Policies 

FACILITY ETIQUETTE

SHOES:  non-marking shoes for all players only in the gym….and please change into those shoes in the foyer, DO NOT wear wet shoes inside on any gym surface

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FOOD/DRINKS:  none are allowed in the gym….this includes water for players, any snacks, and even parents with coffee in hand.  We have a ‘no food or drink’ clause in the gym rental so we will be asking people to leave that bring these in.  Players can consume drinks in the foyer of each gym area if needed, but water bottles should not be in the gyms

 

WARM UP: Please ensure your players don’t warm up by simply kicking the futsal balls against the wall.  This destroys the  balls as they aren’t made for this purpose.

 

BENCH AREA: Teams should enter/exit the benches as quickly as possible to get games started.  There is limited warm up time.

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ROSTER SIZE: The minimum roster size is 7 and the maximum roster size is 11.

 

TEAM ACCEPTANCE/INSURANCE POLICY:

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As BC Soccer sanctioned events, entry into any Western Canada Futsal Series event shall be limited to teams, which are properly affiliated with BC Soccer and/or other Provincial/State Associations.

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Teams participating from outside of British Columbia must provide copies of approved travel documents, prior to the tournament, for their team/players from the Provincial/State Association of which they are affiliated.

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Only properly registered players, in good standing, shall be permitted to participate in the tournament.

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All teams are responsible for all registration, permits and approvals within their club/district and/or any other jurisdiction and governing body. We are not responsible for confirming player eligibility and/or insurability and trust all teams will comply with any/all policies put in place by their governing bodies in regards to player/team eligibility to participate in this or any other sanctioned tournament. 

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GUEST PLAYER POLICY:

Teams may use the services of a guest player as long as the following conditions are met:

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• A player is not on the roster of another team participating in the event. A player can only play on one team in the tournament. 

• If they are a team from BC and the player is not registered with BC Soccer teams must apply for a Short Term Event Player Permit for them a minimum of 5 business days before the tournament date. To obtain a permit please click HERE and submit the form to BC Soccer. A copy of final approval must be provided to the event coordinator 72hrs prior to the first game. 

• Teams participating in an event, wishing to use the services of a player registered with another team, shall first obtain written permission from the team & Youth District with which the player is registered. Players registered with BC Soccer must use the form found HERE.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO USAGE POLICY:

By registering for this event, you are consenting to the use of any photographs and/or video recordings, of any team player(s) or staff member(s), taken by Surrey United Soccer Club or our partners for use related to soccer / futsal, including but not limited to use on our website, social media sites, and/or in any marketing materials related to the events of the Western Canada Futsal Series.

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Futsal Events Rules

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(taken from FIFA futsal laws of the game, slightly amended for player development purposes)

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DURATION

U10-U12 = 1 x 35 minutes  of play – running time with no timeouts

U13-U17 = 1 x 40 minutes  of play – running time with no timeouts

 

PLAYERS

Games will be 5v5, which is made up of 4 players and 1 goalkeeper. The minimum roster size is 7 and the maximum roster size is 11. 

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FOULS

There are no slide tackles.  Slide tackling will result in a free kick.

 

THE KICK-OFF

A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play: 

 

• at the start of the match 

• after a goal has been scored 

• at the start of the second half of the match 

 

All players must be in their own half of the pitch 

 

• The opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 3 m from the ball until it is in play 

• The ball must be stationary on the center mark 

• The referee gives a signal 

• The ball is in play when it is kicked

 

OFFSIDE

There are no offsides in futsal.

 

KICK-IN

A kick-in is a method of restarting play. 

 

A kick-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touches the ball when the whole of the ball crosses the touch line, either on the ground or in the air, or touches the ceiling of the hall. 

 

A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-in.

 

The opponents must be at a distance of no less than 5m from the place on the touch line where the kick-in is taken

 

Position of kick-in 

At the moment of delivering the ball, the kicker: 

 

• has one foot on the touch line or on the ground outside the pitch 

• kicks the ball, which must be stationary,  from the point where it left the pitch 

• delivers the ball within four seconds of being ready to do so 

 

The ball is in play when it enters the pitch.

 

If, when a kick-in is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance: 

• the kick-in is retaken by the same team  unless the advantage can be applied 

 

If an opponent unfairly distracts or impedes the player taking the kick-in: 

• they are  cautioned for unsporting behaviour

 

GOAL CLEARANCE

The ball is in play from a goal clearance the moment it leaves the goalkeeper’s hands. Specifically,

 

• The ball is thrown or released from any point within the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team.

• The ball is in play when it is thrown or released and clearly moves.

• The ball must be put into play within four seconds of the team being ready to put the ball into play or the referee signalling that the team is ready to put it into play.

• Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

 

GOALKEEPER POSSESSION RULE

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opponent if, after having played the ball in controlled possession, wherever on the pitch, touches it again in their own half of the pitch after it has been deliberately played to  the goalkeeper by a team-mate without an opponent playing or touching it.

Controlled possession includes holding the ball with their hands or playing the ball with their feet. A rebound from a save does not count as controlled possession.

 

The goal clearance is also considered controlled possession. Therefore, the goalkeeper cannot play the ball a second time after goal clearance until an opponent has touched the ball or the ball goes out of play.

 

We will also not be using FIFA’s accumulated foul clause whereby a team is penalized after accumulated fouls.  We feel this is a development tournament series with our youngest age groups, therefore accumulated fouls won’t be a competitive issue.

 

And finally, we will be allowing a kickoff in any direction to begin play.

