Futsal Soccer Moves


The game of futsal is very popular in Brazil, so it’s no wonder they produce so many skillful soccer players. On the futsal court there are no walls, like in indoor soccer, so you have to keep the ball and can’t use the wall as a way to pass the ball or keep the ball in bounds. And since it’s a small field, each player gets more touches on the ball during the game. Players also learn how to use their body and shield the ball since they have to play in tight spaces and under pressure.

Christian Pulisic played futsal growing up and he’s said it improved his technical ability and soccer skills in tight spaces. In fact, his dad, Mark Pulisic, who played professional indoor soccer, had to start a futsal league in his area just so Pulisic could play it since they didn’t have one.

The name futsal is derived from the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol sala, both of which mean hall football.

Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper; in addition each team may have a number of substitutes. Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the field is delimited by lines, and not nets or boards which the ball may be played off. The ball used tends to be slightly heavier and smaller (size 3+) than football, and thus promotes better ball control skills as well as passes on the ground. Furthermore, the smaller play area forces players to improve their skills and decision making.  – Wikipedia

 

"A lot of the moves I make originate from futsal. It’s played in a very small space, and the ball control is different in futsal. And to this day my ball control is pretty similar to a futsal player’s control." – Ronaldinho

Goalkeepers will also get a lot of benefit from playing futsal, as they often become an attacking player when their team has possession of the ball. Plus, in the modern game of soccer goalkeerpers have to be very skillful with their feet and can no longer hide out in goal when they team is on the attack.

Top teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich have keepers who can help their teams keep possession and build out of the back. They call these keepers sweeper keepers. That’s why futsal is good for goalkeepers who want to improve their touch on the ball and passing ability.

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