Why choose futsal? Reflections from the National Futsal Course

Why choose futsal? Reflections from the National Futsal Course

In this blog Matt Jepson, a grassroots football and futsal coach shares his reflections on the National Futsal Course he recently attended in the hope that others might take their next step into giving it a go.

Where did it start?

The first time I became aware of futsal was a number of years ago when I was working in America. Unfortunately, at that time, I was not in a position to look into it properly, and as such, dismissed it merely as 'like indoor football.' 

Of course there are similarities, but to leave it there would be doing futsal a gross disservice. 

As mentioned, a few years have passed since, and I kept hearing about fustal - indeed, where I work, we send many of our players to futsal as well, and I decided I needed to know more. I could not promote something I didn't know about, and similarly, I didn't want to dismiss something twice, when it wasn't going away and others I respect, seemed to rate it. 

An additional factor is my personal circumstances. My son and my nephew are starting their respective football journeys, and i wanted to see if it was something I thought would benefit their development. Lastly, I wanted to see if it was something I wanted to coach. 

The National Futsal Course

Fortunately for me, there was a National Futsal Course running in my local area, and that gave me the opportunity to get involved. 

The course was brilliant, and I would urge anyone involved in football or futsal to give it a go. 

I would be remiss not to mention that the staff were first class, and made the two face to face days really enjoyable. Having passed the course prior to writing this, I can say that without trying to earn any preferential assessment! 

We covered an awful lot, but not at a pace that seemed to leave anyone behind. 

Personally, there was a lot to learn about futsal, but the work I did before attending the course certainly helped, including the free online introductory module. 

There are so many benefits to the game, it is hard to over-state them.  For me, coaching is always about the players, and I will be urging anyone and everyone to play futsal if they have the opportunity. 

So what did I take from the course? 

So many reasons why futsal is a game all young players should be playing. Perhaps the biggest for me, is simply the amount of touches on the ball - there are so many, incorporating all surfaces of the foot. Players have to manipulate the ball, and problem solve all the time. Isn't that the game - whether it is football or futsal? 

There are some nuances to certain techniques in futsal, like sometimes having to lift the ball on a pass to get it over someone's foot, or shooting using a toe-poke for disguise and power, but doesn't that only expand a players repertoire and their technical ability if they have an extra option to football and have to make decisions about whether or not to use these techniques in different situations? 

The rules are a bit different, but lots of fundamental principles carry across both formats and actually the different rules give you different benefits for the kids. Like for example, the goalkeeper can only touch the ball once in a phase of play, but this makes the outfielders have to be clever and find ways to play forwards. The synergy between the games, and the mutual benefits far outweigh any negatives or potential confusion that some different rules may cause in my view. 

Futsal really emphasises movement off the ball - no bad thing if you wish to see more of that in football. 

Receiving the ball in tight areas, dribbling one v one, combination play - all regular features of futsal, and all usually admired in football. 

What has been the impact on me since the course?

As coaches, it challenges us to think, learn, adapt - all positives!  Just watching the Premier League since, I have noticed players doing things that I am sure go back to their futsal playing in their youth.  Unfortunately from an English perspective, it seems to be mainly non-English players that I have noticed doing 'futsal moves' but it has been interesting nonetheless. 

My football coaching has already improved having attended the course, and the players will benefit as a result. Participating as a player during the course (don't panic, you don't have to!) made me think and try and solve the problems my players will have and face. Starting something as a novice again was particularly powerful and useful, especially if you work with younger players, or players new to either football or futsal. Now I am more aware of how they might be feeling when I am sharing information with them.

It is not all just about attacking either. I have already passed on information to the players about how to use their bodies to manipulate opponents when defending because the physicality in futsal was more than you may imagine. Similarly, from more of a team and shape perspective, the spacing when defending is something that futsal has really sharpened my focus back on and now my teams are more compact and more difficult to beat individually. The detail from the course can be scaled up and down as needed based on ages and abilities, but it gave me lots to think about.

Summary

If we can develop technically better players who are more comfortable on the ball, it can only be a positive.  The pace of the game is quicker than football, and players have to execute their decisions under pressure in key moments. Tactically there is masses going on, and transitions can be even more deadly than they perhaps are in football. 

if you look for reasons to dismiss futsal, you can potentially find them. However, if you have an open mind, and are willing to consider it, I believe it can only add to your coaching toolbox, or your players' abilities, or most likely, both. 

I went into the course unsure whether futsal was going to be for me, for my two boys, and for my teams, and I came away utterly convinced that the answer is yes it absolutely is to all three.

I only wish I had found it sooner!

If you have any questions or thoughts, please feel free to post below.