Rules (Futsal)
MDSL FUTSAL LEAGUE
MDSL FUTSAL LEAGUE RULES & INFORMATION
- The maximum goal differential that will be recorded is 10.
- Age groups may be combined for a competitive balance.
- We will follow the most current health guidelines and recommendations.
- Games are played on Saturdays and Sundays. Make-up games may be played during the week.
VENUES
Montgomery County, MD
General Rules
- Teams are comprised of four outfield players and one goalkeeper.
- There are no throw-ins in futsal. A kick-in will be used to restart play.
- There is no offsides in futsal.
- Teams are entitled to a one minute timeout in each half. Timeouts are allowed when the team is in possession and ball is out of play.
- There are no goal kicks in futsal. Goalkeepers restart play by distributing ball with their hands.
- Substitutions may occur any time during the run of play. Substitutions must be made through the technical area in front of the team’s bench, not at half court.
- Direct free-kick fouls are accumulated in each half. If one team accumulates 6 or more direct free-kick fouls in one half, the opposing team will be awarded a direct free-kick.
Substitutions
All substitutions are on the fly, this includes goalkeeping substitutions. Referees will not stop play for goalkeeping substitutions. A substitute may not enter the pitch until the player leaving the pitch leaves through the substitution zone in front of his teams’ bench. Any substitute who enters the pitch before the player being replaced has completely left the field of play may be shown a yellow card. All substitutions must take place through the substitution zone in front of his teams’ bench — not at the half-way line.
Teams will switch benches (and ends) at halftime, ensuring that all substitutions take place in the defensive half. Covid protocols may change this general rule.
Restarts
Kick-offs: A goal may be scored directly against the opponent from the kick-off. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
Kick-ins: are indirect. The ball must be placed on the line and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. A kick-in that goes directly in the opposing goal is a goal clearance for the opposing team. A kick-in that goes directly in the defensive goal is a corner kick of the opposing team. If the kick-in does not enter the pitch or if the kick is not taken within 4 seconds, the ball is turned over to the opponent.
Goal Clearances: are awarded when the ball exits the court beyond the end-line. The ball is thrown or released from any point within the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team. The ball must be released within 4 seconds (either at referee signal or as goalkeeper is ready). Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
Corner Kicks: are direct. The ball must be placed in the corner arc area and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. If the kick is not taken within 4 seconds the restart becomes a goal clearance for the opposing team.
Free Kicks: may be indirect or direct. The ball must be stationary before the kick may be taken.
Penalty Kicks: are taken from the penalty spot and must be taken by a clearly identified kicker. Defenders may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball when the kick is taken.
Fouls and Misconduct
Indirect Free Kicks: When a player plays in a dangerous manner, impedes an opponent, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with her hands, goalkeeper takes more than 4 seconds to release the ball when in possession in his own half, plays the ball again within his own half after releasing the ball and the ball doesn’t touch an opponent or has gone out of play, or commits any offense for which play is stopped to caution or eject a player, an indirect free kick is awarded.
Direct Free Kicks: When a player kicks an opponent, tackles an opponent, trips an opponent, jumps at an opponent, charges an opponent, strikes an opponent, pushes an opponent, holds an opponent, spits at an opponent or handles the ball deliberately, a direct free kick is awarded.
Yellow Card / Caution: The offending player is shown a yellow card. If a player is shown two yellow cards in a match, he is shown a red card.
Red Card / Send-off: The offending team plays with one less player for two full game minutes or unless scored upon before the two-minute penalty expires. The offending player serves a minimum one-match suspension.
Accumulated Fouls: All direct free kick fouls are recorded on the scoresheet and on the scoreboard. If one team accumulates 6 or more direct free kick fouls in one half, the opposing team will take a direct free kick without a wall. If the foul occurs farther from the attacking goal than the second penalty spot, the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall is taken from the second penalty spot. If the foul occurs nearer to the attacking goal than the second penalty spot (but outside the penalty area, of course), the attacking team may choose whether to take the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall from the second penalty spot or from the spot of the foul. All Direct Free Kicks Without a Wall must be kicked with the intention of scoring a goal by a clearly identified kicker. The defending team may not make a wall and may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball when the kick is taken. The goalkeeper may be off the goal-line but may not be nearer than 16 feet from the ball. Accumulated fouls are reset to zero at the beginning of the second half and carry over into extra-time if being played.
Penalty Spot: 5 meters (~16 feet) from goal-line and the center of the goal and placed at the top of the penalty area line.
