What isFutsal?

THE BASIC RULES

Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced smallsided football game that originatesfrom South America in the 1930s.

Many of the top world class footballersplayed Futsal in their youth and credit it withsupporting their footballing development; players ofthe calibre of Pele, Zico, Ronaldinho, Kaka andLionel Messi to name but a few of the SouthAmerican legends who all played and enjoyedFutsal. But Futsal has not just helped produce SouthAmerican football stars. On the European stageCristiano Ronaldo, Deco, Xavi and Fabregas,amongst many others, have played Futsal todevelop their skills.

Pele, World Cup Winner: 1958, 1962 & 1970

Futsal was important in helping to developmy ball control, quick thinking, passing…also for dribbling, balance, concentration…Futsal was very, very important, no doubt.

Robinho, Brazil

I played Futsal for many years and it helpedme to become the player I am today. There youdon't have time to think, you are alwaystightly marked and you develop a sense forperforming in small spaces.

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It is widely played across theworld, and is the small sidedfootball format that is officiallyrecognised by both UEFA and FIFA.

The nature of the game places alarge emphasis on technical skilland ability in situations of highpressure, and is subsequently anexcellent breeding ground forfootball competencies that canbe translated into the 11-a-sideformat of the game.

Futsal began in Uruguay andBrazil where the large crowdedcities and a shortage of playingpitches forced a football madpopulace to play small sidedfootball and in 1936 the firstrules emerged. Futsal was thename chosen by FIFA, which issimply a combination of theSpanish words for ‘hall’ (Sala)and ‘football’ (Futbol): hence ‘Futsal’.

What isFutsal?

Futsal is a five-a-sidegame, normally played ona flat indoor pitch withhockey sized goals and asize four ball with areduced bounce. It isplayed to touchlines andall players are free toenter the penalty area andplay the ball over head height. Games are20 minutes per half,played to a stopping clock(similar to basketball) with time-outs permitted.

There are a number ofdifferences to ourtraditional version of smallsided football, but thedominant elements arethe absence of reboundboards and amendmentsin the laws that encourageand foster skilful, creativeplay above the physicalcontact that tends to be afeature of English five-a-side.

THE BASIC RULES

Ronaldinho, FIFA WorldFootballer of the Year2004 & 2005

Futsal is anextremely importantway for kids todevelop their skillsand understandingof the game. Mytouch and mydribbling have comefrom playingFutsal.

In Futsal youhave to thinkquickly and playfast. It's a greatenvironment inwhich to learn.

I really likedplaying Futsal.Futsal helped mea lot.

Zico, 88 games & 66 goals for Brazil

Luis Fabiano, Brazil

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Futsal is the dominant form of small sided football across the world.

Over 96 countries entered theFIFA Futsal World Cup held inBrazil in 2008. Along with aWorld Cup for Futsal, there is aUEFA European FutsalChampionship for internationalteams to enter every two yearsand there is an annual UEFAFutsal Cup which acts as the“Champions League” for Futsal,with national domestic clubchampions entering. The rapidgrowth and development ofFutsal is acknowledged byFIFA, who claim that it is the“fastest growing indoor sport in the world.”

FIFA, UEFA and The FA arekeen to support thedevelopment of Futsal for anumber of reasons, butprimarily for the recognisedbenefits that Futsal offers forthe technical development offootball players. Many countriesthat we admire for thetechnical skills of their playersuse Futsal as an aspect of theiryouth development. Ballretention, quick and skilful play,and tactical awareness are allmajor assets that the game ofFutsal helps to promote.

On top of thistestament from arespected coach,world-class foreignplayers that weadmire in England fortheir silky touches,wonderful vision andamazing ball-controlopenly attribute animportant element oftheir skill developmentto their involvement in Futsal.

WorldFutsal

Futsal is a good starting point for afootballer, we need to take advantageof what Futsal has to offer.

The Brazilian 2002 World Cup winning coachLuiz Scolari has commented that:

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The FA Futsal Cupwas established in 2004offering competitive Futsalopportunities for both men’sand women’s Futsal teamsthrough local qualifyingleagues, to regional finalsand onto the three-dayNational Finals. In 2009 over500 teams from across thecountry entered The FAFutsal Cup.

British Universitiesand BritishColleges FutsalChampionships aretwo competitions that havebeen going from strength-to-strength over recentyears with a large number ofcolleges and universitiesacross Britain entering maleand female teams. Thegrowth of university andcollege Futsal is significantlyimportant for the ongoingdevelopment of the game.

The FA NationalYouth FutsalFestival has beenrunning since 2007 toencourage young people toparticipate in Futsal. Boys’and girls’ teams from acrossthe country between theages of 10 – 16 years oldprogress through regionalfestivals to reach theNational Youth FutsalFestival. This event is hugelypopular and is helping topromote the game withinschools and youth clubs.

Futsal….it makes you more composed on the balland makes you want the ball more, so you can dosomething with it.“

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Micah Richards, England’s youngest capped defender

in englandFutsal

Since 2003 The FA have been supporting theintroduction of Futsal in England.

During that time thegame has grown rapidly.From humble beginningswithin this country, withlimited awareness andeven more limitedstructures, The FA hasestablished a frameworkfor promoting anddeveloping the sport.

