How to Play Indoor Soccer

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Indoor soccer has become a popular sport in North America. You play it much like outdoor soccer, though there are some rules specific to the indoor version. If you're ready for a fun and fast-paced game, here's how to get started.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Cover an indoor arena such as a hockey skating rink with Astroturf.
Step 2

Assemble 12 players, six players to each team. Players must play both offense and defense. You field a smaller team than outdoor soccer due to the smaller size of the field.
Step 3

Start play by placing the ball at the centerline. A player from each team goes for the ball. The player who kicks the ball first cannot make a play on the ball until it touches another player.
Step 4

Kick the ball or use your head as in traditional soccer to score a goal. The ball may be played off the walls surrounding the arena, if walls are present. Play is stopped if the ball goes over the wall or strikes the ceiling.
Step 5

Play two halves. There is no standard duration for each half; this is determined by each individual league. Regular soccer rules pertaining to scoring, passing and penalties apply to indoor soccer. The team scoring the most goals wins the game.

Tips & Warnings

Substitute players are allowed in indoor soccer.
One player on each team must be designated goalkeeper.
The offside rule does not usually apply to indoor soccer in most leagues.
Rules tend to vary from league to league. There are no standard rules for playing indoor soccer.
Astroturf provides a better grip than grass, but this can sometimes lead to injuries as feet can get "locked up" in the turf.
The sliding tackle is banned from most indoor soccer leagues, as sliding on Astroturf in shorts can result in a serious rug burn.
Due to the decreased size of the field in indoor soccer, a common tactic is to kick the ball toward an opponent's goal from the centerline and then have all players charge the goal. Most leagues apply the rule that you cannot move the ball over a certain distance before being touching it, sometimes called the three-line violation.
A superstructure violation results if the ball strikes any part of the building when playing indoor soccer.