All Futsal Skills, Techniques, Tactics & Strategy... share here... Doesn't matter whether it's for Striker, Flanker, Defender or even Goalie...

Discussion solely on "FUTSAL" and not field football...

Share tactical runs..plays and also moves which is effective in breaking defense...

Share also tips on how to be a good Striker, Flanker, Holding Midfielder, Defender and Goalie...

Share also on player positioning, movement, & spacing...

Also share on the formation of futsal, pros and cons and how to modify the formation for certain plays such as offensive and defensive...

Hopefully it will serve as a learning tool to share, learn and also to improve one's personal skill and understanding about the futsal game since futsal is a starting to be a very famous sport among Malaysians...

This post has been edited by ken0777: Nov 20 2008, 03:22 AM

I shall share some stuff regarding defender...and here's some of my opinion and advice on how to be a good defender in futsal:-

1. Always keep an eye for the runner aka the striker from the opposing team who will make a run towards your D-box via left side or right side or even in the middle. As a last man of the team, the defender have to keep a watchful eye on the runner and never let him get the through pass or a high lobbing pass.

2. While defending, it's important to pressure and mark your opposing team's striker. Giving him too much space will lead to your opponent getting a pass from his team-mates. Always keep a tight pressure and mark on the striker at all times. The term 'shadow' means to follow him and pressure him. *Do not attempt to steal the ball (See below points). Just stick to him as a shadow about 1 meter from him. Cause if marking too near will cause a problem if the opposing player manage to twist and turn or cut you on your side. So too close marking is a no-no. Too far marking also is a no-no, coz if marking too far, that's not a 'marking' already.

3. Never ever go for a tackle except you are 100% sure, that you will get the ball. It's a HUGE sin for defender to react first because the opposing member can read your movement and move to the opposite direction of your challenge/tackle. Always anticipate and wait for the opponent to move, then only you go for the tackle. By doing this, you can improve your tackle and ball stealing rate by ALOT!

4. Watch the ball and not the opponent's body. Always keep your eye on the ball cause you want to tackle for the ball and not the player. Body movement is often used by players to provide a dummy to confuse defenders into the path of movement. Often times defenders get fooled by the dummy moves done with body and often they use a fake move to cheat the defender into believing they are going on one way but goes to another.

5. Never stand straight while defending. This is a major no-no. Always stand side ways either right or left depending on the opponent's movement of the ball. Standing straight will cause to delay in chasing after the opponent after he has cut passed you. Always stand sideways aka ever ready to run back either left of right. And also never ever let your two legs opened up too big for this will be exploited by opponent in giving you a ball-thru-between-ya-two-leg @ panna @ ole @ 20cent @ kangkang. Do not chase the player with the ball, skip this by moving in a arch shape via d-box line. If the player is movin in from the side either left or right, don't follow! Just move back and cover the d-box angle. This will save you time.

6. Positioning and anticipate and cutting a pass or through pass aka LURING. This is one of the most important part as being a DEFENDER. Aside from man marking, positioning and anticipate while luring is THE MOST IMPORTANT technique and tactic for a defender to steal a pass. First, defender and to position himself quite far apart from striker or flanker but not too far. REMEMBER this is not man marking! This is LURING the opposing players to have an impression that their striker/flankers are unmarked, thus when the pass is played or a through pass is played, your job is to cut in a 45degree angle to intercept the pass/through pass. To perfect this baiting and luring technique requires time and practice and also fast movement and anticipation. Psycho your opponent in giving them false assumption and lure them. Quick feet movement and fast body reaction need to be perfected to fully utilize this technique.

7. Use your goalie as a safety assurance when you are being pressured. Always fully utilize the goalie if you find yourself cornered and all your passing option are closed.

8. Always pass! Don't try to be hero in trying to dribble and cut if you are the last man defending. Cause if you screwed up and the opposing team gets the ball, your goalie will curse you to hell! And followed by several curse from your fellow team-mates.

9. Don't be afraid in getting forward! Defenders can always act as flankers and also a holding midfielder. Always utilized a 1-2 play to get yourself forward into the middle area fast!

10. Always keep and eye to your flank and striker to release a pass/through pass early. Whenever is a chance where your team-mates above are unmarked, quickly release the ball to them via pass/through pass. Always be alert.

Defender not only act as a "DEFENDER" but often time are also the "PLAYMAKER" in the futsal game. By practicing passes, defender are a team's playmaker and chance-creator by giving 'threat-balls' to your flank and your striker. And most of the time the ball are in your control and every decision making move are basically in the hands of the players who are closest to the goalie.

Hopefully some of this tips might prove useful for you all.

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 11 2008, 04:14 AM

Thx cyfc29...

