Futsal is the only version of five a side football recognised by UEFA and FIFA. It is extremely popular in South America and Europe with professional adult leagues and UEFA and FIFA competitions such as the UEFA European Futsal Championship and the FIFA World Futsal Championship. Futsal is widely regarded by coaches as a useful tool to support player development. The FAW and Welsh Football Trust see Futsal as an opportunity to support the strategic aims of the organisation and provide opportunities for people in Wales.

Futsal as a game is five a side football, played on a flat indoor pitch with hockey sized goals and a size 4 ball with a reduced bounce. It is played to touchlines and all players are free to enter the penalty area and play the ball over head height. In Futsal players are constantly placed in situations where they must receive or play whilst under pressure or in confined spaces. The demands of the game mean players must develop excellent technical ability, vision and awareness, decision making under pressure and cope with the fast paced physical requirements of the game.

The name Futsal simply combines the Spanish words for ‘Hall’ – Sala and ‘Football’ – Futbol into Futsal.

A number of high profile football players have grown up playing Futsal in their country as young players. From Pele to Ronaldinho and Robinho, the game of Futsal has proved a valuable tool in developing the skills and techniques used in football.

For young players Futsal is a great development tool. The game is fun, exciting and enjoyable. Futsal provides the opportunity for many touches of the ball to practice ball control, passing, dribbling and other fundamental techniques and skills of football. In addition vision, awareness and decision making under pressure are key aspects to Futsal that support the development of players for football. The skills and techniques in Futsal are directly transferable to football helping players learn and improve.

Futsal is ideally played on a hard court indoor surface similar to a basketball court. The principles of Futsal can be used on outdoor astro turf surfaces and Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). The goals used in Futsal are 2 metres in width and 3 metres in heght. Alternative mini football goals or mini pop up goals for very young players can be used. In Wales Futsal could be used as a valuable tool to support the development of players at all ages of the game. To find out more about Futsal see other pages of the website or contact the Futsal Development Officer

Richard Gunney

Futsal Development Officer

01443 844 113

richard@welshfootballtrust.org.uk