- League Rules and Regulations are currently still under development and may be subject to minor tweaks during the 2023 Season.
League Code of Conduct
Health, safety, and fun are our top priorities. This is a co-ed recreational league, with players of different backgrounds, ages, sizes, and skill levels. Violence, excessively rough play, and foul language will not be tolerated. Sportsmanship, fair play, and yahguudang respect are expected at all times from all players, refs, coaches, staff, spectators, and any other person that may be present at League games and events.
League Governance
The Futsal League of Haida Gwaii is an informal not-for-profit association of volunteers.
Commissioner and Committee
The Futsal League of Haida Gwaii will be administered by a Committee consisting of one representative from each team plus a Commissioner.
The Commissioner will be responsible for the general administration of the League. The League Committee will provide guidance, oversight, and approval as needed. The League Committee will govern by consensus.
Team Rosters
Team rosters must be a minimum of 7 players and maximum of 12.*
A minimum of 2 roster members must be women. One woman must be on the court at all times or the team must play shorthanded.**
Teams may field non-roster players in the event of shortages, but may not field players from another team’s roster. Non-roster players must sign the Code of Conduct and Waiver of Liability form, and may play a maximum of 4 games per season.
U18 players, who are eligible to play in the U18 Division 1 of the Haida Gwaii Youth Soccer League, will be eligible to play-up in the Futsal League of Haida Gwaii in accordance with the BC Soccer Playing-Up and Down Policy. U18 players must have parent or guardian consent and parents/guardians must also sign the Code of Conduct and Waive or Liability form.
*Exemptions may be given on a case-by-case basis, for example if multiple players want to “split and share” a roster spot due to alternating availability schedules, etc..
**The Futsal League of Haida Gwaii fully respects all individuals’ rights to experience and express their own gender identity as they see fit. Men or players who identify as non-binary or otherwise may count towards this roster requirement if they so choose, if they currently hold or previously held eligibility to play women’s sports in any other sports league in the world.
Schedule & Standings
Each team will play a home and away fixture against each other team.
Wins are worth 3 points. Draws are worth 1 point. Losses are worth 0 points.
Standings points ties will be decided by: head-to-head points record, head-to-head aggregate score, wins, goal difference, or goals for, preferentially.
Gameplay Rules
These rules have been adapted from the FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game, and contain some minor and specific modifications to work with our venues and increase accessibility and enjoyment for participants. Rules which directly contradict FIFA Laws are denoted with three asterisks (***).
Time & Score
Each game will consist of two 24 minute halves of running time. Halftime is 4 minutes.
Goals are awarded when the whole of the ball crosses the whole of the goal line between the posts and beneath the crossbar.
The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins.
No overtime will be played. Games may end in a draw.
The Court
Basketball court boundaries will be used.
*** The 3-pt line will be used as the goalkeeper’s crease.
The basketball hoop, netting, backboard, mount, etc are considered out of play, and treated as if the ball went out over the goal, resulting in a corner or goalie ball depending on which team touched the ball last. The ceiling is out of play, and will result in a kick-in from the sideline at the nearest point.
The Ball
Official size 4 Futsal ball, circ. 62–64cm, weight 400–440g
Dropped from a height of 2 m, the first bounce must be 50-65cm high
Players
Five players for each team, one of them as goalkeeper.
Substitutions are unlimited and on-the-fly.
Substitutions must take place at half-court.
Players must exit the court before their substitute may enter.
Equipment
Teams must wear contrasting colours. Players on the same team must wear the same colour shirts, jerseys, or pinnies.
Players must wear shorts. Only the goalkeeper may wear pants.
Players must wear shinguards, and must wear appropriate, non-marking, indoor-only shoes.
Ball Out of Play
The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the byline or touchline on the floor or in the air, or if it hits the ceiling or basketball hoop.
The ball is also out of play after it touches a referee if it then goes into the net, or remains on the pitch and a team starts a promising attack; or the team in possession of the ball changes. In these three cases, play is restarted with a dropped ball.
The ball is in play at all other times when it touches a match official, as well as when it rebounds off a goalpost or the crossbar and remains on the pitch.
Kick-Ins, Corner Kicks, Free Kicks
When the ball crosses the touchline or hits the ceiling, a kick-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball, on the touchline at the point where it left the court, or the nearest point to where it touched the ceiling.
When the ball crosses the byline or hits the basketball hoop after last being touched by a member of the defending team, a corner kick is awarded to the attacking team.
Free kicks are awarded at the place of the foul.
The ball must be stationary when any restart kick is taken. All opponents must stand at least 5m from the ball. The ball must be put into play within four seconds of the teams being ready.
The ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves. If the ball never enters the court, a kick-in is awarded to the opposing team from the same spot.
At the moment when the ball is put into play, only the kicker may be off the
pitch. If a team-mate of the kicker is off the pitch to deceive an opponent or take up an advantageous position when the kick is taken, a goalie ball or kick-in is awarded to the opposing team and the offending player is cautioned.
The kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. If a player, while correctly taking a kick-in or corner kick, deliberately kicks the ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again but not in a careless or reckless manner or using excessive force, the referee shall allow play to continue.
A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in. If the ball enters the opponents’ goal, a goalie ball is awarded. If the ball enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded.
Goalie Ball
When the ball crosses the byline or hits the basketball hoop after last being touched by a member of the attacking team, a goalie ball is awarded to the defending team.