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FOULS

Fouls are penalised with a direct free kick, penalty kick or indirect free kick. 

 

DIRECT FREE KICKS

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referees to be careless, reckless or using excessive force: 

 

• Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent 

• Trips an opponent 

• Jumps at an opponent 

• Charges an opponent 

• Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent 

• Pushes an opponent 

• Tackles an opponent 

 

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following three offences: 

 

• Holds an opponent 

• Spits at an opponent 

• Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within their own penalty area) 

 

A direct free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred 

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If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded.

 

PENALTY KICK 

A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above ten offences is committed by a player inside his own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play. 

 

Position of the ball and the players 

The ball: 

• must be placed on the penalty mark 

 

The player taking the penalty kick: 

• must be properly identified 

 

The defending goalkeeper: 

• must remain on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked 

 

The players other than the kicker must be located: 

• on the pitch 

• outside the penalty area 

• behind the penalty mark 

• at least 5m from the penalty mark

 

Procedure 

 

• After the players have taken positions in accordance with this rule, one of the referees signals for the penalty kick to be taken 

• The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward 

• The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward 

• When a penalty kick is taken during the normal course of play, or time has been extended at half-time or full time or at the end of a period of extra time, if any, to allow a penalty kick to be taken or retaken, a goal is awarded if, before passing between the goalposts and under the crossbar: the ball touches either or both goalposts and/or the crossbar and/or the goalkeeper

INDIRECT FREE KICKS 

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits any of the following four offences:  

 

• Controls the ball with their hands or feet in their own half of the pitch for more than four seconds 

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• Touches the ball with their hands inside their own penalty area after it has been deliberately kicked to them by a team-mate 

• Touches the ball with their hands inside their own penalty area after they have received it directly from a kick-in by a team-mate 

 

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referees, a player: 

 

• plays in a dangerous manner in the presence of an opponent 

• impedes the progress of an opponent 

• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands 

• commits against a team-mate one of the nine offences penalized with a direct free kick if they are committed against an opponent 

• commits any other infringement not previously mentioned  in any other rule, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player 

 

The indirect free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred.

 

The referees indicate an indirect free kick by raising their arms above their heads. They maintain their arms in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play. 

 

A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal. 

 

• If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal clearance is awarded 

 

POSITION OF FREE KICK 

 

Free kick outside the penalty area 

 

• All opponents must be at least 5m from the ball until it is in play 

• The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves 

• The free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred or from the position of the ball when the infringement occurred (according to the infringement) or from the second penalty mark 

 

Direct or indirect free kick inside the penalty area to the defending team 

 

• All opponents must be at least 5m from the ball until it is in play 

• All opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play 

• The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area 

• A free kick awarded in the penalty area may be taken from any point inside that area

 

If the team taking the free kick takes more than four seconds: 

 

• the referees award an indirect free kick to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where play was to be restarted 

 

DISCIPLINE

The yellow card is used to communicate that a player or substitute has been cautioned. 

 

The red card is used to communicate that a player or substitute has been sent off. 

 

A coach or player or substitute may be shown the red or yellow card. 

 

The relevant card is only shown publicly on the pitch if the match has started. In other cases, the referees verbally inform the players and team officials of the disciplinary sanction taken. The referees have the authority to take disciplinary sanctions from the moment they enter the premises where the pitch is located before the start of the match until they leave them. 

 

All discipline will be reported to, and tracked by, the Series event organizers.

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THE GOAL CLEARANCE

The goal clearance is a method of restarting play. A goal clearance is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored. 

 

A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance. 

 

Position of the players 

 

The opponents must be on the pitch and outside the penalty area of the team taking the goal clearance until the ball is in play. 

 

Procedure 

 

• The ball is thrown from any point inside the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team 

• The goalkeeper of the defending team takes the goal clearance within four seconds of being ready to do so 

• The ball is in play when it is thrown directly out of the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team

 

If the goal clearance is not taken within four seconds: 

 

• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the penalty area line at the place nearest to where the infringement occurred

• If the goal clearance is taken with attacking players inside the penalty area: 

  • the clearance is retaken if any of the attacking players touches the ball or prevents the clearance from being taken properly

 

CORNER KICK

The corner kick is a method of restarting play. 

 

A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored.

 

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick

 

Position of the ball and the players 

The ball must be: 

• inside the corner arc nearest to the point where the ball crossed the goal line 

 

The opponents must be: 

• on the pitch at least 5m from the corner arc until the ball is in play 

 

Procedure 

 

• The ball must be kicked by a player of the attacking team 

• The team taking the kick must deliver the ball within four seconds of being ready to do so 

• The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves

 

SUBSTITUTIONS

Subs are allowed to be made “on the fly” granted the player leaving is not involved in the play and leaves the court as the substitute player enters. All players must enter/exit from the substitution zone marked in front of team bench (5 meter zone)

 

Procedure 

 

• A substitution may be made during play or during a stoppage in play 

• The player being substituted does not need to obtain the referees’ permission to leave the pitch 

• The referees do not need to authorize the substitute to enter the pitch 

• Before entering the pitch, the substitute waits for the player they are replacing to leave the pitch

 

If a substitute enters the pitch by infringing the substitution procedure or causes their team to be playing with an extra player, the referee must adhere to the following guidelines: 

 

• Stop play, although not immediately if the advantage can be applied 

• Caution the player for unsporting behaviour if their team plays with an extra player or for infringing the substitution procedure if the substitution was not made correctly

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