“During my A lot of moves I childhood in make originate , all we from . It’s played was futsal,. played in a very The small playing small space, and area helped me the control is improve my close different in futsal. control, and And to this day whenever I played Futsal their way out of tight situations with a clever pass or piece of individual skill. Increased game awareness and movement off the ball occur Futsal is the only FIFA and NZ approved version of five-a- quickly and naturally. side football and the world’s fastest growing indoor . The name futsal is derived from the Portuguese words futebol (football) and sala Case Study - (hall). Obviously we know Brazil is one of the Futsal is a small-sided game played with a smaller (size 3 or 4) low most prominent footballing nations in bounce ball, on a sized court without rebound walls or nets. the world and have been for some It is a game which combines fun, creativity, speed, technique, time , producing players like Ronaldo, teamwork and quick thinking. Kaka, , and . With millions of players worldwide, futsal is a fantastic game in its own right, with professional leagues throughout Europe, Why are they so successful? and Asia and a FIFA Futsal World Cup every four years. One of the reason is they play Futsal up until they are 14 and then are faced Futsal also produces technically excellent players and as such is an with a decision to decide which route invaluable tool for football they take. development. Futsal actively promotes: These players dedicate a lot of their success to playing Futsal through their – individual ball skills, close development stage as youngsters. control and – creativity and improvisation Futsal, FIFA and NZF – maintenance of ball possession – one- passing (along the NZF is working together with FIFA and Oceania Football Confederation ground) (OFC) to actively promote all forms of football, to improve the technical – accurate shooting ability of its players while at the same time increasing its player and – teamwork and off the ball supporter base, and the launch of the NZ Futsal programme is movement. recognition of futsal’s significance and potential, and the beginning of World superstars such as Pele, , Ronaldinho, , enhanced development of that format of the game. Cesc Fabregas and have all acknowledged the role Futsal is the only form of indoor football endorsed by FIFA and OFC and futsal has played in their football development. therefore enjoys similar pathways and benefits to the outdoor version of Futsal also has superstars of its own, with players such as Falcao and the game. Schumacher (Brazil), Javier Rodriguez () and Elliot Ragomo Most notably, NZF-selected national teams will compete in FIFA () fast becoming household names in their own recognised futsal competitions, including the OFC Futsal countries Championships and qualifying matches for the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Futsal and Football Why choose Futsal?

Futsal has the ability to be a The priority in Futsal is to motivate positive influence in New players in an environment that is Zealand football, just as it conducive to learning. The more has been in Brazil, Spain, pleasure kids derive from their Ireland, and a huge participation, the more they wish to number of other countries, play and practice on their own. including those within our While their instinct to play is own Oceania Confederation. natural, their affection and appreciation for Football must be Football cultivated. Futsal is the foundation recognise the pathways this to such goals because it: popular game offers for players, coaches, administrators at both local and international level.  Allows players to frequently touch the one "toy" on the field, namely, the ball. Bringing futsal into the NZ Football structure also ensures the New Zealand futsal experience can be delivered in a manner that is  Presents many opportunities to score goals and score goals consistent with and complementary to NZ Football’s Whole of Football often. Development Plan.  Encourages regaining possession of the ball as a productive, Futsal is a ‘pure’ form of football. While at an elite level, futsal is a fun and rewarding part of the game (defending). highly tactical and even choreographed game, in its most basic form  Maximizes active participation and minimizes inactivity and futsal is a fun and simple game that requires no coaching – the game boredom. is the teacher! With its emphasis on fun and creativity futsal is the ideal introduction to football to the first time and social player.  Provides a well organized playing environment with improvised fields. The smaller, weighted ball with restricted bounce makes it easier for young or inexperienced players to master their ball control skills. As a  Reflects the philosophy of player development expressed in result, players very quickly experience improved dribbling, passing state and national coaching schools. and close control.  Eliminates complicated rules such as off-sides that may The dimensions of the futsal court, lack of rebound walls and reduced hinder youngsters from "playing". number of players means players are ‘always in the game’, having on  Reflects the appropriate roll of the coach as a Facilitator. average around 12 times more touches per game than they do in  Makes the game more "beginning coach" friendly because the outdoor 11-a-side football. game is simpler, thus making it easier to recruit more volunteer "coaches". Continuity of Play Key Areas Action is continuous so players are forced to continue the play instead of stopping and watching.

Rewards Knowledge FIFA's Futsal rewards the same basic skills, tactics and knowledge of With four court players and all the basic options of the outdoor game in the game as the 11v11 outdoor game. non-stop action mode, players' understanding of the game is enhanced.

Ball Touches Framing the Goal In a statistical study comparing Futsal to indoor Football with The goal and Penalty Area are a perfect size for narrowing the angle so walls, players touch the ball 210% more often. teams learn to frame the goal to score goals.

Ball Control Encouraged Learning With limited space, an and constant opponent FIFA's Laws Of The Game of Futsal, encourage playing a skilled game pressure, improved ball control skills and technique are required. by punishing all physical contact fouls.

Speed of Play Fun With limited space, constant opponent pressure and a 4 second Players enjoy the challenge of playing a fast-paced-fun-skill-oriented