Futsal is a small sided version of Football that is played worldwide on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão, which can be translated as “hall football”.  It’s origins are in South America.

FIFA Governs the game of Futsal worldwide and through its member Federations is committed to developing the game. During the sport’s second world championships held in Madrid in 1985, the Spanish name fútbol sala was used. Since then, all other names have been officially and internationally changed to futsal.

It was developed in Brazil and Uruguay in the 1930s and 1940s as a solution to the lack of available football fields. In Brazil Futsal is played at an early age with players developing the skills required for both the indoor and the outdoor versions of the game. . Many of the world’s leading Football stars played Futsal first and then have moved on to playing the outdoor version of our wonderful game.

Futsal is played between two teams of five players each, one of whom is a goalkeeper. Unlimited substitutions are permitted. The game is played on a hard court surface limited by lines.  Some early forms of the game had walls to bounce the ball off which does not rely upon the players ability to control the ball.. Futsal is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regular football. The surface, ball and rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces. Control, Pass and Move is an expression of Futsal that when played at the highest level is outstanding to watch and even more exciting to be involved in. If you are in a smallsided team at your local football club. This coming Summer bring your whole team accross and register for Futsal.  You will see how much the game improves your skills and how Fun and Fast Futsal really is.