Futsal League Rules

Generally, the top four teams in each league will be taken to the playoffs. Occasionally, fewer teams will be taken from a small league (four teams or less). Teams must have a 5.5 S.O.G. (Spirit of the Game) rating or higher to qualify for the playoffs (scale of 0-8).

For additional Recreational Sports league policies, click here.

Players

A. A team will consist of five (5) players.

B. A team can start and compete with as few as four (4) players.

C. The game will begin when at least four players are present.

D. Additional players may be added to the roster and enter the game as they arrive. New players must first pay the appropriate fee, and be added to the roster before playing.

E. A player may only play for one team in each sport. No Exceptions.

F. A team cannot allow another member of another team to play to prevent a forfeit.

G. Participants must present their league card and a valid University of California, San Francisco Student ID, UCSF Employee ID, Fitness & Recreation Membership ID or a Drivers License with Picture ID will be accepted before each contest in order to participate. Picture identification checks occur before every Intramural Sports contest. Failure to provide an acceptable form of identification will result in not being allowed to participate in Intramural Sports on that day. Absolutely no exceptions will be made.

H. All Non-Members and General Public participants must have a valid league card to participate in UCSF Recreational Sports Leagues. League Cards are obtained from the Recreational Program Supervisor during the Captains Meeting. If a league card is lost or misplaced, there is a $5.00 fee to replace the card.

Forfeits

A. If a team does not meet the minimum number of eligible players 5 minutes after the scheduled game time, that team will receive a forfeit.

B. If neither team has the minimum number of eligible players to start or finish a game, both teams shall receive a forfeit.

C. Teams that forfeit a contest without giving at least 48 hours notice to the Recreational Sports office will be charged a forfeit fee. This is to ensure that all teams have an opponent each week.

D. The team which forfeited will receive a 3 as their SOG rating. The SOG rating will be changed to a 4 once the forfeit fee is paid. If the team has notified the office, then they will receive a 4.5 SOG rating for the match.

E. The forfeit fee is $30 per forfeit. Forfeit fees must be paid at the Fitness and Recreation Desk before the team’s next match (usually 7 days) or else they will not be allowed to play their next scheduled match.

F. A third forfeit within the same sport may result in that team being dropped from league play and an additional forfeit fee charged.

G. Forfeits may affect playoff seeding.

Play

A. The team on the left side of the schedule is the home team and will choose to kickoff or designate the goal, which they will attack. Teams will switch sides at the half. The team which did not kickoff to start the game will kickoff to start the second half.

B. Length of the game:

  • The game will consist of two 18-minute halves (running clock) separated by a 1-2 minute half-time period.
  • During play, the clock will only stop for injuries.


    • C. In the event of a tie during the regular season, the game will stand.

    D. In the event of a tie during the playoffs, a tiebreaker will be conducted.

  • There will be one (1) five (5) minute Golden Goal period. A coin toss will determine which team will kickoff first.
  • If after the period, neither team has scored, the winner shall be determined by a penalty-kick tiebreaker.
  • Penalty kicks are taken from the basketball foul line. The kicker has the distance between the foul line and the three-point line to kick the ball. The goalkeeper can move sideways but not forward until the ball is kicked.
  • A coin toss will determine the team that kicks first.
  • Each team will take five penalty kicks (taken alternately). The team that scores the greatest number of these will win.
  • If necessary, the PKs will continue on a sudden-death basis: the first team to score an unanswered goal wins.
  • A different player will take each kick, progressing through the entire roster of players who played in the game. The team with the most players present will choose to have all their players kick, or have the same number of players as the other team take a kick.
  • Players must have played that game to participate in the penalty kick tiebreaker.
  • Once the entire roster of players is competed, the initial kicking order will be repeated.


    • E. Substitutions

  • Substitutions are unlimited and occur “on the fly”. This should occur near the stage area and the entering player may not touch the ball until the player being replaced is off the court. Teams not abiding by this substitution rule will result in a yellow card.
  • A keeper may be replaced only on a dead ball and the official must be informed. The replacing goalkeeper must be ready to play meaning palyer is fully equipped with uniform and gloves.


