Futsal Rules Explained for Sri Lankan Players
Futsal is typically played with 5 players per team (1 goalkeeper and 4 outfield players). A standard game consists of two 20-minute halves, played on a hard court or artificial turf with a smaller, heavier ball that bounces less than a regular football.
How many players are in a futsal team?
In official futsal, a team has five players on the court at any one time, including the goalkeeper. However, in casual games across Sri Lanka, it is common to see 6-a-side matches, especially if the court is slightly larger than the standard regulation size.
When booking a court for a group, a squad of 10 to 12 players is ideal to ensure everyone gets enough playing time while allowing for rolling substitutions.
What are the key differences between futsal and football?
If you are used to playing regular 11-a-side football, keep these differences in mind when stepping onto a futsal court:
- The Ball: Futsal uses a size 4 ball with 30% less bounce.
- Substitutions: Futsal features "flying substitutions," meaning players can swap in and out during active play without stopping the game.
- Throw-ins: There are no throw-ins in futsal; instead, the ball is kicked back into play (a "kick-in").
- The 4-Second Rule: On kick-ins, free kicks, corner kicks, and goal clearances, players have only 4 seconds to restart play.
What is the pass-back rule for goalkeepers?
One of the most commonly misunderstood rules in casual futsal is the goalkeeper pass-back rule. Once the goalkeeper plays the ball to a teammate, they cannot touch the ball again until an opponent has touched it, or if they cross the halfway line into the opponent's half.