📋 Tournament Rules
📅 Game Guarantee & Format
| Day | Details |
|---|
| Saturday | 2 games guaranteed |
| Sunday | At least 1 game |
🏆 Finals & Advancement
| Category | Details |
| Finals Qualification | Top 2 teams per bracket |
| Multiple Brackets | Top team overall may advance to Final |
🥇 Awards
| Placement | Awards |
| Champions | Trophies + medals |
| Finalists | Medals |
🧾 Check-In & Credentials
Registration (GotSport):
- Official league roster
- Player passes
- Release of Liability form (due 5 days before tournament)
- ❌ No roster changes after submission
Credentials:
- If a Recreation team – provide your league roster and a signed medical release waiver
- Valid player ID cards with photos
- Signed Medical Release forms
- Travel documentation required (AYSO, USSF, USYS, USAAA, US Club)
- US Club teams must provide approved roster from US Club site
- Players may only play for one team
- Unique jersey numbers required (no duplicates or changes)
👥 Guest Players
- Maximum of 7 guest players
- Must share same sanctioning body
- ❌ No mixing US Club & USYS cards
- Must stay within roster limits
⚖️ Rules of Play
- FIFA Laws of the Game (modified by USYS & MSYSA)
- ❌ No heading for U11 and younger
⚽ Game Setup
- Players: 5 per team (4 field players + 1 goalkeeper)
- Substitutions: Unlimited, on-the-fly (no stoppage needed)
- Field: Smaller, hard court (indoor or outdoor)
- Ball: Size 4, low-bounce futsal ball
⏱️ Game Duration
- Two halves of 20 minutes each
- Clock stops when the ball is out of play (in most official matches)
🚫 No Offside
- There is no offside rule in futsal
▶️ Restarts
- Kickoff: Starts play and after goals
- Kick-ins (instead of throw-ins):
- Ball must be placed on the line
- Must be taken within 4 seconds
- Corner kicks: Also 4 seconds
- Goal clearance (goal kick):
- Must be thrown by the goalkeeper (not kicked)
🧤 Goalkeeper Rules
- Must release the ball within 4 seconds
- Cannot receive the ball back from a teammate unless it crosses half court or touches an opponent
- Teammates are NOT allowed to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper unless it has first touched an opponent or crossed half court
- Can only handle the ball in their own penalty area
- U-12 and under: Goalkeepers cannot throw the ball across the halfway line (must bounce or touch a player before crossing)
⚠️ Fouls & Free Kicks
- Most fouls result in a direct free kick
- Teams accumulate fouls each half:
- After 5 fouls, every additional foul = penalty shot (no wall)
- No sliding tackles allowed (varies slightly by league, but generally restricted)
🟥 Cards
- Yellow card: Warning
- Red card: Player is sent off
- Team plays short for 2 minutes or until opponent scores
⏳ 4-Second Rule
Applies to:
- Kick-ins
- Corner kicks
- Free kicks
- Goalkeeper possession
🎯 Key Differences from Soccer
- Smaller teams and field
- Faster pace, more touches
- No offsides
- Kick-ins instead of throw-ins
- Accumulated foul system
⏱️ Game Duration & Format
| Age Group | Format | Game Length | Ball Size |
|---|
| U8–U10 | 5v5 | 2 × 20 minutes | 4 |
| U11–U12 | 5v5 | 2 × 20 minutes | 4 |
📊 Additional Rules
| Rule | Details |
| Halftime | 3 minutes |
| Preliminary Rounds | No overtime |
| Scoring | Win = 3 pts • Tie = 1 pt • Loss = 0 pts |
| Elimination Games | Penalty kicks if tied after regulation (U8–U19) |
🏅 Tie-Breakers
| Category | Details |
| Tie-Breakers | Refer to GotSport link on team schedule |
| Final Decision | Tournament Manager |
🧩 Division Formats
| # of Teams | Format |
| 4 Teams | Top 2 advance to Final |
| 8 Teams | Top team in each bracket advances |
| 12 Teams | 1st in each bracket + Wild Card to Semifinals |
| 16 Teams | 1st (and possibly 2nd) to Quarterfinals/Semifinals (manager discretion) |
| 20+ Teams | 1st in each bracket + Wild Cards to Quarterfinals |
Note: Wild Cards are reseeded to avoid rematches.
🎯 Game Check-In & Conduct
- Referees conduct pregame safety checks
- Managers retain player cards unless requested
- Medical forms & laminated cards required at all times
- Referees manage official Game Cards
🔁 Substitutions
- Unlimited with referee permission (USYSA Rule 302)
- Substitutions are made on the fly
🧤 Player Equipment
- Shin guards required (FIFA Law 4)
- Referee determines safety (including braces)
🎙️ Coaching Conduct
- Within 10 yards of halfway line
- No mechanical aids
- Positive/instructional tone only
- ❌ No profanity, harassment, or disruption
- Coaches responsible for team & spectators
🟥 Cautions & Ejections
- 2 yellow cards = red card (ejection)
- Ejected players miss next game (2 games for violent conduct)
- Ejected coaches: same penalties + out of sight/sound
- Additional discipline may be imposed
⏸️ Suspended / Terminated Games
- Suspended games may resume (must end 5 min before next game)
- Misconduct termination = forfeit + possible expulsion
🩹 Injury & Added Time
- Referee may add time for injuries
- Games must finish before dark
- Added time does not delay next match
👨⚖️ Referee Decisions
- Final on all in-game matters
🏠 Home / Away Team Protocol
- Home Team: Listed first, wears light jerseys, provides game ball, kicks off
- Away Team: Wears dark jerseys, chooses direction
- Color conflict: Home team changes
🧑🤝🧑 Spectators & Sidelines
- Spectators sit opposite team benches
- Must remain on their designated side
- Teams switch benches after half-time
