Tournament Rules Overview

• 10-minute games for grading games (no half time interval) FIRST WEEK ONLY
• 18-minute halves for all league games (2-minute halftime break)
• Away team is required to change uniform in case of colour clash
• Change of benches at halftime - substitutions/interchange on the defensive side of pitch
• Maximum 10 players per squad
• Only 2 team officials allowed in the technical area
• Only players registered in the team sheet are eligible to play 
• Players can only play for one team in the same age group
• No overage players will be permitted (except for girls playing in younger age groups)
• Play-off games and finals will be decided by a penalty shoot-out (5 penalties from the 6m mark) in case of a draw at full time (no extra time is to be played)
• 10 goal mercy rule applies
• Forfeit after 5 minutes – teams that are not on the pitch ready to play after 5 minutes from the scheduled kick-off time will forfeit the game. (this requires referee’s to whistle for the start of the match and start the clock)
• A player can play for 2 teams in Futsal Melbourne, as long as they are still age eligible and aren't playing in the same Age Group/Division

  Important Points

• Restarting play for the kick off, defending players must be behind the netball third line (roughly 5m from the halfway line – as it’s the only consistent marking on every pitch)
• When the ball leaves the pitch along the sidelines, the restart of play is by a kick in. The ball is to be placed on the line and played.
• Goal clearance/keepers’ ball, restart will be by hand (throw or roll). The Goalkeeper has 4 seconds to release the ball.
• To promote an attacking game, the ball can’t be passed back to the GK until an opposition player has touched the ball.
• When the GK takes possession of the ball in their defensive half, they must pass the ball within 4 seconds. Even in general play.
• All restarts of play – Kick off, Kick in, Goal clearance and free kicks must be taken within 4 seconds.
• Restarting play for the kick in, defending players must be 5m from the ball to allow for play to restart in a timely manner.
• No slide tackling – this is to take a responsible approach to player safety.
• The exception is the Goalkeeper who can slide to save a shot.
• Ball Size 3  for U8-U11
• Ball Size 4 for U12-U16 

All other rules will be in line with FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game and FV competition regulations:  https://static.cupmanager.net/uploads/b/r/zn1/fv-futsal-roc.pdf

The referees will work with players and coaches to assist them in understanding the rules to support the natural flow of the match in the spirit of the game.