Futsal: a positive transfer to football

Guide 5 - 11

UEFA funded research has suggested that playing futsal can help young players develop further, allowing them to enhance their football capabilities. In this article, The Boot Room summarises some of the findings.
For those involved with youth development and futsal, this summary will help consolidate what you see every time you coach your players.The conclusions drawn from this small-scale research - the summary of which is highlighted below - will provide even more evidence to convince coaches of futsal’s value to player development.

There are enough statements from some of the greats of world football endorsing the crucial role futsal played in their development, but this research goes a little deeper and makes some important points.

One of the most interesting ones regards attentional focus. A player knowing what’s going on around them in any invasion game is vital. When they then combine this with the ability to process lots of incoming visual data and quickly decide what’s useful and what’s not, it’s taking things to the next level.

The research has suggested that:

  • futsal players receive the ball with their heads up and scan the environment, whereas football players look at the ball
  • futsal players switch their attention between the ball and the environment more frequently
  • futsal players are able to transfer aspects of their game into playing a modified football game (more accurate passes, quicker pass execution, higher game intensity and quicker decision-making).

The research also looked into whether using other small-sided games would produce similar returns. It was found that using a hard surface and a heavier ball, as used in futsal, were important constraints that helped develop the quicker decision-making aspects reflected in the results.

Whilst the debate may rumble on, there have already been massive strides in the development of the game in this country. This Foundation Phase DNA fully supports the use of futsal to further help the development of young players.

There are huge gains in all four corners of development to be had from including futsal within your provision in the Foundation Phase.

The game is perfect for the stage of development the young children are in at this point because it challenges their technical, physical and psychological skills. There are also social gains to be made because the game includes rolling substitutions and all the aspects relating to tactical and strategic development for both players and coaches.

Overall, the evidence points towards futsal being able to play a major role in developing exciting players for the future.

If you wish to learn more about the sport, or want some inspiration for some sessions, view our futsal playlist by clicking here.

This article is based on UEFA funded research which was carried out by Luca Oppici.



To learn more about Foundation Phase DNA, click here.


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