{"id":47737,"title":"Futsal: Are You Missing a Trick?","description":"Ronaldo, Messi, Coutinho and more began their football journey in the sports hall. Could futsal be what you need to develop your game and learn new skills.","content":"

From the Sports Halls to the Premier League<\/strong><\/h2>

Back in 2000, at eight years of age, a\u00a0young Philippe Coutinho was tearing defenders apart with his skills on the pitch. Even at the start of the millennium, the South American had a trick up his sleeve and an eye for goal. Skip forward to the modern day and you\u2019ll find not much has changed. He is still the same baby-faced Brazilian, deadly when going forward. The only thing now is that he shows his abilities on a full-sized pitch, and not in a futsal arena.<\/p>

Like legends of the game Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Coutinho started his footballing journey with this variation of the game. FIFA recognise futsal as the\u00a0fastest-growing indoor sport in the world<\/u><\/a>.\u00a0It\u00a0is fundamentally very similar to the association football that we all know. To put it simply: there is a ball, two teams, and a goal at each end.<\/p>

The style of play is much different to that of the nation\u2019s favourite game, however. The game is free-flowing, end-to-end, non-stop action. It is therefore very similar to basketball in many ways, with a focus on off-the-ball movement to support those that do have possession. Due to the tight areas players find themselves in, top players often perform flicks and tricks to beat their opponent when they have the ball. This is how skillful household names across the world have honed their talents.<\/p>

It is no coincidence that some of the world\u2019s best football players played the sport when younger. Watching the video at the beginning of this article, you can see elements in Coutinho\u2019s game that define his playing style. His compatriot \u2013 world-record signing Neymar Jr \u2013 told\u00a0FourFourTwo<\/u><\/a>\u00a0that futsal helped develop his own \u2018fast game and Brazilian smartness\u2019.\u00a0I mean, if it\u2019s good enough for Neymar\u2026.<\/em><\/p>

Futsal \u2013 A Key Development Tool<\/strong><\/h2>

But if the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar played futsal when they were growing up, why aren\u2019t we encouraging our players to do the same? Well, we are\u2026<\/p>

In September this year, the Football Association and the Football Foundation\u00a0launched a \u00a3300,000 Futsal Fund<\/u><\/a>. The aim is developing the game \u2013 which is played worldwide \u2013 here in England for those as young as twelve years of age. By working in partnership with the organisations, Kitlocker.com<\/a> this year helped provide a free Futsal Starter Pack \u2013 including goals, bibs and balls.<\/p>

The organisations are also offering coaching and refereeing courses for those who register for the fund, with county FAs, schools and more all encouraged to take part. By reducing the associated costs within the sport, the For Futsal fund gave clubs the ability to continue supporting their squad.<\/p>

\"7u39uwpd874zsjkio5uazw5o85n5uhw6n9djdkifkbfovbjz.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"<\/p>

Establishments nationwide are now giving more players opportunities in futsal. Charlie Hyman, director at\u00a0Bloomsbury Football Academy\u00a0in Central London, uses the sport to aid the progress of his players. He says that by using it as a \u2018key development tool\u2019 to compliment their football programme, they can develop their game massively in the way of the superstars Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar.<\/p>

\u201cBloomsbury Football Academy offers all talented young players the chance to be a part of a professional training programme, regardless of their financial background,\u201d Hyman told us. \u201cAs part of our programme, we offer a weekly futsal session for all age groups. The aim is helping to create technically proficient players that are able to make quick decisions in high-pressure situations. I believe both in futsal being played as its own game, but also using it as breeding ground for young players to enhance their football competencies.\u201d<\/p>

As Competitive as the \u2018Real Thing\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>

Futsal isn\u2019t just a pathway into football. It is a sport in its own right \u2013 a really good one at that. If stardom is what interests you, then the game has its own celebrity players. Just look at Falcao, considered by many as the sport\u2019s best player of all time. He has featured alongside Ronaldinho \u2013 who needs no introduction \u2013 in Nike adverts.<\/p>