Futsal uses 10 core skills   

Five of them focus on attacking and five of them focus on defending. If players don’t master these skills, it’s harder for them to play the game.  

The attacking core skills are:  

• passing  
• receiving  
• moving with the ball  
• turning 
• finishing. 

To see these in action, watch the video below.   

To help your players improve their game, here are some handy tips for each skill.  

Passing the ball 

1. If your player attempts a lifted pass, encourage them to play it at about shin height. This means the ball is slightly airborne and moves over their opponent’s foot. It also gives teammates more time to get onto the end of the pass.  

2. If your player attempts a lofted pass, encourage them to lean back and strike through the bottom of the ball.  

Receiving the ball 

1. When receiving the ball, encourage your players to face forward. This might require a rolling touch or a stop touch, and it puts defenders on the back foot. 

2. If your players can’t face forward, encourage them to use their body as a barrier. It can help to stand side-on and keep the ball on the foot furthest from the defender. 

Moving with the ball 

1. If your player is faced up against an opponent encourage them to shuffle with the ball between their feet and be prepared to change speed by dragging the ball down the line, or dodging with it inside.  

2. If your player has a bit more space, encourage them to move quickly. However, they should still try to keep the ball close. This will allow them to dribble, pass or shoot at any moment. 

 
Turning with the ball 

1. If your player has their back to an opponent, they could try ‘rolling’ past them. Rolling involves using your body as a barrier to protect the ball as you spin it round the defender with the sole of your foot. It’s a great way to escape a tight marker.  

2. Encourage your team to practice turning in both directions. In futsal, space can get very tight – so players need to maximise their options.  

 
Finishing 

1. Encourage your team to try shooting high and hard at the near post. Keepers often sink into a low position, so this can be a very successful tactic. Shooting with power helps too. 

2. Encourage your team to shoot using their first touch. This means the other side has less time to react. This tactic can be tricky for younger players, so give them time to practice. 

What do you think? How about we check out the defending core skills too.