Second Penalty Spot: 10 meters (~32 feet) from goal-line and the center of the goal.
Advantage: Advantage is applied in Futsal. Direct free kick foul will count as accumulated fouls if advantage is applied even if play is not stopped by the referees. If the referee gestures with both arms, the foul was a direct free kick foul and will be counted accordingly. If the gesture is with one arm, the free kick would have been indirect and will not count as an accumulated foul.
The Goalkeeper
- Must wear a different color shirt.
- He/She may wear long pants and/or other padding as deemed safe by the match referee.
- May receive a kick-in directly.
- May kick the ball directly over the half-way line.
- May score directly with his/her feet during the run of play.
- May not possess the ball for more than four seconds in his/her own half.
- May throw the ball directly across the half-way line.
- May not score a goal by using the hands (cannot throw or hit the ball directly into the goal)
- Cannot touch the ball again in any way within his own half after releasing the ball into play unless an opponent has touched it or it has gone out of play.
ROSTERS
We accept rosters from various leagues and associations included but not limited to: MDSL, US Youth Soccer, MSI, URSL, and SAM. If your team is currently playing in another league, then you can reach out to info@mdslsoccer.com to find out if we accept rosters from your league. All rosters should be uploaded in the registration section for our event in your GotSport account.
On match days, coaches and/or managers should have their roster on hand in addition to player cards (if applicable) or a birth certificate (if applicable). This is in case there are any questions in reference to a player’s eligibility.
Any team found using a player not on their roster, will be banned from the league without a refund.
Any injured player that is not on an approved USYS roster will NOT be covered by the league or the facilities insurance. Any illegal player releases & indemnifies the Maryland Developmental Soccer League, Montgomery County Public Schools, and its assigns, officers and agents from any and all liability as a result of physical injury, illness and/or loss of income.
Upload your rosters in GotSport by the Thursday before your team’s first game. If you currently don’t have a roster from an accredited league then you can send us an email to info@mdslsoccer.com and we will provide details on how to obtain it.
REFEREES
Your referee fees are included in your registration.
AGE DIVISIONS/GROUPS
Boys and Girls U-8 – U-19
The MDSL reserves the right to drop or combine divisions or age groups for competitive balance.
ABUSE PREVENTION CERTIFICATE
If your team is USYS approved, then you will be required to complete the SAFE SPORT ABUSE PREVENTION COURSE prior to league play to fulfill the Federal Mandate. If you have already completed the course, email us a copy of the certificate to info@mdslsoccer.com.
For Futsal league play only:
If you did not complete the course, then you can contact your state association. If your club is not affiliated with a state association, then you will need to provide a copy of your most up to date background check. The background check must be within 1 year of your team’s first game. Please send all pertinent documents to info@mdslsoccer.com.
AGE GROUPS AND DIVISIONS
The league committee reserves the right to combine age groups based on the number of registrations received in each age group.
IMPORTANT COACH INFORMATION
There is no coaching license needed to coach a team. Any adult who is registered with the team as a coach or manager can sit on the bench.
AGE GROUPS AND DIVISIONS
The league committee reserves the right to combine age groups based on the number of registrations received in each group.
COACHES WITH MULTIPLE TEAMS
The MDSL will attempt to accommodate coaches with multiple teams by scheduling them with back-to-back games, if possible. If you coach multiple teams, then you must enter this information in the registration system when you register.
COMPETITION FORMAT & RULES
Official futsal FIFA Rules and Regulations as stated under the Laws of The Game will be enforced. Exceptions are noted below under League Rules.
Accumulated Fouls resulting in Direct Kick
- Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent
- Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent
- Jumping at an opponent
- Charges an opponent
- Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
- Pushes an opponent
- Tackling Holding an opponent
- Spits at an opponent
- Handling the ball (except the GK in their own Penalty area)
PLAYER CARDS
Outdoor Player Cards are acceptable as ID and may be checked against the teams’ MDSL Futsal roster at any time by a league administrator.
DOUBLE ROSTERING
Players may be double rostered.
FUTSAL GAME BALLS
The League will provide Match Balls. Teams should bring their own futsal balls for warm up.
SIZE BALL USED BY EACH AGE GROUP:
U12 and younger – size 3.
U13 and older – size 4.
*In the event that the U12 and U13 age groups are combined, games will be played with a mutually agreed ball by both coaches and the referee..
