Futsal vs. indoor soccer vs. outdoor soccer: a visual guide
Compare the court, players, ball and rules before you book. A downloadable graphic explains Futsal, arena indoor soccer and the outdoor game.
You found an indoor soccer facility, but its photos show turf and boards. Another venue advertises Futsal on a basketball-style court. Both offer soccer, but the playing surface, ball and rules can make them quite different experiences. Here is how to tell what you are booking.
The differences at a glance
In this comparison, “indoor soccer” means the arena game with boards. Some indoor venues also host Futsal or small-sided soccer without walls, so the building alone does not tell you which rules apply.
Futsal
- 5 per team, including a goalkeeper.
- Smooth, hard court; no rebound boards.
- Low-bounce Futsal ball.
- Kick-ins at the touchline; no offside.
Indoor / arena
- Varies; MASL plays 6 per team.
- Usually turf with rebound boards.
- Check the facility's ball rules.
- Boards keep many balls in play; local and arena rules vary.
Outdoor
- 11 per team in the full-size game.
- Grass or permitted artificial turf.
- Size 5 for the full-size game.
- Throw-ins at the touchline; offside in the full-size game.
What makes Futsal different?
Futsal uses a hard, smooth court and a ball designed for a lower bounce. Touchlines matter: when the ball crosses one, play restarts with a kick-in rather than a rebound off a wall. Each team has four outfield players and a goalkeeper, and there is no offside.
Those features make the ball and surface important when you arrive. Check the venue's footwear requirements and whether a Futsal ball is supplied. A small-sided game on indoor turf is not automatically Futsal. The FA's introductory guide explains the court, equipment and basic rules.
Does indoor soccer always have six players?
No. The professional arena game in MASL uses six players per team, including the goalkeeper, but recreational facilities set their own formats. Ask whether your booking is 5v5, 6v6 or another size, whether that count includes the goalkeeper, and how many substitutes you can bring.
Boards are the visible difference in an arena. They allow rebounds that would be out of play on an open touchline. Ball, restart, substitution and scoring rules should come from your particular competition, rather than an assumption that every indoor league follows MASL.
How does outdoor soccer compare?
The full-size outdoor game has eleven players on each team, including a goalkeeper. It uses open boundary lines, throw-ins and offside under the IFAB Laws of the Game. Youth teams and recreational groups also play smaller formats.
Our 4v4, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11 comparison shows those pitch sizes at the same scale. If you are choosing a program for a child, check the age-group calculator as well as the league's published rules.
Five things to check before you book
- The actual format. Futsal, arena soccer, or small-sided soccer on turf?
- Surface and footwear. Ask what shoes the facility allows.
- Players and substitutes. Confirm the number per side and whether the goalkeeper counts.
- The ball and equipment. Check what is supplied and what you should bring.
- The local rules. Confirm game length, substitutions, contact rules and skill level.
Choose Futsal listings for courts and programs, indoor soccer listings for facilities, or soccer fields for outdoor options. Read the individual listing before booking; a facility can offer more than one kind of game.
Sources and review date
Reviewed September 9, 2026. This is an introductory comparison, not a competition rulebook. Youth and recreational organizers may modify the rules.
- The FA: an introduction to FIFA Futsal laws
- MASL: official arena soccer rules
- IFAB: Laws of the Game
- FIFA: a crash course in Futsal rules
Find your next place to play
Browse Futsal courts and indoor facilities, then check the format that suits your group.
