Is Futsal Good For Soccer? How You Can Use Futsal to Develop Your Skills

In this post, I’ll tell you whether futsal is good for developing your soccer skills or not.

Futsal is a variant of soccer that’s played indoors on hard court surfaces with a smaller field.

But even though they’re different sports, futsal can be a good training tool for soccer players.

We’ll look at how futsal can benefit soccer skills in more detail.

In this post, you’ll also learn:

• Difference between futsal and soccer
• Benefits of futsal for soccer skills
• Potential drawbacks of futsal for soccer
• Famous players with futsal background
• And much more!

So, if you want to learn how futsal can help you improve your soccer skills, you’re in the right place.

Difference Between Futsal and Soccer

Futsal and soccer, though close relatives, have some key differences. These differences affect how the games are played.

The first major difference is the playing surface. Futsal is typically played indoors on a hard court. Meanwhile, soccer is commonly played outdoors on grass or turf fields.

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Then, the futsal ball is smaller and heavier. It also has reduced bounce compared to a soccer ball. This allows for better control and play in confined spaces of futsal.

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When it comes to duration, futsal matches consist of two halves of 20 minutes each. Soccer, on the other hand, has two halves of 45 minutes each.

Another difference is the number of players allowed per team. Futsal involves five players per team with unlimited substitutions. Meanwhile, soccer has eleven players per team with 3-5 substitutions allowed.

There’s also no offside rule in futsal. This promotes a more attacking and fast-paced game.

Finally, futsal is a faster-paced and higher-intensity game than soccer.

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Benefits of Futsal for Soccer Players

Futsal offers a treasure trove of benefits for soccer players, especially the youth.

Some of the benefits of futsal include:

• enhancing decision-making skills,
• increasing power due to the heavier ball,
• boosting confidence in 1v1 situations,
• fostering creativity in maneuvering around opponents,
• improving reaction time, and
• developing ball control and vision.

Now, let’s see how futsal provides these benefits to soccer players.

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Decision-Making Skills

The quick pace of futsal requires players to make rapid decisions. This improves their ability to think on their feet.

Then, the constant flow of the game fosters a deep sense of strategic thinking and spatial awareness in the players.

Moreover, the limited space and time force players to think ahead and predict the next moves.

Research has also shown that futsal players show

• faster reception time,
• more technical actions per minute,
• faster and more accurate passing execution, and
• ability to gaze less at the ball when receiving. Instead, focusing more on other players and the space around them.

Technical Skills

Playing futsal is a great way to improve your technical skills.

The smaller and heavier ball used in futsal rewards more precise handling. As a result, it improves your ball control and shot power.

Players in futsal also touch the ball far more frequently than in regular soccer. This leads to faster skill acquisition and improved touch.

Then, playing futsal also improves your passing accuracy and vision. This is due to an emphasis on sharp passing, quick combinations, and looking for angles and spaces.

Additionally, futsal compresses essential soccer skills into a smaller space. This forces the players to work on their technique under pressure.

Finally, the fast-paced nature of futsal also contributes to players developing quicker reactions.

Tactical Awareness

Playing futsal not only improves your playing ability but also increases your tactical awareness.

First, the smaller playing area in futsal forces players to adapt to changing situations. This promotes a deeper understanding of spatial relationships and strategic positioning.

Then, players in futsal must constantly read the game and make split-second decisions. They need to think ahead, recognize patterns, and adjust their tactics on the fly. All this sharpens their tactical acumen.

Physical Conditioning

Futsal improves the physical conditioning of soccer players by focusing on

• developing maximal speed,
• lower-body power and strength,
• aerobic capacity, and
• lean muscle mass.

Elite futsal players cover great distances with higher intensities during matches. They play with an average intensity of ≥85% maximal heart rate and ~80% maximum oxygen consumption.

So, elite futsal players exhibit better sprinting abilities compared to lower-level athletes.

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Potential Drawbacks of Playing Futsal

While futsal is a great training ground for soccer, we should also consider some of its drawbacks.

Some drawbacks of playing futsal for soccer players include:

• potential challenges related to transitioning between the two sports, and
• neglecting certain aspects of the outdoor game.

The tactics and strategies used in futsal are also different from soccer. So it can be hard for players to switch from one sport to the other seamlessly.

Since certain outdoor game elements are not used in futsal, it can also lead to players neglecting them. Some of these elements are:

• throw-ins,
• headers,
• free-kicks,
• offsides, and
• positioning.

For example, futsal is heavily reliant on ground play. This can make players less comfortable with heading the ball, a key skill in soccer.

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Are There Collegiate and Professional Opportunities in Futsal?

Yes, there are good professional opportunities in futsal in the UK. Universities in the U.K. offer futsal programs at various levels for both male and female players.

But as of 2024, futsal has limited scope when it comes to collegiate opportunities in the USA.

Only Westcliff University recognizes futsal as a collegiate sport at this moment. This can soon change though as more and more efforts are being put into making futsal a more recognized sport.

Some regions also have futsal leagues that serve as scouting grounds for professional soccer clubs.

So, you can be an appealing option for scouts if you have a strong futsal background.

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Successful Soccer Players with Futsal Backgrounds

Andres Iniesta

Known for his technical skills, Iniesta attributes part of his success to playing futsal.

In an interview, he said that he played futsal because that was all they had in the place he was growing up.

Football and futsal have a lot in common. There are different tactics and moves, but they’re the same essence of mastering the ball, combining, and making quick decisions.

Andres Iniesta

Andrey Arshavin

In an interview with UEFA, Andrey Arshavin shared his background in futsal. He used to play futsal at his university and in the St Petersburg championship.

I came through the Smena Football Academy, and during the long winter months the academy’s two halls with wooden floors were our home. We had futsal tournaments and I always liked to play because, as there are fewer players in futsal, there were more goals and dribbling opportunities. 

Andrey Arshavin

Dani Alves

A brazilian player having background in futsal should come as no surprise. In an interview, he shared how he loved to play futsal in his school.

I had the pleasure of playing futsal at school, and what futsal gives you is intelligence, it’s a thinking game. Why? Because you have a small space where man-marking is intense, so you have to be intelligent, and be very quick in your thinking and your movements.

Dani Alves

Neymar Jr.

Futsal helps a lot because you need to think quickly. It’s a more dynamic game and today in Europe, there’s not much space. So you need to think quicker and futsal has helped me a lot with that. Futsal is one of my passions.

Neymar Jr.

Lionel Messi

As a little boy in Argentina, I played futsal on the streets and for my club. It was tremendous fun, and it really helped me become who I am today.

Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo

During my childhood in Portugal, all we played was futsal. The small playing area helped me improve my close control, and whenever I played futsal I felt free. If it wasn’t for futsal, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.

Cristiano Ronaldo

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Thank You For Reading

So I hope you enjoyed learning how futsal can be good for soccer. If you did, then do consider sharing it with fellow soccer enthusiasts.

Your support and sharing of this content can help us reach a wider audience. It can also provide valuable information to more people who share our passion for the beautiful game.

I’d also like to hear what you have to say…

Do you play futsal? Or any other type of indoor soccer?

What are the most important skills you’ve gained from futsal?

Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below right now!

And thank you for supporting Soccer Mavericks!

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