. If tie persist then 5 penalties per side.

3. If tie persist then 1 alternating penalty per side.

D. Bracket standings: 1. Total points, 2. Head to Head competition, 3. Goal differential. 4. Goals in favor 5. Goals against 6. Coin Toss.

E. Home teams are responsible for change of uniform if conflict arises.

F. The league will be accumulating yellow cards. Two yellow cards on consequent or non consequent games will equal one red card which will sit out the offending player one game right after the second card has been issued. This rule also applies for playoffs and finals.

G. In this league each red card carries an automatic one game suspension, with the possibility of a harsher punishment depending on the severity of the offense.

All text in red pertains to new rules or rule clarifications which are in force immediately as mandated by FIFA

Tri-Valley Futsal Local Laws

FIFA Laws of he game Update 2006

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