Amateur Futsal Rules -- Complete Guide 2026
Amateur Futsal Rules — Complete Guide 2026
Knowing amateur futsal rules is essential for players, organizers, and referees. This guide covers all updated rules for 2026, based on FIFA and CBFS standards, with common amateur adaptations.
The Futsal Court
Official dimensions
| Dimension | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 25 meters | 42 meters |
| Width | 16 meters | 25 meters |
Recommended size for official competitions: 40m x 20m. Amateur championships often use smaller courts in school and community gyms.
Required markings
- Center line and center circle (3m radius)
- Goal area (6m radius semicircle from each goal)
- Penalty mark at 6 meters
- Second penalty mark at 10 meters
- Substitution zones (5m strips from the center line)
Goal size
3 meters wide by 2 meters tall, fixed and padded at the base for player safety.
Match Duration
- Two 20-minute halves with a stopped clock (official)
- 10-minute halftime interval
- Amateur competitions commonly use two 15-minute halves with a running clock
- Each team gets one 1-minute timeout per half, only when in possession
Overtime in knockout phases
- Extra time: two 5-minute periods with stopped clock
- Penalty shootout: if still tied after extra time
- Some amateur tournaments skip extra time and go directly to penalties
The championship regulations must specify which method is used.
Players and Substitutions
- 5 players on court per team, one must be the goalkeeper
- Minimum 3 players to start or continue a match
- Rosters typically range from 10 to 14 players
Unlimited substitutions
Substitutions can happen at any time without stopping play. The outgoing player must leave through the substitution zone before the substitute enters. If the substitute enters early, a foul is called against that team.
Fly goalkeeper (power play)
A field player replaces the goalkeeper, typically wearing a different vest. This creates a 5v4 outfield advantage, commonly used when trailing in the final minutes. The fly goalkeeper can play anywhere and follows normal substitution rules.
Fouls and Infractions
Personal fouls (direct free kick)
Kicking, tripping, jumping on, charging, striking, pushing, holding, or spitting at an opponent, and sliding tackles that contact the opponent.
Accumulated fouls
Personal fouls are cumulative per team per half:
- Fouls 1 through 5: normal direct free kick with a wall at minimum 5 meters
- From the 6th foul onward: direct free kick without a wall, taken from the second penalty mark (10m) or the foul location, whichever is closer to the opponent’s goal
This rule encourages clean play — teams that commit many fouls face progressively heavier penalties.
Indirect free kick
Awarded when the goalkeeper holds the ball for more than 4 seconds in their own half, handles a deliberate back-pass, handles a throw-in from a teammate, or touches the ball in their half again without an opponent having touched it.
Penalty
Awarded for personal fouls inside the goal area. Taken from the 6-meter mark with all players behind the ball line except the kicker and goalkeeper.
Cards and Discipline
Yellow card
Unsporting behavior, verbal dissent, time-wasting, failing to respect distance on set pieces, entering or leaving the court without permission.
Red card
Serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, offensive language, or receiving a second yellow in the same match.
Common amateur suspension rules
- 2 accumulated yellows across different matches = 1-game suspension
- Red card = minimum 1-game suspension (may increase based on severity)
- Physical assault = tournament expulsion
Ball and Equipment
- Ball: 62-64 cm circumference, 400-440 grams
- Uniform: numbered shirt (mandatory), shorts, long socks covering shin guards, shin guards (mandatory), flat-soled futsal shoes
- Goalkeeper must wear a different color from all field players and the referee
- Prohibited items: watches, bracelets, earrings, exposed piercings, rings
Special Plays
Kick-in (throw-in equivalent)
In futsal, throw-ins are taken with the feet, not the hands. The ball must be on the sideline or up to 25 cm outside. The kicker has 4 seconds to execute and cannot score directly from a kick-in.
Corner kick
Taken with the feet from the corner arc. 4-second limit. A direct goal is allowed from a corner kick.
Goal clearance
The goalkeeper throws the ball by hand. 4-second limit. The ball must leave the goal area to be in play. A direct goal is not allowed from the opponent’s goal clearance.
Official vs. Amateur Differences
| Rule | Official | Common amateur adaptation |
|---|---|---|
| Match time | 2x20min stopped clock | 2x15min running clock |
| Accumulated fouls | Tracked, free kick from 2nd penalty | Sometimes not tracked |
| Fly goalkeeper | Allowed with specific rules | Not always permitted |
| Penalty shootout tiebreaker | Alternating | Sudden death after 5 rounds |
| Roster size | 14 | Varies from 10 to 16 |
All adaptations must be stated in the championship regulations so every team knows the rules before the first match.
Organize Championships with Clear Rules
Mastering futsal rules is fundamental, but applying them consistently and transparently matters just as much. Torneyo helps organizers create professional championships with centralized regulations, automatic card tracking and suspensions, auto-generated brackets, and real-time results.