Indoor Soccer Vs Outdoor Cleats/Rules (Differences)

If you love soccer, you’ve probably noticed that the game takes on different forms depending on where you’re playing it.

The two most common variations? Indoor soccer and outdoor soccer. While both follow the same basic objective—score more goals than your opponent—they can feel like completely different sports in terms of pace, rules, and the gear you need.

Maybe you’re wondering if you can wear your outdoor cleats for an indoor soccer (spoiler: don’t), or how the rules differ between the two.

Well, let’s dig into what sets indoor and outdoor soccer apart—and what makes each version of the game special.

The Birth of Indoor Soccer

Let’s start with a little history. Indoor soccer didn’t just pop up because people were bored and wanted a new way to play.

It came about as a practical solution to a very real problem – bad weather. In places where snow and rain turn outdoor fields into mud pits during the winter, soccer lovers needed an alternative, and thus, indoor soccer was born.

It started as a winter workaround but quickly grew into a sport of its own, especially in places like the United States, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, and Spain.

While it’s not as globally dominant as the outdoor version, indoor soccer has carved out a niche for itself, with its own governing body, the World Minifootball Federation (WMF), and even a professional league in the U.S, the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).

Rule Differences: How Do Indoor and Outdoor Soccer Compare?

If you’ve played both indoor and outdoor soccer, the first thing you probably noticed was the size of the field. Outdoor soccer is all about space.

The field is huge, usually around 100 meters long and 64 meters wide. That means more room to spread out, more time to think, and more space to pull off those long beautiful through balls.

Indoor soccer on the other hand feels like a fast and frantic cousin. The field is much smaller, usually around 60 meters long and 25 meters wide. Less space means quicker passes, less time on the ball, and more pressure from defenders.

Then there’s the surface itself. Outdoor soccer is typically played on natural grass or hybrid turf, which can affect your footing, the ball’s bounce, and even how your cleats dig in.

Indoor soccer meanwhile, is almost always played on artificial turf, which is why you don’t want to be wearing outdoor cleats inside (but more on that later).

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Player Count and Substitutions

Outdoor soccer: You’ve got your classic 11 players on each team, including the goalkeeper.
Indoor soccer: You’re working with a much smaller squad, just 6 players per side, again including the goalkeeper.

Fewer players mean more involvement from everyone on the field. You can’t hide in indoor soccer, you’ll touch the ball a lot more often, and there’s way less room to work with, so you’ve got to stay sharp.

On substitutions. In outdoor soccer, substitutions are limited, typically 3 to 5 per game, so coaches have to use them strategically, usually saving them for when players are exhausted or injured.

But in indoor soccer, It’s a free-for-all.

You can sub in and out as many times as you want. This makes the game faster and more intense because fresh legs are constantly coming in.

Duration: How Long Is a Game?

This one’s pretty straightforward: Outdoor soccer is 90 minutes long, divided into two 45-minute halves, with a 15-minute break in the middle.

Indoor soccer is shorter – just 60 minutes, but it’s broken down into four 15-minute quarters. There’s a 3-minute break between the first and third quarters and a longer 15-minute halftime after the second quarter.

In indoor soccer, the action is more condensed.

You’re going all out in short, intense bursts. There’s no time to settle in and slowly build an attack like you would in outdoor soccer, where the longer halves allow for more tactical play.

Offside Rule

Here’s where indoor soccer shakes things up a bit. Outdoor soccer has the offside rule, and if you’ve played for more than a minute, you know it can make or break an attacking move.

Timing is everything, you’ve got to make sure you’re not past the last defender when the ball is played, or you’ll get flagged.

Indoor soccer says, “Nah, we’re good without it.” That’s right – there’s no offside rule indoors. This means attackers can hang out near the opponent’s goal, waiting for a pass.

Defenders? Well, they have to be on high alert at all times. Without the offside rule, the game opens up and leads to more goal-scoring chances.

