A brief history of Futsal
(Main Source: http://www.holisticsoccer.com/futsal.htm)
Futsal has existed for a long time under various names such as: Five-a-Side, Street soccer, Indoor soccer, Mini soccer, Mini football. Futsal is the improved version of what almost all boys played in the streets of every European city.
In England a form of Futsal was played as English first division clubs pitted themselves against each other in "Six-a-Side" tournaments sponsored by the London Express newspaper in winter.
In the former Soviet Union a similar form of soccer was one of the most popular winter sports.
In the early 60's the Helder Indoor Soccer Organization (HZVO) was founded in Holland.
In Italy the game arrived in the 1950's and has been extremely popular since.
However, the origin of the modern game is attributed to South America, whichever of the two versions we would like to accept. One version claims that Juan Carlos Geriani
devised a 5-a-side version of soccer for youth competition in YMCAs in Montevideo, Uruguay in the 1930's and the other says that it started on the beaches of Brazil.
Whichever the truth, one thing is certain. The game was developed and gained its popularity in Brazil.
In 1954, all the States of Brazil agreed to common rules and in 1974, the international body FIFUSA (Federação Internationale de Futbebol de Salão) was established in São Paolo with its first president being João Havelange, later president of FIFA.
The first Futbebol de Salão international competition was held in 1965 when Paraguay won the first South American cup. Up to 1979, six more South American cups were held with Brazil winning all of them.
The 1st Pan-American cup was held in 1980 and again was dominated and won by Brazil.
The first World Championship conducted under the auspices of FIFUSA was held in São Paolo, Brazil, in 1982 with Brazil finishing yet again first.
The Brazilians were champions again in the 2nd World Championship in 1985 in Spain, but lost to Paraguay in 1988 in Australia.
The 1st F.I.F.A. World Championship took place in Holland in 1989 and the 2nd in 1992 in Hong Kong, Brazil winning both times. The 3rd F.I.F.A. World Championship played in 1996 in Spain and was won by Brazil. The 4th F.I.F.A. World Championship took place in 2000 in Guatemala with the Spaniards being the winners. The 5th World Championship will be held in Taiwan in 2004.
In the United States various forms of the game had been in existence before the U.S Minisoccer Federation was formed in January 1983 and was affiliated with FIFUSA.
Comparing Soccer and Futsal
SOCCER RULES FUTSAL RULES
#5 Ball # 4 Ball—30% less bounce 11 Players 5 Players
3 Substitutions Unlimited “Flying” Sub (12 Players on Team)
Throw-in Kick-in
Running clock Stopped clock 45 minutes halves 20 minute halves No Time-outs 1 Time-out per half Goal Kick Goal Clearance (throw)
Some contact No shoulder charges or sliding tackles
4 Second rule on restarts
Offside Rule No Offside Rule No Restrictions, but limited to
6 seconds
No Restrictions, but limited to 4 seconds
Unlimited fouling 5 Foul Limit - No wall for Direct Free Kick after 5th Foul
GK cannot touch by hand a ball kicked back
GK cannot touch by hand any ball played back
One back pass to GK
No sub for player sent off Player sent off can be substituted for after 2 minutes or other has scored
How does Futsal promote better skills?
Futsal is ideal for developing a player's technical and tactical skills.
Intelligence
Soccer is a very complex game. If we analyze every single game of its entire recorded history, we will not find two absolutely identical situations. Futsal is a totally fluid game with very few preplanned situations, which means a player has to improvise in order to meet constantly changing circumstances. Futsal is the ideal medium to develop soccer intelligence.
Technical proficiency
Futsal emphasizes skill rather than crude physical power. The smaller and heavier ball is a great instrument in promoting individual technical development. The number of ball touches a player gets is much greater than in conventional soccer, allowing the player to develop faster and more refined foot skills. One touch receiving and passing are used in wall passes and rotations and these certainly translate into success in the classic outdoor game.
Total soccer
The small numbers of players in a Futsal team makes it crucial for all players to defend and attack. There are not predefined positions which players stick to and get to develop typical defensive or attacking player mentalities.
This helps players become familiar with all positions in accordance with modern soccer requirements and creates the opportunity to solve lots of tactical problems under more pressure. Players learn not to relax and coast because the game is in constant transition with teams winning and losing the ball all the time.
Speed of play
Modern soccer is characterized by its fast pace. In Futsal, because of the tight space, the ball has to move faster between players' feet, helping players develop individual and team speed of play. This in turn forces players to make quicker technical and tactical decisions and gives them more confidence which they can apply to the outdoor game.
Fun
Goalkeeper development
TACTICS
Animated website plays
http://futsal-tactics.com/
Professional futsal is still a young game compared to its eleven-a-side parent; the tactics are evolving all the time.
Tactics
Coaches are able to make as many substitutions as they like, with higher-tempo teams, like Russian sides, tending to swap players more, even all four outfielders at once. Teams may utilise a single tactical system, be it a pressing game or a more defensive counterattacking strategy, but the astute use of player rotation can allow a coach several formations depending on the match. There is also the traditional ending to a tight game when a coach whose team is losing narrowly can take off his goalkeeper and use a fifth outfield player.
Formations
Formations are more fluid than in football, especially with the success in recent years of the '4-0' system which has grown in popularity due to its use by the exceptional Spanish national side. Also widely used is the 3-1, which relies on a 'pivot' forward to hold the ball after being cleared by the defence, 2-2 – where the players stay close together at all times - or the winger-utilising 1-2-1. It is a boon for teams to be able to switch to several different formations in varying match situations.
Defending
LANGUAGE AT PLAYING THE GAME…
Terminología básica/Basic Terms
English Español
Ball control Control de balón
Beating opponents Superar al adversario Down the line! Pasa sobre la línea! To dribble the ball Conducir, llevar la pelota Field players Jugadores de campo
Forward “Pivot” Pivote
A free kick Lanzamiento libre directo Goal-keeper (also Goalie or Keeper or
GK) Portero
A header Golpeo de cabeza
I’m open! Estoy libre!
Kick off Saque de centro
Left wing player Ala izquierdo
Moves Movimientos
One on one defense (also man to man defense)
Defensa individual
Out of “bounds” Fuera
Over here! Aquí! (pidiendo el balón) Referee (also “ref”) Árbitro
Right wing player Ala derecho Substitute (also “sub”) Jugador reserva
Stopper Central
The box Área
The centre line Linea del medio campo The goal line Línea de portería The side line Linea lateral
Stopped time Juego a “reloj parado”
To chip a ball “Picar” el balón por encima del adversario
To get open Desmarcarse
A kick in Saque de banda
Open Space Espacio libre
To pass Pasar
To receive the ball (to cushion or to trap the ball)
Controlar el balón
To shoot Disparar
To slide “Segar” o entrar por el suelo al adversario con balón
To tackle Tratar de robar el balón al adversario que lo tiene
Home Challenge
Futsal Match analysis.
Fill in the match analysis sheet. Pick any futsal game you can watch on TV.
Game date:
Home Team: Visitor Team:
Defending system (zone marking or one on one)
Starting pressuring on the ball at which spot/zone? (mid-court, own half court? Or opponent’s half court??,
Most repeated attacking routine is …(from the
defending zone to the finishing zone)*
Positions and names in the initial
formation:
o GK:
o Right wing
o Left wing:
o Forward “Pivot”:
o Sweeper or stopper:
o GK:
o Right wing
o Left wing:
o Forward “Pivot”:
o Sweeper or stopper:
Score:
