In an effort to help you maximize your experience at Beach Soccer, we have outlined the Top 11 Beach Soccer Rules below. Many tournaments have modifications to these rules, but some are moving toward FIFA rules compliance. Please be patient with the referees and other coaches as everyone adjusts.

1. Goalkeeper Delay of Game "5 second Rule"
• Once the Goalkeeper has possession of the ball, he has 5 seconds to release the ball.
• If goalkeeper delays game (5 second rule), the opposing team is awarded a direct kick from the center halfway line.

2. Substitutions
• Substitutions can be made at any time whether the ball is in play or not.
• Player must come off field before the substitute may enter the field
• Substitute infraction results in a direct kick from center halfway line (ALSO INCLUDES a 2 MINUTE PENALTY IN THE PRO BRACKET ONLY)

3. Foul in offensive half of the field
• Result is a free kick from the place of the foul. The ball or feet only can be used to make a mound.
• All other players form a straight line even/behind the position of the ball
• The player fouled must take the kick unless injured and substituted for. In the case of an injury, only the substitute may take the kick. The kick is a direct kick

4. Foul in defensive half of the field - "Cone."
• Result is a free kick taken from the spot of the foul. The ball or feet only can be used to make a mound.
• All other players form an imaginary "Cone" formed by drawing a line between the ball and each goal post
• Players must not enter the "cone" until the ball has either touched the ground or the opposing goalkeeper.
• The fouled player must take the kick unless injured and replaced by a substitute. The kick is a direct kick.
• Ball cannot be interfered with in the "cone" in the Penalty area. Result is a penalty kick.

5. Penalty Kick
• Result is a penalty kick. The ball is placed in the middle of the imaginary penalty box line. The ball or feet only can be used to make a mound.
• Player fouled must take the kick unless injured and substituted for - only the substitute may take the kick.
• All players must stand outside of the imaginary penalty box line 5 yards away from the ball.

6. Goal Throw
• When the ball goes out of play over the end line, the result is a goal clearance.
• The goalkeeper may throw the ball into play from anywhere inside the penalty box.
• The goal clearance is an indirect restart, which means that if the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opposing goal, a goal clearance is awarded to the opponent. If the ball touches any player, a goal is awarded

7. Corner Kick
• Player has 5 seconds to put ball in play once player has possession. The ball or feet only can be used to make a mound.
• Infraction to this rule results in a ball clearance being awarded to the opponent goalkeeper.
• If a player touches the ball twice consecutively during the taking of the corner kick, a direct kick from the center
court will be awarded to the opponent team.

8. Goalkeeper Possession
• When the ball is possessed by the goalkeeper during the run of play, the goalkeeper may throw, punt the ball with the ball touching the ground before kicking it, or play the ball on the ground with his feet. All are indirect and a goal can not be scored from this situation.

9. Goalkeeper Pass Rule
• The goalkeeper shall not be allowed to touch the ball with his hands or arms when a ball is returned to him from a
player of his team twice consecutively, without the ball having touched an opponent player. This includes balls
played back in any manner or part of the body including headers or an inbound pass.
• Infraction of the pass-back rule results in the opposing team being awarded a free kick from the center of the court.

10. Kick-Offs
• Kickoffs are Indirect kicks
• This is the only situation where opposing players may set up a wall. The wall must be five yards from the ball.
• The defending players are free to approach the ball once it has been touched by the attacking players

11. Touchline or (sideline) restart
• Balls going out over the touch line, which are also called sidelines, may be thrown or kicked in. The ball cannot be picked up after it is set down for a kick in to do a throw in. The ball or feet only can be used to make a mound.
• These are indirect restarts
• An infraction results in a change of possession at the same location.