All rules are as per the official FIFA futsal rule book with minor amendments intended to enhance the playing experience at Cockburn ARC. Please consult your Team Sports Coordinator for specific rule clarification.
All participants play at their own risk. Shin guards are highly recommended (but not compulsory).
Games consist of two sixteen minute halves with a one minute half-time break.
Game start times are
6:00pm, 6:40pm, 7:20pm, 8:00pm, 8:40pm, 9:20pm. All registered teams are expected to be available to play at these times.
Player and spectator behaviour
The moment you set foot in Cockburn ARC Sports Stadium, you have become a custodian of our sporting community. Players and spectators must understand that they are just as responsible for creating a positive and inclusive environment as administrators and referees.
Anti-social and aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated by your teammates, opposition players, spectators, officials and competition organisers alike, and individuals who fail to acknowledge their responsibility to maintaining a social environment for all will only be making participation less enjoyable for themselves and others.
Any on or off-court incidents deemed to be anti-social will be dealt with accordingly and at the discretion of the Sports Team Coordinator, Programs Coordinator or and an authorised representative of the Cockburn ARC. This may include ejection from the playing arena, short and long term suspensions, and if necessary, permanent banning from the Cockburn ARC for offending individuals and/or teams
Spirit of the game
At Cockburn ARC, the focus will always be on getting games to go ahead so that all teams can enjoy the consistency of knowing they have an opposition to play each week. This will occasionally result in cross-division fixtures, teams coming off of a bye or teams being asked to play twice in an evening. The allocating of competition points in such cases will be managed by the Team Sport Coordinator.
We want to foster a social environment where everyone can feel like they are free to participate. Players from any team (regardless of division) during the regular season are welcome to fill in for any other side. However, this is only permissible when a team is short of regular players (please respect the spirit of the game).
Players are welcome to feature in multiple sides during the regular season (including within the same division). However, if a player qualifies for finals for two sides in the same division, he or she may only represent one team during the entire finals series (semi-finals and grand finals).
Rule clarification
- All uniforms are to be of the same shade of colour. If just one player’s uniform is deemed to be unacceptable by the referee or Sports Team Leader, bibs must be worn by an entire team. Strip clashes will result in the referee deciding who must wear bibs.
- All players must be sixteen years or older to compete.
- Players must have played a minimum of three games to qualify for finals.
- Players strictly cannot slide at any time, with the exception of the nominated goalkeeper in their penalty area. However, goalkeepers will be penalised if they slide in an unsafe or reckless manner or use excessive force (irrespective of whether they reach the ball first).
- A player on the ground cannot play the ball, whether deliberately or not.
- A player cannot charge an opponent with their shoulder.
- If a player is yellow carded he or she must leave the court for two minutes, a replacement by substitution may take the court immediately.
- If a player is red carded and sent from the court for the remainder of the game, a replacement by substitution may take the court after two minutes.
- There is no maximum number of players allowed to compete during a regular season game; however finals games are capped at eight players per team (three substitutes).
- To qualify for finals, individual players must have played at least 3 games within a regular season.
- Mixed – a minimum of two female outfield players (not including the goal keeper) must be on the court at all times.
- Sharp adornments, including jewellery and other accessories, must be removed or taped to the satisfaction of the official.
Substitutions
- The player being replaced must be completely off the court before the replacement enters the court, and this swap should be at the same area of the court.
- Referees should be informed when substitutions and goalkeeper swaps occur. If a team fails to inform a referee of an on-field change, they risk being penalised.
Example A) It is unclear who a team’s nominated goalkeeper is and the ball is handled in the penalty area. Referee may have no choice but to award a penalty kick.
Example B) Your team has just scored a goal moments after a quick substitution occurred and it is unclear whether the player coming off did so at the same point of the pitch as the player that entered. The referee must decide whether or not your team achieved an unfair advantage in the play and may have to disallow the goal.
View full by-laws