Futsal vs 5-a-side
Both are five a side, a keeper and four outfield players. But futsal is one game with one official rulebook, its own Laws of the Game, while 5-a-side is whatever your league or venue says. This is what's different, and what it's like to switch.
By Squadcard. Last updated .
In short
- Futsal has one official set of laws; 5-a-side rules change from venue to venue.
- Futsal is played to lines with kick-ins, usually indoors; 5-a-side is often in a cage with boards, so the ball stays in.
- Futsal's ball bounces less, the clock stops when the ball's dead, and halves are 20 minutes.
- Futsal has a four-second limit on restarts and the keeper, and from a team's sixth foul the other team gets free kicks with no wall.
- In futsal anyone can go in the area and there's no head-height rule; many 5-a-side games keep outfield players out and the ball low.
The pitch and the ball
Futsal is played to lines, usually on a sports hall floor: when the ball goes out, it's a kick-in. A lot of 5-a-side is played in a cage with boards round it, so the ball bounces back in and play hardly stops. How big a 5-a-side pitch can be is in the 5-a-side pitch size guide.
Futsal's ball is smaller than a normal size 5 football, 62 to 64 centimetres round, and made to bounce less, so it stays on the floor and rewards passing and close control. In 5-a-side you play with whatever ball the venue or your group brings.
The rules that change the game
- Four seconds: futsal restarts, kick-ins, free kicks and corners, must be taken within four seconds, and a keeper with the ball has four seconds to release it.
- Accumulated fouls: from a team's sixth foul, the other team gets a free kick from the second penalty mark with no wall allowed.
- The clock: futsal is two halves of 20 minutes, and the clock stops whenever the ball isn't in play. Each team can call a one-minute time-out in each half.
- Subs: unlimited and rolling in both, but in futsal they go on and off in a marked substitution zone.
- The area: anyone can go in the area in futsal. Many 5-a-side games keep outfield players out of it.
- Height: futsal has no head-height rule. Many 5-a-side leagues stop the ball going above head height.
- No offside in either.
Which should your group play?
If you have a weekly game on a caged pitch, you're playing 5-a-side, and the rules are what your group agrees. Our 5-a-side rules guide has the common ones. If you want a proper league, coaching, or a game that'll sharpen your touch, futsal is worth a try: look for a futsal league or session near you.
Whichever you play, two fair teams make the game. The team generator splits whoever turns up, and Squadcard picks fair teams every week from the ratings the players give each other.
Pick fair 5-a-side teamsQuestions
Is futsal the same as 5-a-side?
No. Both are five a side, but futsal has its own official laws: lines and kick-ins, a ball that bounces less, a stopping clock, a four-second rule and accumulated fouls. 5-a-side rules vary by venue.
How long is a futsal match?
Two halves of 20 minutes, with the clock stopped whenever the ball isn't in play, so a match takes longer than 40 minutes in real time.
Is there offside in futsal?
No. There's no offside in futsal, and almost never in 5-a-side.
What is the four-second rule in futsal?
Restarts must be taken within four seconds, and a goalkeeper with the ball has four seconds to release it. Take too long and the other team gets the ball.