5v5  Fútbol one of the most enjoyable games in the world. Adults love it, kids love – so why do we think they (kids) won’t enjoy playing it for much later then they do?

Whether it’s 5v5 outdoor or Futsal ‘Futbol Sala’, one thing is for sure better skills development and more touches.

Isn’t it ironic that most adults end up playing 5v5 when they give up playing 11v11….

So why to we play 5v5?

More involvement:

• People of all abilities are able to participate.
• It’s almost impossible for a player to drift out of a  game, they must interact and get involved.
• The game is easy to organize and can be played anywhere at anytime.
• Players can take an active part in the game and have some fun without pressure from parents, coaches or managers.
• It encourages teamwork, and develops children’s technical skills.

More touches

• 100 of touches of the ball, in fact 12 times then they football on a 11 aside pitch.
• Not only are players guaranteed more touches, but the majority of these touches are under pressure from opponents. It is very difficult to touch a ball in 5v5 without being under pressure from an opponent.
• More touches under pressure = more experience under pressure = more confidence and composure under pressure = better performance.

Fun

• Plenty of goals are scored.
• You can play in many positions.

Health

• You exercise far more then you would on a larger pitch.
• Your passing will improve and become more accurate.
• You can shoot from distance and you will hit the target.
• On a full size soccer pitch and can fit up to 12 5v5 pitches.

Pele, World Cup Winner: 1958, 1962 & 1970

“5v5 was important in helping to develop my ball control, quick thinking, passing… also for dribbling, balance, concentration…5v5 was very, very important, no doubt.”

Futsal and 5v5 Benefits

Foot skills – instead of touching the ball less than ten times in a 30 minutes outdoor half, during a Futsal or 5 aside game, players will be able to touch the ball close to a hundred times in each half. Their foot skills will develop rapidly: it is a constant passing game spiced up with some individual flair of dribbling skills.

Whole body workout – from the mind (visualizing and hearing, information processing and deciding, then quickly acting upon) through the body (movements such as twisting, turning, jumping, running, dribbling, passing, shooting, diving carried out constantly; and sweating a whole lot) to the spirit (experiencing excitement, fulfilled with the joy of playing in a non-stop fashion) – the whole person is involved in an intense, challenging and fun experience. . . . There is no comparison!

Small sided environment – the players will be exposed to numerous 1v1, 1v2, 2v1, 2v2 situations. These are key elements of the 11v11 game also. If a team and its players are not good in 1v1 and 2v2 situations, and if they can not perform efficiently and successfully in those small fragments of the game, then they won’t be able to perform successfully on the big field when they play the 11v11 game. It is like a big puzzle that is missing small pieces (isn’t it frustrating?). The outdoor game is never an 11v11 fight. It is a 1v1, 2v1, 3v2 battle (e.g.: right wing vs. left back, etc.).

Finishing and GK training – shots are fired and saves being made in every ten seconds!

Additional GK training – it will allow the goal keeper to be an active part of the team both in attacking and defending without any break. He/she won’t have the chance to “zone out” and take a mental break.

Quick thinking – the ball and the players are moving fast. The minimal time to process the information presented by the actual situation demands quick execution. Also, at every restart the ball has to be released in less than 4 seconds.

Reading and anticipating the flow of the game – quicker thinking and responding will enhance the player’s ability to read the flow of the game better and ahead of time. Playing proactively rather than just reacting to the game will bring success on the Futsal court, and will transfer over to the soccer field.

Transition – teams attack and defend together. In soccer (in the 11v11 game also!) once we lose the ball we are all defenders, when we win the ball back now we are all attackers. Given the small number of players and the tight space provided, in Futsal this is more emphasized. Winning and losing possession of the ball will happen quickly; hence changing gears from defense to attack and attack to defense require super fast execution in the mind and in the feet.

Opportunity to develop self discipline – officials are strictly enforcing the modified rules of Futsal. It is a game of finesse with quick mind and quick feet. Similar to basketball, in Futsal teams can collect one too many foul and they will be penalized. A penalty kick will be awarded against them.

“5v5 in football is the equivalent of the 10 x table in maths, its age appropriate and allows kids to improve week after week”.

A brief history of futsal

• Devised by Juan Carlos Ceriani in Uruguay in 1930 as a form of five-a-side to be played in YMCAs.
• Futsal is a fusion of the Spanish/Portuguese words for football (futbol) and hall (sala).
• The game is predominantly played indoors on a basketball court-size pitch, with hockey-size goals and a smaller, heavier ball with a restricted bounce. Goalkeepers and players taking corners or kick-ins (no throw-ins allowed) are allowed only four seconds to distribute the ball.
• Fifa research this year revealed 150 of the 209 member associations were now playing futsal – an 18% rise on 2006. The rise in participation was most marked among in Africa.
• The German FA hosted its first futsal coaching course last month.
• As well as being the game of choice for youngsters in South America, it is also played in schools in Spain and Portugal up to the age 11 – as well as at the famed Barcelona academy, La Masia.
• The Ireland adults’ futsal team was formed in 1983 and you will be shocked to hear. The team was restarted in 2008 – They have never qualified for the Uefa Futsal Championship or the Fifa World Futsal Cup and are ranked outside the world ranking table – The team is inactive according to FIFA Spain are in 1st.