To support the growth anddevelopment of Futsal, The FA has been workingclosely with schools,teachers and young peopleacross the country to buildthe awareness andunderstanding of Futsal.The FA has also introduceda Futsal Referees Courseand runs high-qualityFutsal Coaching Courses.

England SeniorMen s Team enters theFIFA Futsal World Cup andUEFA European FutsalChampionships as well asplaying a number ofinternational friendlymatches each season. TheEngland team draws theirplayers from the leadingFutsal clubs that play in theFA National Futsal Leagues.

FA National FutsalLeagues wereestablished in 2008 and arecomprised of three regionaldivisions (North, Midlandsand South) with eight teamsin each division that playthroughout the season. Thetop two teams from eachleague progress to theGrand Finals to contest thetitle of National FutsalChampions. The NationalChampions progress into theUEFA European Futsal Cupto represent England.

Futsal is still a relatively new sport in England.

Futsal Pitch dimensions The minimum pitch dimensions are 25m x 15mThe maximum pitch dimensions are 42m x 25m

Getting startedPlaying futsal:

Futsal PitchIdeally the game shouldbe played indoors in anyappropriately sizedschool or communitysports hall. At arecreational level wewould suggest that theminimum pitch size is 25metres by 15 metres witha run-off around the pitchof two metres. The floorsurface should bewooden or a suitablesynthetic floor that issmooth and flat. Pitchmarkings can be laiddown with tape.

Although we wouldrecommend playing thegame indoors, at anintroductory stage there isno harm in playingoutdoors as long as thesurface is hard and firm.Futsal can be played onartificial grass, but thissurface does slow thepace of the game. For thisreason Futsal shouldn’t beplayed on grass.

This means you mayfind difficulties infinding anappropriately sizedcourt or are unable toaccess proper Futsalgoals. But try not tobe put off by this; inessence Futsal is asimple game that at arecreational level canbe played anywhere.

EquipmentIt is important to know what types ofequipment are needed when playing Futsal.

Futsal

Futsal goals

Futsal goals are threemetres by two metres indimension and inflatablegoals can be purchasedas well as the strongermetal goals. Futsal goalsare very similar to hockeyor handball goals, andthese alternatives couldbe used if you arestruggling to accessproper Futsal goals. Aswith any form of football,do make sure that thegoals are safe and securebefore you start playing.

Futsal ball

In order to play a gamethat truly resemblesFutsal you will need aproper Futsal ball, asthese are smaller andheavier than a normalfootball. The Futsal ball isan essential component,and if neglected in favourof a normal 11-a-sidefootball the essence andnature of the game willsubstantially be altered.

Futsal Referees

At elite levels of thegame, three referees anda timekeeper are requiredto officiate a Futsalmatch. At a recreationallevel this is not essentialbut the job of effectivelyrefereeing a game andmanaging the time can bechallenging for oneperson to do on their own.

of the gameFutsal laws

The official Laws of Futsal are available to download from the FIFA website,www.FIFA.com

The PitchFutsal is played on a markedpitch and the ball can go outof play.

Head HeightThere are no height restrictions.

SubstitutionsUp to 12 players can be usedin one match and there is nolimit on how long a playermust stay on or off the pitch.Players must enter and leavethe field of play from in frontof the respective team’sbench.

GoalkeepersGoalkeepers are allowed tocome out of, and players areallowed to go into, the penalty area.

Here is an abridgedversion to provide asimple introduction tothe principles ofFutsal, and to assist indifferentiating thegame from otherversions of 5-a-sidefootball.

Kick InIn order to restart the gameafter a ball has gone out ofplay the ball is kicked backinto play from the touchlineand from corners. The ballmust be placed stationaryon the touchline and the feetof the player taking the kick in must not cross the line.

The Five MetreRulePlayers are required to keepfive metres from the player inpossession of the ball on freekicks, corners, goal clearances,kick ins and penalties.

Red CardsIf a player is sent off then theteam to which the playerbelongs must remain with fourplayers until either twominutes have passed, or theopposition have scored a goal.

The Four SecondRuleFor kick ins, free kicks, goalclearances and corner kicksthe player in possession ofthe ball has four seconds torestart play which thereferee will count with theirfingers in the air. If play isn’trestarted within fourseconds an indirect free kickwill be awarded to theopposing team. Thegoalkeeper is not allowed tocontrol the ball for morethan four seconds in his own half.

Back Passes A goal clearance must bethrown out and thegoalkeeper cannot touch theball again unless anopposition player hastouched the ball or if thegoalkeeper is passed theball in the opponents’ half.

Accumulated FoulsEach team will be allowed togive away five direct freekicks in each half of thegame, then on the sixth foula direct kick will be awardedto the opposing team andthe defending team is notallowed to position anyplayers (other than the goalkeeper) between the balland the goal. The kick maybe taken from the 10 metremark or, if the foul wascommitted closer to the goalthan the 10 metre mark, thenthe kick may be taken fromthe position where the foultook place.

DurationMatches are played with astopping clock (real time)whereby the clock will bestopped whenever the ballgoes out of play or whenthere is a stoppage in thegame. Futsal games consistof two halves of 20 minutes.

TimeoutsEach team is permitted onetimeout of 60 seconds each half.

For further informationon Futsal, visit thefollowing sites:

www.TheFA.comwww.FIFA.comwww.UEFA.comwww.futsalplanet.com