The Problem with Futsal

For those of you who are not aware of what futsal is, it is a game of soccer played on a basketball court sized area, with very small goals. Another big difference is that a futsal ball is smaller that a normal ball and weighs significantly more. The game of futsal is played very quick and very different to the real game of soccer and that is part of the reason why futsal does no good for the players in real soccer.

Many people really enjoy futsal because of its simplicity or they just love the alterations to the game of soccer. There is a very large professional futsal league that is very popular in Europe. So if you want to be a professional futsal player, go for it, however my problem with futsal is that it can prohibit your progression in real soccer. Using a smaller, heavier ball can ruin your touch on a real ball in a real 11 vs 11 game. Many youth teams play in an outdoor 11 vs 11 league and a futsal league, and I just believe that it stunts your game substantially.

A very good alternative is what me and my team does during the winter. Along with playing an outdoor league, we play soccer on a smaller field, with a normal ball, and with shorter and wider goals. I believe that this is a more proper alternative than futsal because you never lose your touch on a real ball. This game only increases your finishing skills and improve your close ball control.