Indoor Soccer

Considering that conventional outdoor soccer is the most popular sport in the world, it makes sense that soccer enthusiasts would eventually start playing with soccer balls indoors. Indoor soccer actually has a soccer history nearly as long as conventional soccer with the first indoor match being recorded in Canada in 1885, but the indoor version of the sport didn’t really take off until the 1920’s when the world’s first indoor soccer leagues were formed in Boston and New York City. Today, the popularity of indoor soccer is growing rapidly in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

Indoor soccer is loosely based on conventional soccer, but the rules, equipment and “field” have been modified to suit the indoor environment. Indoor soccer ball fields are smaller than regular soccer fields and usually played on hard surfaces like basketball courts. The teams, goals and soccer balls used indoors are smaller too. Most indoor leagues use specific indoor soccer balls in size 4 that are covered in felt or some other type of non-skid, non-marking outer shell. Indoor soccer goals are sized down to fit the smaller “fields” and are about the size of a hockey goal. Indoor soccer teams usually consist of just six players (including goalkeeper) per team.

The most surprising and unique element of indoor soccer may be the fact that the soccer balls can be bounced off one or more walls during play without penalties. The result is a much faster-paced game played in a smaller space with fewer delays. The walls must be at least six-feet high for most indoor league play, but if higher walls are present, they are utilized, with only the ceiling being “out of bounds.” Indoor soccer ball matches are usually an hour long, divided into four 15-minute periods. There are no offside rules in indoor soccer ball games, but conventional soccer contact rules do apply although most indoor leagues ban sliding tackles due to the hard playing surfaces.

If you love to play conventional soccer and live in a cold winter weather climate, indoor soccer might just be your game because it can be played all year long. If you love conventional soccer and want to play a more hyperactive and condensed version of the game, indoor soccer could be your game. If you are not a soccer ball player yourself, but love to watch the action as a spectator, the furious pace of indoor soccer ball action could turn out to become one of your favorites. Any way you slice it, you owe it to yourself to check out an indoor soccer ball match.