The nature of this game places a large emphasis on technical ability and agility, and is consequently an excellent breeding ground for football skills that can be translated into the 11-a-side format of the game. The surface, ball and rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces, leading to a fast-paced game full of excitement and liveliness.
While football usually features 11 players per side, futsal teams have five. But it is not just the teams that are smaller – the pitch is also only about a third of the size of those used for outdoor football, measuring around 20m x 40m, which makes it roughly the same size as a handball court. The matches are also much shorter, consisting of two periods of 20 minutes. The ball itself is heavier than traditional footballs and has far less bounce.
