Use of the whistle in Futsal
When the use of the whistle in Futsal is mandatory by the referee? Understand when the Futsal referee must or must not use the whistle.
When is it compulsory to use the whistle in Futsal?
The Futsal referee must use the whistle in the following situations during the match.
For an kick-offs:
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To start the game in the first and second periods and, if applicable, the first and second periods of extra time;
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Restart the game after a goal has been scored.
To stop the game:
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Award a free kick or penalty kick;
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Suspending or terminating play or confirming the sound signal from the timekeeper at the end of a period of play.
To restart the game for:
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Free-kicks to ensure that players from the defending team observe the minimum distance required;
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Free kicks from the 10-metre mark;
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Free kicks without “barrier”;
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For Penalty Kicks;
To restart the game after it has been interrupted due to:
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A yellow card caution or sending off for misconduct;
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Injury to one or more players.
When is it NOT necessary to use a whistle in Futsal?
The use of the whistle is not required for the following match situations:
To score one:
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A goal clearance, corner kick or kick-in, but it is mandatory if the situation is not clear;
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A goal, but it’s a must if the ball didn’t go clearly into the goal;
To restart a game from:
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A free kick if the minimum distance of 5 metres has not been requested or the opposing team the kicker has not committed six accumulated fouls;
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A goal clearance, corner kick or kick-in if the minimum distance of 5 metres is not has been requested;
Restart the game with a dropped ball.
Considerations on the use of whistles in Futsal
Using the whistle too often will result in the impact being lessened when it is really needed.
When the team taking a free kick, kick-in or corner kick requests the defending team’s players to observe the required distance or the correct distance from the goal kick, the referees must clearly inform the players that play cannot be restarted before the whistle is blown. If, in such cases, a player restarts play before the referees’ whistle, the player is cautioned for delaying the restart.
If, during play, one of the referees blows the whistle by mistake, the referees must stop play if they consider that this action interfered with play. If the referees stop play, they must restart the match with a ball on the ground from the position of the ball when play was stopped, unless it was inside the penalty area of the defending team and the last team to touch the ball was the attacking team.
If the sound of the whistle does not interfere with play, the referees give clear signals to continue play.