What is Futsal
Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced small sided soccer game that is played across the world and is officially recognized by both FIFA and UEFA.
Futsal earned the status of FIFA’s official form of indoor soccer in the 1980s as it was recognized as a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors. It is a 5 v 5 small-sided game played on a hard surfaced, basketball sized court with a smaller, low bounce ball. Futsal is played with touchline boundaries and without walls.
Futsal places a large emphasis on technical skill in high pressure situations which can be translated into the outdoor game. The sport is a great skill developer as it demands quick reflexes, fast thinking and pin-point passing.
Futsal is played in all the continents of the world by over 100 countries with 12 million players. Great soccer superstars such as Pele, Zico, Ronaldo, Messi, Kaka and Katia grew up playing the game and credit futsal with developing their skills.
The priority in Futsal is to motivate players in an environment that is conducive to learning. The more pleasure kids derive from their participation, the more they wish to play and practice on their own. While their instinct to play is natural, their affection and appreciation for soccer must be cultivated. Futsal is the foundation to such goals because it:
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Allows players to frequently touch the ball.
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Presents many opportunities to score goals and score goals often.
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Encourages regaining possession of the ball as a productive, fun and rewarding part of the game (defending).
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Maximizes active participation and minimizes inactivity and boredom.
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Reflects the philosophy of player development expressed in state and national coaching schools.
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Eliminates complicated rules such as off-sides that may hinder youngsters from "playing".
Futsal Ball
The futsal ball is a low-bounce ball that is smaller than a normal outdoor soccer ball.
The futsal ball's properties are specifically designed to develop skills. When a futsal ball is received via a good pass, it virtually "sticks to the foot."
This builds great confidence in tight spaces when rapid passes are being issued repeatedly. Interestingly, that same property which makes the ball easy to receive makes it more difficult to strike. A futsal ball gradually eliminates the ’lazy pass’. Players rapidly get acquainted with the merits of bending the knee, turning the hips, and striking the ball firmly to propel it. Repeated touches on the ball eventually produce a motion which, when transplanted outdoors with a high bounce ball, translates into a firmer and proportionately longer pass appropriate for the big field.
Many programs around the world also claim that smaller size encourages more precise striking of the ’sweet spot’ of the ball. If one works during the offseason on striking a futsal ball, then a larger bouncier ball is struck with greater confidence and authority in the outdoor game.