Sports Articles

Indoor Soccer A Bunched Up Version Of Real Soccer

Indoor soccer is a game derived from association football, soccer adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf covered hockey arena or skating rink. Indoor soccer is a somewhat common sport in the United States, with both amateur and professional leagues dedicated to it. It is also played outside of the U.S. However, most indoor play outside of North America involves the FIFA-sanctioned game of futsal. Recently indoor soccer has become a popular sport in Mexico, being included as part of the Universiada (University National Games) and the CONADEIP (Private School Tournament), which match University school teams from all over Mexico. In Mexico, indoor soccer fields are commonly built outdoors, and the sport is known as fast soccer.

Rules vary between governing bodies, but some of the nearly universal rule deviations from association football include:
? The arena. Most indoor soccer arenas are rectangular or oblong in shape, with turf floors. In many collegiate intramural leagues, the game may be played on basketball courts, in which case the floor is hardwood. Walls at least six feet tall bound the arena. Ceiling heights vary. Arena sizes are generally smaller than soccer fields, and the goals are recessed into the walls. Goals are also smaller than in standard soccer and generally the penalty area is smaller.
? The team. Virtually all indoor soccer games are played with six active players per team, one of which is the goalkeeper. Substitute players are permitted.
? Play off of walls. The ball may be struck in such a way that it contacts one or more walls without penalty or stoppage. If the ball flies over the walls or contacts the ceiling, play is stopped and the team opposing the one that most recently touched the ball is awarded a free kick at the location where the ball left the arena or made contact with the ceiling. In some areas of North America, these walls are being removed due to their hazardous nature.
? Relaxed contact rules. Standard contact rules generally apply. However, there is a culture surrounding indoor soccer that sees it as a tougher version of the sport, and many referees take a relaxed attitude toward fouls related to contact. Many leagues ban the use of the sliding tackle, though such techniques are less useful on turf or wood than they are on a slick field.
? No offside. Most leagues play without an offside rule.

Beyond these common threads, the sport is structured according to the idiosyncrasies of individual leagues. Most of these rules are adopted from other arena sports like ice hockey.

Share This