Do not bring outdoor balls into the facilities. They are not allowed for warm-up. Only futsal balls are allowed.
EQUIPMENT
Shin-guards will be mandatory for all players. Indoor, flat soled soccer shoes also must be worn. Futsal specific shoes are recommended but not mandatory.
TIME OUTS
Time outs are limited to one per half for 60 seconds.
HOME TEAM
The Home team is the team that is listed first on the schedule. In the case of a jersey conflict, home team must change jerseys. Visiting teams kick off first.
FORFEITED GAMES
If a team fails to show for a scheduled match, the referee shall allow a 5-minute grace period. After the 5 minutes, if the team has not yet arrived or does not have enough players to field a team (4), the game clock will begin. If ten minutes have passed since the scheduled game time and 4 players are not present, the game will be forfeited. The game will be tallied as a 3 to 0 loss for the forfeiting team and a 3 to 0 win for their opponent.
If the referee terminates a match for reasons other than an act of God or court conditions, the MDSL Directors will decide the result of the match after hearing the official reason from the referee, and both coaches.
** Forfeit Fee: There will be a $35 fee due for any game your team forfeits. This fee will be deposited into an account for the forfeiting team’s opponent and will be used as a credit for their future registration fees.
POINT SYSTEM AND TIEBREAKERS
The determination within the group standings is as follows:
3 points for a win
1 point for a tie
0 points for a loss
TIEBREAKERS
- Goal Differential
- Goals Against
- Head to Head
- Most wins
- Bonus points (shut outs and adjusted Goal Differential)
- Penalty Shoot out
Scores & standings will be kept across all ages.
EJECTIONS – RED CARDS
If a player is ejected from a match, the player’s pass (if USYS rostered) together with a referee’s report of the incident shall be turned over to the MDSL administrator by the referee. The referee will also have to report the incident in the software system used for communication (i.e. Arbiter) or will have to report it to a league official.
The minimum penalty for an ejection is that the player shall not be permitted to play in the immediate next match.
The maximum penalty, after review by the MDSL Futsal Directors, may result in the individual players or teams’ expulsion from the competition.
If a player is ejected from a match the referee will hold onto the player pass, document red card on the back of the score sheet and present it to the league official at the game. The player will have his/her pass (if USYS rostered) returned after a one game suspension.
COACH EJECTIONS
If a coach is ejected from any match, a referee’s report of the incident shall be turned over to the League administrator by the referee.
The minimum penalty for an ejection is that the coach shall not be permitted to coach or remain on the player’s bench in the immediate next match.
Coaches, Players and Spectators may be expelled from the league for excessive and abusive behavior towards spectators, players, referees, coaches and league staff.
The maximum penalty, after review by MDSL Directors, may result in the individual coach or team’s expulsion from the League.
GAMES CANCELLED BY OPPONENTS
If an opponent cancels a game or does not show for the game, the other team may use the game time. If your team must cancel, call the League office at 301-613-9065 as soon as possible so we can notify the referees and give the other team a chance to plan accordingly. Canceling a game not only short-changes your team, but your scheduled opponent. Game reschedules can not be guaranteed.
RESCHEDULES
At the time of registration, each team is allowed one guaranteed conflict if entered into registration system before the registration deadline. You may enter a second date at the time of registration only if you are willing to play double headers. Reschedules are not guaranteed.
GAMES CANCELLED BY MDSL
We reserve the right to postpone or cancel games at any time for any reason such as bad weather or facility problems. If we do need to cancel games, we will do out best to re-schedule but refunds will not be provided.
REFEREES
If you have an interest in joining the MDSL referee pool, please email us at info@mdslsoccer.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many players should I have on my roster?
A: We recommend 8-10 players. The minimum you may have is 5; max is 14.
Q: What size ball does my team need?
A: U12 and younger – size 3
U13 and older – size 4
Do not bring outdoor balls into the facilities. The facility does not allow them and they are not allowed for warm-up. Only futsal balls are allowed.
Q: How long are the games?
A: Two 20 minute halves (plus a short halftime break)
Q: How do substitutions work?
A: Substitutions are unlimited and are done “on the fly” from designated areas.
Q: Are numbered jerseys required for league play?
A: Yes players are required to have numbers. In addition, all players on a team must wear the same color.
Q: Does my team need a coach? And does the coach need to be licensed for futsal?
A: Coaches are highly recommended but a parent is fine. No licenses are required.
The above are basic futsal rules. For extensive information on the Futsal Laws of the game click here.