Five-a-side football

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Five-a-side football is a variation of football (soccer) in which each team fields five players (four outfield players and a goalkeeper), rather than the usual eleven. Other differences from football include a smaller pitch, smaller goals, and a reduced game duration. Games are often played indoors.

Additionally the ball is not allowed to go over "head height" or else the opposition is awarded an indirect free kick. The penalty area is also significantly different from regular football: it is semi-circular in shape and only the goalkeeper is allowed within it and he is not allowed out.

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[edit] Futsal

Main article: Futsal

Futsal is a version of indoor five-a-side football officially sanctioned by the football world governing body Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).


[edit] Other five-a-side games

Five-a-side is commonly played informally, and the rules are therefore flexible and are sometimes decided immediately before play begins; this is in contrast to futsal where official laws are published by FIFA.

One common Five-a-side football game is called Futebol de Salão. However, this is not recognized by FIFA.

[edit] Seven-a-side football

This is another variation with increased pitch and team size; in this case with six outfield players and a goalkeeper on each side. The rules generally do not differ from those of five-a-side.

[edit] See Also