What is Futsal and why is it good for soccer development ?

Futsal is an important (all-weather) alternative to grass soccer enhancing their skills in other areas of their game that will not be tested as much in grass soccer games

ECSS has formed a highly experienced Futsal Coaching team who cannot wait to take our players to the next level!​​

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Futsal is played indoors (all-weather) in teams of 5 and is the foundation of Brazilan Soccer. This is where the best Brazilan players start their footballing journey before progressing into grass soccer.

To develop as a player on grass they simply just need the ball at their feet as much as possible. Futsal is all about caressing and touching the ball. The necessity of close control to keep the ball in the court gives them more touches, more shooting opportunities, and more skill execution opportunities all in a confined space. These are all essential parts of the game that would enhance their skills development.

Research indicates that individuals playing Futsal receive the ball 9 times more often than they would do when they are playing normal small-sided Soccer games and 11 aside also, which allows players to perform more individual techniques such as passes, controls, fakes, feints, dribbles and runs with the ball (Liverpool John Moores University, 2001)

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Benefits of Futsal Include:

1.  Improves players decision-making skills

2.  Confidence on the ball

3.  Provides players with more touches on the ball

4.  The heavier ball increases the power of players

5.  Develops confidence in players to go 1v1 against their opponent

6.  It allows players to be creative in getting around their opposition

7.  It improves reaction time

 

The Futsal game naturally brings players into regular one-on-one situations with their opponent, encouraging players into quick decision making as to how they overcome these scenarios; this could be through beating the opponent with a skill, or through clever passing to a team-mate.

One of the core attributes Futsal teaches young players is the importance of ball retention due to the threat of an immediate counter-attack. Confidence on the ball, receiving a pass under pressure, decision-making in 1v1 situations, and ball retention are all important fundamental skills that we look to develop in young football players that are practised regularly within a game environment in Futsal

Here’s what some of the football legends had to say about Futsal....

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Cristiano Ronaldo, 106 games & 43 goals for Portugal

“During my childhood in Portugal, all we played was Futsal. The small playing area helped me improve my close control, and whenever I played Futsal I felt free. If it wasn’t for Futsal, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.”

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Pele, World Cup Winner: 1958, 1962 & 1970

“Futsal was important in helping me to develop my ball control, quick thinking, passing also for dribbling, balance, concentration…. Futsal was very, very important, no doubt”

“No time plus no space equals better skills.

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Dr Emilio Miranda, Professor of Soccer at University of Sao Paolo, Brazil

" Futsal is our national laboratory of improvisation.” 

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Below is an article from the English Football Association on Futsal:

http://www.thefa.com/learning/coaching/5-reasons-why-young-players-should-try-futsal-this-winter