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is Futsal? Futsal is the official five-a-side indoor
soccer game and the only indoor soccer recognized by
FIFA. Futsal is beginning to take the country by storm
as more and more soccer players, coaches, clubs and
associations discover the unique and positive qualities
of Futsal. It is a game played around the world as many
of today’s world stars began their youth soccer by playing
Futsal. The Brazilians attribute their world soccer
success to Futsal. Pele, Zico, Socrates, Ronaldo and
Bebeto grew up playing Futsal and credit Futsal with
developing their skills. Futsal is a small-sided game
(5v5 including the goalkeepers) played on a small field
roughly the size of a basketball court. The game does
not require the use of dasher boards. It is played with
the touchline boundaries with no walls to bang the ball
against. The official ball is a special low bounce ball
that is heavier and smaller than an official size 5
soccer ball. The ball forces a player to use their skill
rather than the ball’s bounce to propel it. It is a
complete skill game. Futsal develops the overall fundamentals
of soccer more effectively. It has been proven that
youth players develop quicker reflexes, faster thinking
and pinpoint passing. It is a superior game in terms
of establishing players’ touch and technique. As compared
to the American indoor game where a player relies on
utilizing the walls, Futsal forces a player to think
two or three steps ahead without using the walls. One
touch passing is essential in maintaining ball possession
on a smaller surface. Therefore, an individual’s overall
ball handling skills and off the ball movement enhance
considerably. When a player gets in trouble with the
ball, there is no whacking it off the wall. Their split
second thinking improves automatically as one learns
how to maintain possession and distribute the ball quickly.
Shots must be more accurate, since a shot off target
will not produce a rebound. More shots are also taken
during the course of a game, which will enhance a player’s
confidence, by taking on a defender and shooting quickly.
A player does not have as much space or time to dribble
with the ball. Futsal helps to develop tremendous close
quarters footwork.
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