    • F. Boundaries

  • The ball is out whenever it touches the wall. A kick-in takes place from that spot. A corner kick or a keeper’s throw takes place if it hits the back wall. Keeper’s throw: (dead ball) the keeper may not pass the ball to himself; (live ball) the keeper may use hands or feet to play the ball outside the keeper’s box. Note that s/he has only four (4) seconds to release the ball or to cross the half line, at which time the count stops.
  • The player taking the kick-in must set the ball on the black line. The ball must be stationary and the kick-in must be taken within four (4) seconds.
  • On either type of kick-in (sideline or corner), the ball may go directly off the opponent, including the goalkeeper’s body, and into the goal for a score.
  • On any kick-in, the defending player must be at least five yards away from the ball. A Yellow Card will be issued if a player repeatedly disregards this rule.
  • If the ball touches the ceiling, the opposing team will take a kick-in from the midfield sideline.


    • G. Goalkeeper’s Play

  • The keeper must keep one foot in the orange box at all times while playing the ball. Any collision with the goalkeeper will be an automatic indirect free kick.
  • If s/he handles the ball outside the goalkeeper’s box, inside the basketball three-point line, a penalty kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.
  • The keeper loses the ability to handle the ball and is treated as a regular player outside of the goal box (orange box). However, the cleared ball (live or dead) may not enter the opposing teams’ 3 point line. If cleared ball does enter the 3 point line, the ball is kicked in from the side line at the point of infraction by opposing team.
  • On a live ball, the goalkeeper may clear the ball to any part of the court using hands or feet. On a goal clearance (dead ball), the goalkeeper must use his/her hands when clearing the ball to any part of the court (see F, 1).
  • Pass Back: After clearing a dead or live ball, the keeper may not play the ball until it has either touched an opponent or crossed the half court line. If the keeper touches the ball, an indirect free kick is awarded at the three-point line closest to where the ball was touched or at the spot of the infraction if outside the three-point line. This rule resets every time the keeper touches the ball.

    • H. Fouls and Misconduct
    The following infractions will result in a DIRECT FREE KICK (a one-man wall may be formed).

  • Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent
  • Tripping an opponent
  • Jumping or throwing himself upon an opponent
  • Charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner
  • Charging an opponent from behind unless the opponent is obstructing
  • Striking or attempting to strike an opponent or spitting on an opponent
  • Holding an opponent
  • Pushing an opponent
  • Charging an opponent with the shoulder
  • No sliding allowed at all time
  • Handling the ball, except the keeper in his penalty area


    • Should a player of the defending team intentionally commit one of the above 11 offenses within his penalty area (marked by the basketball three-point line) his team shall be penalized with a penalty kick, regardless of the position of the ball, as long as it is in play.

    Accumulation of Fouls: A team can accumulate five personal fouls during a half (those accumulated in the second half carry over into over time). On the sixth and following personal fouls (a hand ball is counted): A direct kick, without a wall, will be taken from the top of the three point line if the foul was committed there or farther from the goal. If a foul was committed between the top of the three point line and the goal the team awarded the free kick may choose whether to take it from the 3pt line or from the place where the infringement occurred. Note: A personal foul inside the three-point line is an automatic penalty kick.

    If a player has an open goal ahead of him/her and is fouled, or when a defender intentionally handles the ball, blocking an obvious opportunity for a score, a DIRECT FREE KICK is awarded. A penalty kick is taken from the basketball foul line if the foul takes place in the penalty area. The offending player must be sent off the court with a YELLOW CARD. Team will play a player short for two minutes; then a substitute may replace the ejected player.

    The following infractions will result in an INDIRECT FREE KICK:

  • Playing in a manner considered by the referee to be dangerous, e.g. raises his feet to kick backwards or kicks with the heel, or attempts to take the ball out of the hands of the opposing keeper.
  • When not playing the ball intentionally obstructs an opponent, running between him and the ball, or interposing the body in such a manner as to prevent an opponent from playing the ball when he is not in control of the ball.
  • Charging the keeper except when he has passed outside the penalty area.
  • When playing as a keeper: s/he touches or controls the ball with his hands or feet, on their half of the court, for more than four seconds.


    • A YELLOW CARD equals two minutes out of play. Double Yellow (a player from each team - both out for two minutes. They, or a substitute may both return after a team scores.)

    Two yellow cards equal a RED CARD and the player is ejected from the game. The team must then play one down for the remainder of the game. The player who receives the red card must be cleared by the Rec Sports Supervisor in order to playin remaining season’s games.

    POWER PLAY: The team reduced by a penalty may return the penalized (yellow card) player to play after a goal. If two players are in the penalty box from the same team, only the player who has served the longest time may return to action after a goal.

    I. Additional Policies
    UCSF requires all futsal players to wear shin guards during league play. Any players that does not have shin guards will not be allowed to play in that game.