Soccer is the sport most loved by brazilians and also one of the most popular in the world. But it also exists in other forms, not just on a huge field full of grass.
Now you’re going to learn about the rules of beach soccer! Also known as beach soccer, the sport mixes the characteristics of the most popular sport with futsal, which is a little different.
Just as fun as the other types, soccer played on the beach or on a sandy field has many followers around the world, as well as fans who are always following the championships of their favorite teams.
But before we find out what the rules of beach soccer are, we need to know a little more about how the sport works, what its origins are and much more!
Check it out 👇
Beach soccer: a brief history
The history of beach soccer began in the 1930s, more precisely on the shores of Copacabana, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Then, in one of these beautiful beach settings, many people got together to play soccer in a different way.
Right there, on the beach, the players would create fields, set up goals and start playing soccer as if they were on a lawn. It wasn’t long before the sport began to take shape, and beach soccer was born.
But it wasn’t until the 1990s that the sport became professional, with beach soccer rules being created to better organize matches and championships. Then, three years later, a test competition took place in Los Angeles in the United States and was a success.
In 1995, the first official beach soccer championship took place in Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil was the big winner. The competition was such a success that the sport conquered the whole world. In 1998, the Brazilian Beach Soccer Confederation (CBSB) was founded, making the importance of the sport official.
Shall we learn about the rules of beach soccer?
Beach soccer rules: how does it work?
Beach soccer works in much the same way as traditional soccer, but with fewer players, shorter duration and other details. Including the goalkeeper, there are only five players on each side and the game cannot continue if there are fewer than three players on the pitch.
In the reserves, each team can also have five more players, including the goalkeeper. Substitutions are unlimited at the time of the game and can be made at any time. In the case of the goalkeeper, however, the change must be made when the match is not taking place.
Beach soccer rules: goals and penalties
As in traditional soccer, the aim of beach soccer is to score goals, with the team that does best winning. But there is a difference: there is no offside and there can be no draws.
Therefore, in the event of a draw, the rules of beach soccer require a penalty shootout, without even going through extra time. There is also a free kick on goal when the opposing team commits an infringement.
A beach soccer match has two referees with equal authority. However, if they don’t agree on a decision, what the first referee says is valid.
The rules of beach soccer also state that it is forbidden to score a goal from a corner kick, which can be taken with either the feet or the hands. On the other hand, players can score from corners without any problems.
According to the rules of the sport, the goalkeeper cannot receive his team’s ball twice in a row if it hasn’t touched an opponent beforehand.
Referees in beach soccer can issue yellow and red cards, just like in traditional soccer. This punishment applies both to conduct that is morally and socially detrimental to the practice of the sport and to serious infractions involving, for example, physical violence.
Beach soccer rules: duration
Beach soccer is shorter, lasting just 36 minutes. This period is divided into three halves, each with 12 minutes and only a three-minute break between them. When a goal is scored or the referee blows the whistle for a foul, time is stopped.
Beach soccer rules: field and ball
The beach soccer field, of course, consists of a lot of sand, but it needs to be special. When it’s not on the beach, the sand needs to be coarse so that it doesn’t stick to the players’ skin and hinder their performance in matches.
Also according to the rules of sand soccer, the size of the court needs to be between 35 and 37 meters long and 26 to 29 meters wide. The goals also need to follow certain measurements, being around 2.50 meters high by 5.5 meters long.
As for the ball, the sport is played with a ball made of leather or some synthetic material, and it needs to be waterproof. It needs to weigh between 400 and 440 grams and be between 68 and 70 centimeters in circumference.
In the middle of the field, the line is demarcated with the help of two posts with red flags.
Beach soccer rules: equipment
The equipment for beach soccer is simple, requiring only a shirt and shorts. Players don’t have to wear shoes or boots, just bare feet, but those who want to can wear bands on their feet and ankles, and plastic goggles for protection. Goalkeepers, if they wish, can wear long pants.
These are the main rules of beach soccer, which are very similar to the traditional sport. While you’re here, take the opportunity to browse the site and check out our articles on other sports.
Also take the opportunity to leave a comment and tell us what you think of the rules of beach soccer!
- Rules of archery: target zone, phases, equipment and more
- Badminton rules: how to play, serves, equipment and more
- Canoeing rules: modalities, classes, distances and more
- All about the Olympics: history, types, characteristics and curiosities
- All about the Paralympics: history, disciplines, categories and more
