Futsal rolling substitutions and the 4-second rule

Two things make futsal feel faster than soccer from the stands. Players swap on and off all the time, and restarts happen almost at once. Both come from the rulebook. This guide covers how futsal substitutions work and every place the Laws set a four-second limit.

Everything below is quoted from FIFA's Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26 (effective 5 September 2025). "Rolling substitutions" is a common nickname that the Laws don't use. "Four-second rule" appears in the referees' Practical Guidelines (pp.156 and 159), for example "situations involving the four-second rule", but the Laws themselves set out the limits one restart at a time. If you're comparing with the 11-a-side game, see futsal vs soccer, and for other terms, the futsal glossary.

Part 1: Rolling substitutions

How many substitutions?

Your team can swap players on and off as often as it likes. What's capped, in official competitions, is how many different substitutes it can use.

"An unlimited number of substitutions may be made during a match." (Law 3.2)

In official competitions it's nine, and the competition rules say how many can be named. Law 3.2: "A maximum of nine substitutes may be used in a match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, confederations or national football associations. Competition rules must state how many substitutes may be named." In other matches, teams can use more if they agree and the referees are told; "If the referees are not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the match, no more than ten substitutes are allowed."

When can a team substitute?

Any time, even while the ball is in play. The one exception is during a timeout. Once the timeout ends, you can sub again.

"A substitution may be made at any time, whether the ball is in play or not, except during a timeout." (Law 3.4)

During a timeout, "Substitutions may only be made after the acoustic signal or whistle has sounded to indicate the end of the timeout." (Law 7.3)

The procedure, step by step

The player coming off goes first, through your team's substitution zone. Nobody needs the referee's permission. The new player goes on through the same zone once the other player is off. The player who came off can go back on later.

Law 3.4 lists each step:

• "The player being substituted leaves the pitch via their own team's substitution zone, except as provided for in the Futsal Laws of the Game."
• "The player being substituted does not need to obtain either of the referees' permission to leave the pitch."
• "The referees do not need to authorise the substitute to enter the pitch."
• "The substitute only enters the pitch after the player being replaced has left."
• "The substitute enters the pitch via their own team's substitution zone."
• "The substitution is completed when a substitute fully enters the pitch via their own team's substitution zone after handing the bib to the player being replaced".
• "From that moment, the substitute becomes a player and the player who has been replaced becomes a substitute."
• "The player replaced may take further part in the match."

One detail catches teams out. A substitute who hasn't finished coming on can't take a restart. "A substitute who has not completed the substitution procedure cannot restart play by taking a kick-in, penalty kick, free kick, corner kick or goal clearance, or by receiving a dropped ball." (Law 3.4)

Where: the substitution zone

Each bench has a 5m stretch of touchline in front of it, starting 5m from the halfway line. That's the substitution zone. Your zone is in the half your team defends, so it switches sides at half-time.

"The substitution zones are the areas on the touchline in front of the team benches" … "situated in front of the technical areas, 5m from the halfway line, and are 5m in length." (Law 1.6)

"A team's substitution zone is situated in the half of the pitch defended by the said team. Each team's substitution zone changes in the second half of the match and any required periods of extra time." (Law 1.6)

What happens if it's done wrong?

If a substitute comes on too early, or from the wrong place, the substitute is cautioned and has to go off. If the referees stop play for it, the other team gets an indirect free kick.

Law 3.7: "If a substitute enters the pitch before the player being replaced has left or if, during a substitution, a substitute enters the pitch from a place other than their own team's substitution zone":

• "the referees stop play (although not immediately if they can apply the advantage);"
• "the referees caution the substitute for entering the pitch in contravention of the substitution procedure and order the substitute to leave the pitch."

"If the referees have stopped play, it is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team." (Law 3.7)

Changing the goalkeeper

Goalkeeper swaps work a little differently. A substitute can swap with the goalkeeper at any time. A player already on the court must wait for a stoppage and tell the referees first.

Law 3.6:

• "Any of the substitutes may change places with the goalkeeper without informing the referees or waiting for a stoppage in the match."
• "Any player may change places with the goalkeeper; however, this player must do so during a stoppage in the match and must inform the referees before the change is made."
• "A player or substitute replacing the goalkeeper must wear a goalkeeper's shirt with the player or substitute's own number on the back."

After a sending-off

A red card means your team plays a player down for two minutes of playing time. After that, a substitute can come on, with the timekeeper's or third referee's OK. A goal during those two minutes can change this.

