ON THE COURT
5 A SIDE
Four outfield players and a goalkeeper.
THE GAME • THE GEAR • THE DETAILS
FUTSAL 101
A fan’s guide to the fast, skillful game played on a smaller court.
A FEW DETAILS TO HELP YOU SEE MORE OF THE GAME.
THE QUICK VERSION
SMALL COURT. BIG GAME.
THE BALL
62–64 CM
Circumference of a standard match ball.
THE GOAL
3 × 2 M
Three metres wide and two metres high.
OFFSIDE
NO
There is no offside in futsal.
01 / THE PITCH
MADE FOR CLOSE CONTROL.
Futsal’s compact court puts every pass, press, and change of direction close to the action.
NON-INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
25–42 M × 16–25 M
Length × width. International matches use a narrower range: 38–42 m × 20–25 m.
Spot the penalty area, the 6 m penalty mark, the 10 m mark, and the substitution zones along the touchline.
COURT LINES • GOALS • PENALTY AREAS
A FUTSAL BALL HAS A CONTROLLED BOUNCE.
02 / THE BALL
BUILT TO STAY CLOSE.
The futsal ball has a lower bounce than a standard football, rewarding close control and quick combinations.
62–64 CM
CIRCUMFERENCE
400–440 G
WEIGHT AT MATCH START
Its first bounce should be 50–65 cm when dropped from 2 m.
03 / HOW IT FLOWS
THE GAME NEVER SITS STILL.
Futsal is built around continuous movement, quick rotations, and finding space before it disappears.
01
FIVE ON COURT
Four outfield players and one goalkeeper per team.
02
ROLLING SUBS
Unlimited substitutions can happen while play continues, through the team’s substitution zone.
03
NO OFFSIDE
Attackers can time their runs without an offside line to watch.
04 / THE CLOCK
TIME IS PART OF THE TACTICS.
In standard futsal, the timekeeper stops the clock when play is stopped. Every restart matters.
2 × 20
minutes of playing time in two equal periods
STOPPED
clock when play is stopped
1 MIN
timeout for each team in each period
05 / THE GEAR
READY FOR THE COURT.
FIFA’s required kit is straightforward. Indoor court shoes with a suitable grip are a practical choice for playing on an indoor surface.
01
INDOOR SHOES
Choose court shoes suited to the floor.
02
SHIN GUARDS
Worn under the socks for protection.
03
MATCH KIT
Sleeved shirt, shorts, and socks.
ONE MORE DETAIL TO WATCH
FIVE FOULS. THEN THE SIXTH.
Accumulated direct-free-kick fouls are counted in each period. After a team’s fifth, its next such foul brings a direct free kick without a wall—usually from the 10 m mark.
A detail that can change the risk of every challenge late in a period.
KEEP EXPLORING
READ. THINK. PLAY.
More stories, ideas, tactics, and history from the world of futsal.
EXPLORE THE FUTSAL JOURNAL