Futsal: Fun, Fast, and Focused.
Recognized internationally by every sport confederation and known as football in its purest form, Futsal originated from South America in the 1930s. The word Futsal means room or indoor football. This sport emphasizes close control, passing, and dribbling between players. Let’s look at how a sport originally developed to play on a basketball court has now taken the world by force.
Indoor football with 5 players
Futsal is a modified form of soccer played with five players per side on a smaller, typically indoor field. The official FIFA and UEFA version of Futsal rewards the same basic skills, tactics, and knowledge of the game as the 11v11 game. The maximum number of substitutes allowed is nine, but when the ball is in play, players that are coming off must leave the field before the substitute can enter the playing field.
The Futsal ball is a less bouncy version of a regular soccer or football. The ball is either a size three or four and is made of slightly weighted leather. This reduces the bounce factor by 30%.
The game is fast-paced and intense. In a study comparing Futsal to indoor arena soccer with walls, the ball is touched 210% more by players. If you’re not getting enough action in regular indoor soccer, Futsal could be the answer!
Emphasis on skills
Futsal players requires pace, skill, teamwork, and high drama in order to master the game. Players need precision to hit a small goal that is three metres by two metres. The limited space on the field results in a constant opponent pressure, so improved ball control skills and technique is a must.
Given the hard court surface and a four second restart rule, players have to learn to play and think fast. There is no time to stop and watch with this sport! The action is continuous and supporting runs are crucial when a teammate has the ball.
The sport is growing furiously in North America. In Ontario alone, there are approximately 4000 registered Futsal players and an estimated 5000 more playing recreationally.
Futsal at High Velocity Sports
High Velocity Sports is a sports dome in in Canton, Michigan and one of the sports drawing athletes to this bubble is Futsal. Players will find this Futsal field in Victoria Park and the dome has become Canton’s premier indoor sports complex. Their Futsal offering enriches the soccer program and many players play both. HVS describes Futsal on their website as ‘soccer on basketball courts’.
Rental opportunities are available for all sports such as soccer, basketball, football, dodgeball, and volleyball. Futsal is a great offering within multisport domes like this one.
Futsal is a fast-paced-fun-skilled-oriented game that tests the abilities of all players. What’s even better? This sport takes place indoors which means weather conditions wouldn’t hinder the performance of players. The call for creativity, improvisation, and technique is what you need during a match. So grab your shin guards, lace up your shoes, and bounce over to a Futsal court near you.