Law 3.8: "A substitute may replace a player who is sent off after kick-off and enter the pitch after two minutes of playing time have elapsed following the sending-off (i.e. after their team has served a two-minute numerical reduction), provided that the substitute has the authorisation of the timekeeper or the third referee, unless a goal is scored before the two minutes have elapsed". Law 3.8 then sets out what happens when a goal is scored during those two minutes.

Part 2: The 4-second rule

Many restarts must be taken within four seconds, and the goalkeeper has a four-second limit too. Go over, and the other team gets the restart or a free kick. "4-second rule" is shorthand. The Practical Guidelines mention "the four-second rule" by name, but the Laws set several separate four-second limits. Here is each one, with what happens if your team takes too long.

Who counts, and how?

At least one referee shows the count clearly. There's no count at kick-offs or penalty kicks.

"At least one of the referees must clearly show the four-second count" (Practical Guidelines for Futsal Referees and Other Match Officials – Signalling)

The count is shown "at the following restarts:"

• "corner kicks;"
• "kick-ins;"
• "goal clearances;"
• "direct or indirect free kicks (including DFKSAFs);"
• and "when the goalkeeper controls the ball in their own half of the pitch."

The same section says: "Referees do not count four seconds for the following restarts:" and lists "Kick-offs" and "Penalty kicks".

If the referees think a restart is being delayed on purpose, they whistle and start the count. At a kick-off or penalty, players who delay the restart are cautioned. The guidelines say: "Where restarts are carried out lawfully, the four-second count starts and it is not necessary to use the whistle. If the referees believe that the restart is being delayed for tactical reasons, they must blow the whistle and then start the four-second count, irrespective of whether the player taking the restart is ready or not." And for the two restarts with no count: "In cases where the four-second count does not apply (kick-offs or penalty kicks), any players who delay the restart are cautioned."

The goalkeeper's four seconds in detail

The count runs whenever your goalkeeper has the ball under control in your own half, by hand or by foot. Law 12.2 explains when a goalkeeper is "in control" for the count:

• "the ball is between the hands or feet or between the hand or foot and any surface (e.g. the pitch, own body) or when touching it with any part of the hands, arms or feet;"
• "holding the ball in an outstretched open hand;"
• "bouncing it on the pitch or throwing it in the air;"
• "dribbling the ball either by hand or by foot."

The Practical Guidelines add two situations parents ask about:

• Crossing halfway. If your goalkeeper carries the ball into the other half, the count stops. If they come back with it, it starts again from zero. "If the goalkeeper is in possession of the ball and enters the opponents' half, the referees stop the four-second count. If the goalkeeper then returns to their own half without having lost control of the ball, the referees restart the count from zero."
• Goalkeeper subbed with the ball. The count keeps going for the new goalkeeper. "If the goalkeeper is in possession of the ball in their own half and is then substituted, the referees continue the four-second count as long as the goalkeeper who enters the pitch takes possession of the ball and remains in their own half."

FAQ

Are substitutions unlimited in futsal?

Yes. FIFA's Futsal Laws 2025-26 say "An unlimited number of substitutions may be made during a match." (Law 3.2). The number of substitutes a team may use is capped: "A maximum of nine substitutes may be used" in official competitions, and competition rules must state how many may be named.

Can you substitute in futsal while the ball is in play?

Yes. Under Law 3.4, "A substitution may be made at any time, whether the ball is in play or not, except during a timeout." The player coming off leaves through their own substitution zone first, and "The substitute only enters the pitch after the player being replaced has left."

Do futsal substitutions need the referee's permission?

No. Law 3.4 says "The player being substituted does not need to obtain either of the referees' permission to leave the pitch" and "The referees do not need to authorise the substitute to enter the pitch." Changes with the goalkeeper by an on-court player are different: they must happen "during a stoppage in the match" and the referees must be informed (Law 3.6).

What is the 4-second rule in futsal?

It's the everyday name for the four-second limits in FIFA's Futsal Laws 2025-26. Kick-ins, goal clearances, corner kicks and free kicks must be taken within four seconds, and a goalkeeper may not control the ball in their own half "for more than four seconds" (Law 12.2). Referees don't count four seconds at kick-offs or penalty kicks.

What happens if a kick-in takes longer than four seconds?

The other team gets the kick-in. Law 15.2: "For any other offence, including if a kick-in is not taken within four seconds, a kick-in is awarded to the opposing team."

Does the four-second count reset if the goalkeeper crosses halfway?

Yes, if they keep the ball. The Practical Guidelines say the count stops when a goalkeeper in possession enters the opponents' half, and "If the goalkeeper then returns to their own half without having lost control of the ball, the referees restart the count from zero."

Sources

PlayHub tracks futsal goals, shots, saves and each team's accumulated fouls per half, live from the sideline.