Here's another tips for all futsallers. I want to stress on the technique which has been utilized by alot of world class midfielder such as deco which is the big secret to many football and futsal players. The art of receiving a pass! and move!

Often times, most futsal players tend to recieve a pass ineffectively. Many failed to control the ball after receiving a pass. Here's some hint on improving your technique:-

DON'TS:

1. Body positioning must not be straight facing the person who passes while receiving a pass. This will prevent you from going forward as you need to turn around to move forward. Futsal is about speed and every second counts if your body angle while receiving the pass is your ass facing the opposing side, you need to turn 180degree for you to move forward.

2. Do not use your inner feet to receive the pass. Well, you can do that but chances are if the pass is a strong fast pass and who use your inner feet to receive the pass via blocking it, the ball may just bounce of your feet and hence you need to chase after the ball. Most of the time, we all receive passes this way, well it's ok but it consumes way too much time and keep the ball under your control.

Here's what you should do when receiving a pass/though pass

DO'S:

1. Positioning is very important while receiving a pass and to MOVE FORWARD fast!. Always stand side ways aka ready to move forward. When a pass is played to you, due to your body angle being side ways, it's much more easier for you to move forward after receiving the pass. Best is stand in a 'L' stand with the front leg ready to receive the pass and the back leg to push yourself forward for a quick move.

This next move is regarded as the most fundamental in futsal and football

2. STEP AND ROLL THE BALL! Yes... step! Stepping the ball is the best way to stop the ball! Not blocking it via using your inner feet. If possible, always step the ball to stop the ball. Why? Cause by stepping on the ball as you receive the pass, you can simultaneously roll the ball forward. THIS MOVE ALONE SAVES ALOT OF TIME! Step and roll... If you notice alot of good players tend to dribble the ball using the step and roll method? This method is a very lethal method for every futsal player to master as it improves your time to receive the ball and move forward. Step and roll also can be a basic skill to evade tackles and to cut pass your opponent. Various dribbling skills are an extension of the step and roll technique.

3. Redirect the ball to your desired path. Always use your feet to cushion and redirect the angle of the incoming pass to where ever you want the ball to be. By doing this, you saves alot of time by not stopping the ball first and then move. Always redirect the ball to an empty space. Well you don't want to direct the ball to your opponent now...do ya? You can always redirect the pass to your team-mate and hence done a 1-2 pass and play movement.

Hope some of this tips prove useful...

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Added on October 11, 2008, 6:03 amAdmin just removed my signature... so sad...

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 11 2008, 06:03 AM

@reedsect13 If there's a chance try watch futsal teams like Brazil, Spain and Argentina play.... too bad Astro not showing the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Love to watch the Brazilian team play. Especially Falcao!

This is very very true. The most important player in a futsal team is actually the goalie. If you are planning to win a futsal match but without a reliable goalie. It's better not to enter the competition at all. Futsal goalie dislike 1 type of shot in futsal game THE MOST. This shot is annoying, fast, unpredictable and it's very hard to save. It's the TONJOL SHOT! There's a futsal team in Malaysia which effectively uses this kinda shot for their long range, mid range and also their point blank shots. If you are facing a team which does this. Players must never give the opponent chance to even make a shot.

Well alot of people don't realize that a tonjol shot if executed well and proper, can be a very dangerous shot and a very effective way to score. And it's a shot which is easier to master compared to the normal proper shot using the top-above-your-toes-part @ between your phalanges and your metatarsus. Proper shooting technique are the hardest to master and it may take up at least 2 months of constant practice to get it executed decently.

I also felt obliged to point out that many futsal players have the wrong technique in taking a shot. Shots that they take are usually like a pass-like-shot or a lob-like-shot.

A pass-like-shot is a strike similar when one is passing a ball except it's a faster. Often time this shot is called a placed-shot. If your placing a shot then it's fine, but that is not really a shot-strike. A proper shot-strike is executed using your top-above-your-toes-part @ between your phalanges and your metatarsus.

A lob-like-shot on the other hand its a shot being attempted by long range but often time looks like a lob rather than a shot. A long range shot is one of the hardest shot to be execute but the best way to differentiate whether your long range shot is either a lob or a shot, here's some tips to see:-
a) the ball spins in a backward movement, thats a lob
b) ball being shot appears to be traveling abit slow

There's another type of shot always being utilized when the ball is coming towards your opposite position of your leg. Example if your a right legged player, and ball is coming from your 11 o clock direction and your body positioning is facing the incoming pass. With that body position, you can't take a shot normally but you can do this shot, or moreover this "FLICK' shot. A flick shot is to flick the ball using your outer part of your feet which is the 3rd , 4th dorsal bone and phalanges area. Proper ankle twist technique is require to make the flick as deadly as possible.

