The indoor football It is a sport that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years in Spain and the world.

Often, those who get into this sport wonder how long a game of indoor soccer lasts.

In this article, we will provide you with a complete guide with detailed information, guidelines, advice, recommendations and interesting curiosities about the duration of a futsal match.

How much do you know about futsal?

Before addressing the duration of a match indoor football, it is important to know its main characteristics. This sport, also known as futsal, is a form of traditional soccer that is played indoors and on smaller surfaces. Two teams of five players each face each other, including the goalie.

Regulations and duration

The rules of futsal are quite similar to those of soccer, with some specific differences. The duration of a futsal match is one of the aspects that differ from traditional soccer. A meeting is divided into two time 20 minutes each, with a 10-minute break between them. Therefore, the total duration of a match is 50 minutes.

Why only 20 minutes per time?

The duration of the times in futsal is related to the space and the intensity of the game. Being a sport that is played in a smaller space and at a faster pace than soccer, players tire more quickly. Therefore, the times are shorter to allow better performance and avoid injuries.

Details about the duration of the match

There are some additional aspects that can affect the length of a futsal match. Here are some situations where playing time may vary:

Time-out

Each team has the right to request a time-out one minute per time. This timeout does not accumulate for the second half if it was not used in the first half. The timeout allows the players to rest and the coach to give tactical instructions to his team.

These timeouts do not add to the total playing time, but may slightly extend the actual length of the match as they interrupt the flow of the game.

Injuries and substitutions

The injuries and the substitutions They can also affect the length of the match. If a player is injured, the time the referee stops the match to attend to the injured player and make the substitution is not added to the total playing time. However, these interruptions can lengthen the actual duration of the encounter.

Extra time and penalties

In the event of a tie in direct elimination or final matches, there may be a extension of two periods of 5 minutes each. If the tie persists after extra time, the round of penalties to determine the winner. These additional instances increase the total duration of the match.

Tips and recommendations

To fully enjoy futsal and ensure that all participants have fun, it is important to keep the following recommendations in mind:

Pre-warm up

Due to the intensity of futsal, it is crucial to carry out an adequate heating before starting the game. This will help prevent injuries and ensure that players are in optimal physical condition for the game.

Regulations and fair play

Knowing and respecting the rules of indoor soccer is essential to maintaining a friendly and sporting playing environment. Furthermore, practicing fair play and respecting teammates, rivals and referees is essential to enjoying the sport.

Rest and recovery

After a game of futsal, it is important to allow the body to recover properly. Perform exercises cooling stretching and hydrating properly are recommended practices to facilitate recovery.

Curiosities about futsal

Finally, we leave you some interesting curiosities about futsal:

Origin of futsal

Futsal was created in Uruguay in the 1930s. Its inventor, Juan Carlos Ceriani, sought to develop a sport that could be practiced in closed spaces and that was accessible to everyone.

Famous players

Some renowned footballers, such as Ronaldinho, Kaka and Andres Iniesta, began their sports careers playing indoor soccer. This sport provided them with technical and tactical skills that they later applied successfully in professional football.

Futsal in Spain

In Spain, futsal is a very popular sport and has a professional league, the LNFS (National Futsal League). In addition, the Spanish futsal team has been world champion twice (2000 and 2004) and has won seven titles in the UEFA European Championship.

Conclusion

In summary, A futsal match lasts a total of 50 minutes, divided into two periods of 20 minutes each, with a 10-minute break.

The duration may vary due to situations such as timeouts, injuries, substitutions, overtime and penalties. We hope that this guide has been useful to you to better understand this exciting sport and that Enjoy your indoor soccer games to the fullest.