The Use of Futsal in Player Development

Futsal is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the world. It makes sense though its fast high scoring for soccer and it really brings out the technical abilities in players, for that 'flash' people desire to see.

Many people still do not understand what Futsal is though, and in my best effort I will try educate you all on what it is and why it is so popular.








Futsal is a five a side game, which means there are four field players and one goal keeper. The court is defined by lines and there are boundaries unlike some other indoor variations of soccer. The ball is slightly smaller then a regular ball, it also has less bounce to it. The ball not having as much bounce means that the ball stays on the ground. This making it harder to play the long ball in the air, and encourages quicker passing. The field is much similar in size to the width of a basketball court. This space with eight players on the field competing each other creates the situational opportunities where players must make fast decisions. There is also a need for players to get past each other, or 'beat' each other on the ground . This greatly focuses on the players technical ability.

Another good thing about Futsal is it gets everyone more touches on the ball. With only four players on the field at a time. You find that every player sees their fair share of possession. When the ball is moving player to player as much as it does in Futsal you result with more then just the strikers taking shots. With unlimited substitutes it is fair to say that everyone gets involved and it is a lot harder for players to faze in and out of the game.

The Brazilian founded sport is recognized officially by FIFA and even has its own FIFA World Cup.  With Futsal's nature it really helps develop the four pillars of a soccer player. Those being mental, technical, tactical, and physical. When a fast paced sport like this can be so beneficial it is safe to say that all kids should be getting involved in Futsal. It is the way forward for player development.


For the official rules of the game Futsal check out http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/technicalsupport/futsal/lawsofthegame.html