What is Futsal?

Futsal is a variation of soccer played on a hard court, usually indoors. The sport is more intense than soccer and is played with two teams of 5 (including a goalie) instead of soccers two teams of 11. The futsal court is typically sectioned out with lines and played with a smaller, harder ball that doesn’t have as much bounce. The game primarily focuses on passing in smaller spaces and emphasizes ball control. Futsal encourages players to build upon creativity and improvisation, which sets it apart from soccer. During the game, there is a constant rotation of players. 

History 

Futsal, or “5 a side soccer”, originated in Uruguay in 1930. Juan Carlos Ceriani created the game for youth soccer players to improve their skillset. Futsal, sometimes referred to as mini soccer quickly became popular in brazil. The polished skillset of some of Brazil’s greatest soccer players can be attributed to the hours they spent playing Futsal. As a result, Futsal has spread globally and become a top-rated game for soccer lovers.

Futsal, the internationally accepted term for the game, is a hybrid of the Spanish word “FUTbal” for soccer and “SALa” for indoor. In 1992, the president of FIFA approved the name and incorporated it into Article 27, which states. “The committee for soccer that is played in reduced areas called Salon Soccer or Five-a-Side shall from now on be called FUTSAL.”.

Benefits of Futsal

One of the most significant advantages of playing Futsal is that players touch the ball much more often than in a typical soccer game. A Liverpool University study reported that futsal players touch the ball around six times more frequently per minute than in soccer. Futsal is also known to improve reaction time, increase kicking power (due to the weight of the ball), and aids in the development of confidence in the sport to go 1v1 against opponents. 

Conclusion

Futsal is an engaging and positive sport that helps players sharpen their skillsets and have fun. In the United States, Futsal remains a rapidly-growing sport, with considerable popularity in Boston. Many people have petitioned for a professional league or started amateur groups of their own. Watch semi-final highlights of the match between the Argentinian and Portuguese futsal teams from the Futsal World Cup in Colombia here. Have questions about bringing a Futsal court to your home, gym, or rec center? Contact us today!