There's also the curling shot which is a hardest technique to learn in taking a shot which requires proper angle of striking the ball, the body movement in striking the ball and also the added follow up swerve and curl to add spin to the curl shot. It's the hardest shot to be explained due to the different variety of techniques can be applied so i think i rather not share it but leave it for the rest of the guys to share their own technique while executing this curl shot.

Hope the above tips prove useful for you guys.

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 11 2008, 01:28 PM

This run is often exploited by tall players. There's this local team once who manage to execute this long ball tactics so effectively and to some point the goalie just throw in the ball to the opponent's goalie d-box area and his striker just needed a touch from his head to redirect the long throw pass and headed the ball into the goal. This is a very annoying strategy but very effective.

To counter this it's pretty simple either using the def or the goalie. Goalie tips can be abit dirty so WARNING!

1. To counter the move above which i called the 'curi itik' *not ayam* but itik coz 'guys=itik' run, just make sure your defending players mark the runner and clear the high ball with a defensive header. If the ball manage to reach the runner than it's the defender's fault is failing to defend well.

2. For those annoying long throws from the goalie to your d-box, as a goalie u need to vs. their striker/runner. Just do some of this legal tips to make sure the ass clown won't come into your d-box and try for a cheap header.

a) jump and attempt to catch the air ball with your knee lifted up. this is to protect the goalie from being rammed in mid air and thus being injured

b) always placed yourself and fight for the position where the path of the high ball gonna come and within your
d-box. If the position is already being stand by the goalie and a striker comes charging in to the spot he will actually rammed or banged into you and automatically it's a foul. Player can never rammed into the goalie when he has already stood in the position inside the d-box. It's an auto foul and any goals scored will be invalid (tournament wise la... unless the referee are biased then you're screwed)

c) goalie can jump and punch the air ball away and at the same time the traveling hand of yours just skinned scraped the opponent's head. Yes! It's dirty but very effective to annoy the opponent and also may pissed him off but hell what? He is pissing you off too so sama sama la. Remember always touch the ball den only punch his head. If your don't get the ball and your hand punching his face/head or whatever, IT'S A GOALIE FOUL! And a goalie foul will often being punished by getting yellow card and also a penalty. So this move is basically a double edge move la. Proceed using it if the referee abit kayu but once being notice by ref, don't use it anymore for the next 5 minutes, cause ref will keep a closed eye on you after the blastering complaints by your opponent.

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Added on October 11, 2008, 1:55 pmI believe that part of the rule have been amended and you can back pass to your goalie whether you are the last man ornot.

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 11 2008, 01:56 PM

I believe that part of the rule have been amended and you can back pass to your goalie whether you are the last man ornot. Only thing i know the keeper has only 4 seconds to play the ball back or else it's a foul.

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Added on October 11, 2008, 2:05 pmIf that's a foul then i believe they still enforce the ruling whereby a backpass to the goalie can only be done after you have passed the halfway line.

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 11 2008, 02:08 PM

If the opponent manage to chest the high ball outside the d-box, technically it's the job of your defender to prevent this from happening. But if the ball travels to the d-box, just use some of the tips i mentioned above for keepers.

Of course keepers need to dive to save those angled shots. Can either dive using the hand to save or stretch your legs to save. Often time a low grounder placed shot to either left or right are the toughest to save.

will do that once the pages getting thicker...

This is a very demanding demand... actually you can observe alot of this mentioned skills and tactics and also techniques being applied by experienced teams. Just go to your local futsal venue whenever there's a competition. Pretty sure you can see all the mentioned stuff are implemented and used by lotza teams.

This is a good advice covering the mentality part of the futsal game. Always have a clear head and keep it cool. Having a good positive mentality will enable a futsaller to be always consistent and not playing under pressure or frustration.

Still having my flu and cough... *sigh* has been almost 1 week+ ed...

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 13 2008, 12:46 PM

Hello everybody! I can see that this topic thread has been picking up some heat since it was just started last week. Looks like there's a huge support from forumers and also futsal fans in making this thread alive, fiery and HOT! Keep the comments and ideas coming in.

Since nobody has covered the formation part of the futsal game. Here's my take on it.

Playing futsal with a formation is as important as in playing in a normal football game. All the time, we often hear about formations in football, be it 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-1-2-1-2. Futsal also have it's formation with it's 4 players. YES! 4 players can have it's formation. In fact, lesser the amount of player, lesser the amount of formation possibilities (Simple maths probability).