Walls and Throw-ins

One of the coolest things about indoor soccer is that the walls are part of the game. Seriously, just like in hockey, the walls around the field can keep the ball in play.

If the ball hits a wall, it bounces right back into the action, and the game keeps moving. This adds an extra layer of strategy, as players can use the walls for passes or to get around defenders.

In outdoor soccer, if the ball crosses the sideline, play stops, and you’ve got a throw-in. It’s a much more controlled reset compared to indoor soccer’s constant action.

The only time play stops in indoor soccer is if the ball completely clears the wall or hits the ceiling (which, let’s be honest, happens more often than you’d think in smaller venues).

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Slide Tackles and Blue Card

Slide tackles are a key part of outdoor soccer – a perfectly timed slide can be the difference between saving a goal or conceding one. But in indoor soccer, they’re a bit of a no-no.

While you can technically slide tackle, it’s only allowed if you don’t make contact with another player. If you do, it’s an automatic foul, and depending on the severity, you could be shown a blue card.

Wait, what’s a blue card?

Well, it’s unique to indoor soccer. While outdoor soccer sticks to yellow and red cards, indoor soccer has added the blue card as a kind of middle ground.

If you commit a foul that’s more serious than a yellow card offense but not bad enough to warrant a red card, you get a blue one.

This sends you to the penalty box (yes, like in hockey) for a few minutes, leaving your team a player down during that time.

Cleats: Can You Wear Outdoor Cleats Indoors?

Alright, let’s clear this up – NO, you shouldn’t wear your outdoor cleats indoors. Outdoor soccer cleats have longer studs or lugs designed to give you traction on grass or turf fields.

These cleats are great for outdoor use but not so much for indoor surfaces. You’ll slip and slide, and you might even damage the turf.

For indoor soccer, you’ll need indoor-specific shoes.

These have rubber soles with shorter studs or no studs at all, giving you better grip on artificial turf or hard surfaces. Plus, these shoes are designed to help with quick footwork and close control—two things you’ll need in the fast-paced indoor game.

Do You Need Shin Guards Indoors?

You might think that because indoor soccer feels less intense than outdoor, you could skip some of the protective gear. Don’t do it.

Just like outdoor soccer, shin guards are required for any official indoor match. They protect your legs from stray kicks and tough tackles, which can happen more often in the tight spaces of indoor soccer.

That said, if you’re playing a casual game with friends, you might see some players opting to go without shin guards for comfort. But remember, the pros don’t take that risk for a reason – those kicks to the shin can be painful.

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Which is Harder: Indoor or Outdoor Soccer?

Well, it depends on what you find challenging.

Outdoor soccer demands a lot from you physically. You need endurance to last 90 minutes, sprinting and jogging over large distances. It’s also a lot more tactical – you’ve got more time and space to think, plan, and execute a strategy.

Indoor soccer is all about speed. The game moves fast, and there’s no time to take a breather or slow down.

The smaller field means every player is involved almost constantly, and the quick turnovers keep you on your toes. Indoor soccer also tests your cardio in short bursts, which can be just as grueling as running around a full-size field for 90 minutes.

So, which is tougher? Both! They just challenge you in different ways.

Why You Should Play Both

If you’re looking to become a more well-rounded player, there’s no reason to choose one over the other.

Indoor soccer helps improve your quick reflexes, close ball control, and decision-making in tight spaces. Meanwhile, outdoor soccer is where you build stamina, tactical awareness, and the ability to read the game over longer stretches of time.

Plus a lot of professional credit playing indoor soccer in their early years for sharpening their skills. So, why not give both a shot?

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Conclusion: Two Sides of the Same Coin

In the end, both indoor and outdoor soccer are just different flavors of the same game. Outdoor soccer has that classic, tactical feel, with big open fields and long buildups to goals. Indoor soccer is fast, exciting, and relentless, with fewer players and non-stop action.

No matter which you prefer, or if you love them both – what really matters is that you’re playing.