Little-known fact: 

In top-level futsal, around 50% of goals involve a two-player move in the build-up. Combining with a teammate can also help a player to keep possession – or provide support if another member of their team is on the ball.  

Clearly, two-player moves are important. How they happen and what they look like depends on the context of your game. Some influencing factors include the location of a player, their teammates and their opposition.  

Examples of two-player moves  

• Diagonal pass, straight run 

• Straight pass, diagonal run 

• Wall pass

• Lending pass

• Overlap

• Screen

• Block

• Pass and follow

Note: all two-player moves require your team to be familiar with our attacking and defending core skills.  

How to defend against two-player moves 

As two-player moves often result in a goal, it’s important that your players know how to defend against them. Here are some simple tips that will help your team deal with most moves. 

1. Encourage your players to press their opponent and prevent any forward passes.  

2. When marking or tracking a run, encourage your team to:  

• position themselves side-on – this makes it easier to move backwards and forwards 
• identify when their teammates are applying pressure to the ball (and to what extent) 
• take a step back and put their arm into the chest of the opponent 
• anticipate when the opposition may make a forward run and remain goal side. 

Ok, so what about three-player moves?