The ball is thrown or released from any point within the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team. The ball must be put into play within four seconds of the team being ready to play.
Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. If any are inside the penalty area because they did not have time to leave, the referees allow play to continue. If an opponent who is in the penalty area when the goalie ball is taken, or who enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, touches or challenges for the ball, the goalie ball is retaken.
If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded.
A goal may not be scored directly from a goalie ball. If the ball directly enters the goalie’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents. If the ball directly enters the opponent’s goal, a goalie ball is awarded.
Fouls and Misconduct
Unless stated otherwise, Laws 12 through 14 of FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game will apply.
Handballs (Direct Free Kick)
If a player touches the ball with their hand or arm below the armpit deliberately, or if the hand or arm is in a position which makes the silhouette of the body unnaturally bigger, a direct free kick is awarded.
If a goal is scored directly off an attacking player’s hand or arm, or immediately after the ball made contact with an attacking player’s hand or arm, regardless of whether it was deliberate or making their silhouette unnaturally bigger, no goal is awarded and an indirect direct free kick is awarded to the defending team.
If the goalkeeper handles the ball in their penalty area after it was deliberately passed to them by a teammate using their foot, an indirect free kick is awarded at the spot of the handball. If a player attempts deliberate trick-play to head, chest, knee, etc the ball to the goalkeeper and circumvent this rule, an indirect free kick is awarded at the spot of the trick.
Technical Fouls (Indirect Free Kick)
If a player impedes an opponent without making contact, plays in a dangerous manner that prevents an opponent from playing legally for fear of being injured (eg. “high foot”), prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball, or shows dissent to the referee, or if the goalkeeper controls the ball with their hands for more than four seconds, an indirect free kick is awarded at the spot of the foul.
*** If the goalkeeper controls the ball with their feet in their own half of the pitch for more than four seconds, an indirect free kick will NOT be awarded.
*** If the goalkeeper, after having played the ball in controlled possession, wherever on the pitch, touches it again in their own half after it has been deliberately played to them by a team-mate without an opponent playing or touching it, an indirect free kick will NOT be awarded.
Physical Fouls (Direct Free Kick)
If a player charges, jumps at, slides at, kicks or attempts to kick, pushes, holds, trips or attempts to trip, impedes with contact, tackles or challenges an opponent in a careless or reckless manner, or using excessive force, a direct free kick will be awarded at the spot of the foul.
Carelessness is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration, or acts without precaution. A card is not necessary, but warnings may be given, and subsequent careless play may be considered reckless.
Reckless play is when a player shows disregard for the danger or consequences of their actions, and must be punished with a yellow card.
Using excessive force is when a player exceeds the necessary and appropriate use of force, and/or endangers the safety of another player, and must be punished with a red card.
If a player attempts to or strikes, headbutts, bites, spits at, or verbally abuses another person, a direct free kick is awarded, and the player must be sent off with a red card.
Bonus Kicks (10m)
If a team commits 3 offences resulting in a direct free kick in a half, subsequent fouls will result in a direct “bonus kick,” taken 10m from the goal at the centre of the court, or at the spot of the foul if the attacking player prefers.
The taker of the bonus kick must be clearly identified, and must shoot the ball towards the net with the intention of scoring. All outfield players must be behind the ball, and all players, including the goalkeeper, must be 5m from the ball.
Penalty Kicks (6m)
If a team commits an offence resulting in a direct free kick inside their penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded, taken 6m from the goal at the centre of the court.
The taker of the penalty must be clearly identified. All outfield players must be behind and 5m away from the ball and the goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the ball is struck.
Advantage
If an offence which would result in a free kick occurs but the team who would receive the free kick immediately retains possession and would benefit from an advantage in the continuation of play, the play will continue. If the anticipated advantage does not ensue within a few seconds, play should be stopped and the free kick should be taken.
Supplemental Discipline
Law 12.3 of the FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game provides a full detailed list of offences resulting in yellow and red cards. The Futsal League of Haida Gwaii, in accordance with its Code of Conduct, holds its players to a high standard and will have no tolerance for excessive roughness or poor sportsmanship; Yaahguudang respect is expected at all times.
Yellow Cards
Yellow cards are cautions given for recklessness, consistent or repeated carelessness, or unsporting behaviour.
If any one or more players commit more than one cautionable offence simultaneously or rapidly, all of the cautionable offences should result in separate yellow cards.
Any person who receives two yellow cards in one game will receive a red card.
Red Cards
Red cards are given for serious foul play, violent conduct, insulting and abusive language or actions, or denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Anyone receiving a red card will be sent off for the remainder of the match and must leave the team bench area, and must leave the venue completely unless they show obvious remorse and apologize for their actions to all relevant parties.
***The team who received the red card will play shorthanded for 5 minutes after the restart of play, even if a goal is scored. After 5 minutes they may introduce a substitute to resume even strength play, but the player who received the red card may not re-enter the game.
Suspensions
Any person who receives a card in three league games during the season will be suspended for the subsequent league game.
Anyone who receives a red card will be suspended for the subsequent league game.
Anyone who receives a suspension may appeal that suspension to the Futsal League Committee.
The Futsal League Committee may impose more lengthy suspensions or expulsions for repeated or extreme violations of the League Rules or Code of Conduct.
Futsal League of Haida Gwaii 