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Why Not Run A Futsal Division in Your League?
Why Not Run A Futsal Division in Your League?
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FUTSAL ...for the future of football
The smaller ball with restricted bounce Futsal is played professionally in many
makes it easier for young players to master countries world wide where the game
their ball control skills. is well attended and regularly commands
large audiences on National
As the futsal ball is designed to stay on the television channels.
floor, players get far more contact with the
ball than in traditional 5 a side. This results Futsal is considered an integral influence
in players improving techniques such as on the football development of world giants
dribbling, passing and close control such as Brazil, Spain and Argentina.
at an accelerated rate.
In Italy, it is estimated that there are four
As the rules of Futsal include the pitch having million registered futsal players compared
sidelines and end lines, players must be more to one million registered 11 a side players.
accurate with their passing as opposed to just
kicking the ball wildly off a wall. Spain currently has 18 professional futsal
clubs including some directly connected to
The dimensions of the Futsal court and famous football clubs such as FC Barcelona.
reduced number of players means players
participate more in the game than they would FIFA and UEFA run World and European
in outdoor 11 a side. Championship competitions every two
years while UEFA has introduced an annual
Playing in reduced space helps develop club champions competition called the
creativity. Players are encouraged to find UEFA Futsal Cup.
their way out of tight situations with a clever
pass or piece of individual skill. Futsal can It is estimated that there are 25 million futsal
encourage self reliance and free expression. players worldwide at the moment with that
number expected to grow considerably
Playing close to opponents in a small area in the future.
encourages players to think and make
decisions very rapidly. It also causes players
to learn to move off the ball in order to create
free space for their team.
The continuous rapid action means players
quickly learn to develop their awareness in
relation to game situations, positional sense
and their reading of the game.
Because of the free flowing substitution rule,
all players get approximately the same
playing time.
Its easy to put a team together as only a
minimum of 5 players are needed.
Futsal is the smallest, easiest way of playing
football without losing any of the ingredients
such as the ball, opponents, team mates, space,
pressure, rules, time, direction and tactics.
Futsal is weather proof!
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FUTSAL ...for the future of football
ACCUMULATED FOULS
When a team has committed five fouls, every subsequent
foul by that team is penalised by a direct free kick from the
10 metre mark. This is irrespective of where the foul took
place on the pitch and unless the foul was closer than 10
metres from goal .The defending team is not allowed to
form a defensive wall for these free kicks.
RED CARDS
If a player is sent off, a substitute can be sent on AFTER
TWO MINUTES but the player who has received the red
card may not return.
If a team reduced to three or four players concede a goal
within those two minutes they may bring on an extra
player, but only if their opponents had more players on the
pitch at that time. If a team is reduced to less than three
players, the match is abandoned.
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FUTSAL ...for the future of football
BRAIN: As time and space are restricted, a player must be technically sound in order to produce a precise There are a number of notable technical skills frequently used
pass or a clever piece of skill. Tackles must also be well timed to avoid a side amassing more than 5 fouls in in futsal which are a direct influence of the smaller weighted
a half if this happens, teams are not allowed to form a defensive wall for the subsequent free kicks which ball used:
are awarded from the 10 metres line irrespective of where the foul took place on the pitch!
As the ball tends to stay on the floor, the sole of the foot is quite
often used to bring it under control.
EYES: Good peripheral vision is essential given the smaller dimensions of the playing area and the fast paced
nature of the game. One well placed pass can turn a defensive situation into a scoring opportunity. It is also The sole of the foot is very often used in moves to beat players.
vital to be able to read opponents tactics.
As players are closed down very quickly and time is sometimes
limited to split seconds to make a pass or to shoot, the point of
EARS: players must often rely on the calls of team mates to be able to exploit any open spaces they may the toe is often used to play the ball. Because there is no back
not have seen in the tight conditions. Also, with rolling substitutions, players must be fully conscious of
lift of the leg, the pass or shot can be made far more quickly.
instructions from the sidelines.
The point of the toe can also produce a powerful shot.
ROTATION: EVERYONE MOVES
TORSO: physical strength is important as the players often have to jockey for position in confined areas. There are normally no pre-defined defensive or attacking positions IN ALL DIRECTIONS
Because sliding challenges are not allowed, it is vital to be able to hold off rival players who might try to exclusively allocated to individual players in futsal as there is in
muscle their way into possession. Fitness is vital as players are using short, sharp bursts of energy. Those 11 a side football. All players ideally should be able to attack and
with good stamina will be better able to move quickly from defence to attack and then back again. Throughout defend. One exception to this is that some teams often use a
a game, a player might be expected to perform a number of different roles. Studies have shown that athletes specialist stay put central striker known as the pivot.
can only perform at peak levels for a few minutes at a time. This can lead to constant rotation of one or two This player usually plays with his / her back to goal to control
players at a time or even a whole quartet of outfield players. When called upon, the sub must be able to get attacks and set up opportunities for oncoming team mates.
up to the speed of the game very quickly.
A basic futsal team formation is the classic 3:1 diamond
formation. This gives the man on the ball passing options to
LEGS: Speed is essential with players needing to be in almost the right, left and forward. Players can find themselves in any
perpetual motion whenever involved in the action. Short, sharp bursts
part of the formation at any given time during a game.
of pace allow the player to react to swift counterattacks or to get back
in position after a foiled foray forward. As with all sports, a proper warm Players tend to rotate positions and find they can be defending
up is essential. Once the play starts, the action barely lets up for the 20 one moment and then attacking often within a matter of seconds.
minutes of each half unless the clock is stopped for instances such as CENTER AS A TARGET
time outs, fouls or goals. Because rolling subs are used, players must try
Usually, the highly skilled players are the ones who can create REFERENCE MAN
most scoring opportunities with their ability to beat players
to stay fresh even when not involved in the action. A player can go from
and create space.
resting on the sidelines to being on the attack with the goal at his / her
mercy within seconds. Because of the non stop high pace of the game where players
must constantly attack and defend, rolling substitutions are a
FEET: Footwear that allows for a good grip on the playing surface, as popular feature of the game. Teams often change the outfield
well as providing maximum control over the ball is essential. Rather players one, two and even up to four at a time to maintain the
than using their instep to kick the ball, players tend to use the point relentless pace of the game and allow players a rest period
of their feet for better accuracy over short distances. It is also before rejoining the action again.
important for players to be able to get rid of the ball quickly.
There is no time for players to switch the ball to their preferred
When defending, teams will quite often get all players behind
the ball and retreat into their own half. This tactic usually
foot, so good control is a must. The faster the execution,
results in a team being harder to break down and the use of
the more chance of getting a shot away before a defender
less energy than if they were to play a pressing game in the
can close down the space. The ability to perform a
opponents half. However, World futsal superpowers Brazil,
special piece of ball skill can assist a player in
Spain and Russia favour a pressinggame which requires a
turning an awkward situation into a bright opening.
superior physical conditioning of players.
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FUTSAL
FAMOUS FUTSAL PLAYERS
Brazil are the only country to have won five World Cups. Futsal is attributed to having honed the skills of
generations of Brazilian players from Pele to Ronaldo. Indeed, Futsal's influence is hallmarked in the
Brazilian style of play where a short passing possession game is crowned with bursts of magical skill,
capable of opening up the world's best defences.
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