Whilst there are more detailed rules which can be read by going to the beach soccer website. Here are the basics to get you started:
GENERAL PLAY
1. The sport is essentially 5 a side with up to 7 substitutes waiting on the bench
2. If the score is level after 36 minutes then 3 minutes of extra time are played
3. If the scores are level after extra time then a penalty shoot out takes place. Each team nominates 3 players to take a penalty. Level scores after each team has taken 3 penalties leads to sudden death penalties until a winner is found.
4. Goalkeepers can take the ball out of their 9 metre area and play the ball with their feet but cannot then re-enter their 9 metre area with the ball and pick the ball up.
5. Goalkeepers can shoot and score from outside their area.
6. If the Goalkeeper handles the ball outside their area then a free kick is awarded.
The Goalkeeper cannot throw the ball to a player on their team in the 9 metre area
KICK OFF
1. Kick off takes place from the centre of the pitch at the start of each period and after a goal has been scored.
2. Scoring directly from a kick off is NOT allowed
3. All players need to be in their own defending half at kick off and defenders need to be 5m from the ball.
4. As a minimum at kick off the ball must move forward by one full rotation
5. Attacking team members cannot enter the opposing half until the ball has been played
FREE KICKS
1. Where a foul results in a free kick, the player who was fouled is required to take it
2. All free kicks in beach soccer are direct, therefore any kick resulting in the ball crossing the goal line into the goal without any other interaction sees a goal being awarded
3. Handball and other offences that are not fouls on a player can be taken by any player in the attacking team
4. The defending team are not permitted to form a wall
5. The person taking the free kick is permitted to build a small mound of sand with the ball or their feet, but they are not permitted to build this with their hands.
6. where attacking with the with a free kick in your own half, the referee will indicate a cone shaped imaginary segment, and no player either attacking or defending team may not enter this area other than the goal keeper
7. defenders must be 5m from the ball
8. where attaching with a free kick in your opponents half all outfield players must stand behind the ball by at least 5m except the player taking the kick
CORNERS
1. The player taking the corner has 4 seconds to take the corner from when they first receive the ball.
2. A small mound of sand may be created with the ball and/or your feet, to aid the taking of the kick, but players are NOT permitted to make this mound with their hands
3. A goal can directly result from a free kick should it pass into the mouth of the goal without any prior infringement.
THROW INS
1. When the ball goes out of play over the sideline a throw in is awarded to the team who did not put it out of play.
2. A throw in can be taken with the players hands or feet.
3. Once the throw in taker has decided to either kick or throw the ball into play they cannot then change their mind.
4. The taker has 4 seconds to take the throw in from the point that they receive the ball.
5. Any player on the attacking team can take the throw in, but once the ball has been picked up , that player must take the throw in.
6. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in
DEAD BALL
1. If the attacking team are responsible for the ball going behind the oppositions goal line then the defending goalkeeper restarts the game by throwing the ball out of their 9m area
2. Goalkeepers have 4 seconds to throw the ball back into play after receiving the ball
PENALTIES
1. Are taken from the top of the goalkeepers area on the 9 metre line
2. All players apart from the defending goalkeeper and the player taking the penalty must stand behind and at least 5 metres from the ball.
3. Penalty taker may build a small mound of sand with the ball and/or your feet, but NOT with hands.
SOME COMMON INFRINGEMENTS
1. Diving
2. Handball
3. Careless, reckless or excessive force when challenging for the ball.
4. Charging into an opponent
5. Kicking an opponent.
6. Jumping into an opponent
7. Sliding into an opponent
8. Playing the ball back to the goalkeeper twice without the opponents touching the ball at least once.
9. The defending team keeping the ball in their defending 9 metre are for more than 4 seconds
10. Infringements in the defensive teams 9 metre are will result in a penalty kick