All About Indoor Soccer: Fouls, Offences, Cards And The Referee
The Things You Need To Be Careful Of...
Indoor soccer is a physical sport and every now and then you will play teams or individuals that play 'dirty'. They will foul, push, shove and manipulate. This is common in all types of football and needs to be accepted. The referee plays a big part in indoor soccer and he or she helps to control the offences that are committed by players. Indoor soccer referees normally have a slightly more relaxed attitude to foul play as indoor soccer is regarded as the rough side of football. However the results of you committing a dangerous foul is worse than that of an outdoor soccer match. On this page the yellow card, red card and referee will be explained in the terms of indoor soccer. There will also be tips that help you avoid being a part of foul play in indoor soccer.
The Yellow Card
When you are guilty of committing a dangerous foul you will either be warned or the referee will show you the yellow card. If you get a yellow card you have to go off the field for a certain amount of time. The times differ at different South African indoor soccer clubs but most of the time it is about 5 minutes off the field. When you get a yellow card you may not be replaced with a substitute. This is disadvantageous to your team as for those 5 minutes your team will only be allowed to play with 4 outfield players.
The Red Card
When the referee shows you a red card in an indoor soccer match you have done something really bad. The red card is similar to the yellow card because you have to go off the field and after 5 minutes another player can come on for you. You will not be allowed to play for the rest of that game and at some indoor soccer clubs you or your team may be suspended or completely kicked out of the indoor soccer league. Red cards are normally shown to players that fight or play very aggressively.
Indoor Soccer Refereeing
Being a referee in an indoor soccer match is a tough job. Referees are all different and react in different ways to what you do. It is a good thing to be nice to the referees whenever you see them because if they are involved in one of your games that might be more relaxed towards your actions on the field. You can never guess what a referee will do if you make a tackle so just be careful, the referee could send you off. Discipline is an important part of indoor soccer and the referees at the indoor soccer club I play at (Edenvale Indoor Soccer Club) do a superb job of upholding the laws and rules of the indoor game. They will often warn you before they take action. The same can't be said about all the indoor soccer referees around South Africa though!
Listed below are things you are not allowed to do in an indoor soccer match and what could happen if you commit these offences:
- Slide tackling: You will receive a yellow card.
- Pushing someone off the ball: A warning will be issued.
- Deliberate hand ball: Most of the time you will get a yellow card but I have seen some referees pull out a red card when a player stops or catches the ball deliberately.
- Tackle from behind: Depending on the referee you will either get a warning or a yellow card.
- Deliberate elbow: You will receive a red card.
- Hitting, kicking, punching or slapping: You will receive a red card and possibly a suspension.
- Arguing with the referee: All outcomes are possible... A warning, yellow card or a red card.
Go back to the Indoor Soccer Rules page.