Below i'm going share the 2 basic and most common formation in futsal, which is the:-
1. Box Shape (2-2) Formation
2. Diamond Shape (1-2-1) Formation

And also the 2 basic formation for attacking and defending, which is the:-
3. ATT Y-Shape (1-1-2) Formation
4. DEF Y-Shape (2-1-1) Formation


1. Box Shape (2-2) Formation

Below is a picture on how this formation looks like


2 down players supporting each other while the other 2 top players will either drop down to support or just wait to receive a threat ball pass to them.

Pros:
1.This formation is simple and most of the time used by alot of teams. Pretty like a default formation for all beginners.
2. 2 man below can compliment each other by passing between themselves whenever an opponent is coming to attempt to steal the ball or to release the pass to your flanks.

3. 2 man below can attempt to create a 1-2 run to dominate the middle area of the court

Once the 1-2 pass is completed, basically you have modified the formation from a Box-Shape (2-2) Formation to a Y-shape (1-1-2) Formation.

Cons:
1. Passing dependent. Especially accurate short passes.
2. Need to wait and lure your opponent players to your half of your side.
3. Very dependent on your other teammates to run into open spaces to either play a 1-2 pass back to him or to create a dummy run for you to pass to your 2 top players ontop.

2. Diamond Shape (1-2-1) Formation

Below is a picture on how this formation looks like


1 fix player playing the holding down position with 2 flankers and 1 top pivot striker.

Pros:
1. Flexible for the last man to release the ball to his flankers.

2. This formation provides space to move.

Cons:
1. Heavy pressure to the last man may result in the last man losing possession and give chance to the opponent to score
2. Dependable on the last man to be able to execute precise threat balls to his flankers
3. Dependable on the flankers to lost their marker for the last man to release the ball.

*continue on my next post*

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 13 2008, 03:41 PM

*continue form my previous post regarding formation

3. ATT Y-Shape (1-1-2) Formation

Below is a picture on how this formation looks like


1 fix player playing the holding down position with 2 flankers and 1 holding player in the middle.

Pros:
1. Fully utilize the triangle to keep the option open.

2. Last man can play the ball to their flankers.

3. Flankers have option to either:-
a) go with an attack for a shot on goal

b) play back the ball to the middle for the middle to take a shot or for a 1-2 run

c) play the ball to switch side to the other flanker

3. Middle holding player have option of:-
a) take the shot if there's space

b) play it back to flankers *left or right

c) set the ball for your last man to either for him to take a shot or pass back to last man whenever you think you are pressured and your flankers are marked.


*more to be added* Flu gettin bad to worst

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Added on October 13, 2008, 4:00 pmthe box formation is a good formation to start your run. BUT once manage to break into the middle area, formation must always change to adapt and to counter the opponent's formation. That is why i showed in the diagram on how a box shape formation (2-2) can easily be modified to a diamond shape or a Y-shape formation easily.

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 13 2008, 04:00 PM

*continue form my previous post regarding formation

4. DEF Y-Shape (2-1-1) Formation

Below is a picture on how this formation looks like


3 players covering the mid, left and right side while 1 player on top serves as a pressure

Pros:
1. Most simple defensive formation, it's save and it covers the left, right side, middle and top middle.
2. Good formation for you to counter attack since you have 1 man on top in the mid line.

Cons:
1. At times the top man is beaten and the 3 remaining players need to be defending against 4 incoming players.
2. If the top man is not pressuring and forcing the opponent to release the ball, then it's no use.
3. If the remaining bottom 3 players do not effectively mark their players, then it's no use.

*More to come*

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Added on October 14, 2008, 2:13 amJust 3 days since i started this thread and it has almost 1100+ views and 65 posts? Not bad... Thanks for the much support...

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 14 2008, 03:33 PM

*continue form my previous post regarding formation

Other variation of formations:-

5. ATT T-Shape (1-3) Formation
6. DEF T-Shape (3-1) Formation
7. DEF Flat-Shape (4) Formation
8. DEF Box-Shape (2-2) Formation

Below are some of the variation of formation that can easily be modified into whenever the need rises to change. Changing formation fast and choosing the right formation when dealing with various situation are very essential in the total gameplay of a futsal team.

5. ATT T-Shape (1-3) Formation


6. DEF T-Shape (3-1) Formation


7. DEF Flat-Shape (4) Formation


8. DEF Box-Shape (2-2) Formation


There are many pros and cons for each different formation mentioned above but different formation are useful in tackling against other formations. So a team with the ability to notice loopholes and weaknesses in a team's formation will choose to exploit it.

Alot of good futsal teams have a very efficient system of formation and various 'plays' which they have practice and drilled themselves. Plays are a different subject all together. Imagine players are notes of a key, formations are like musical chords and plays are actually a piece of music or a symphony.

Hopefully some of my words here can strike a chord within you all so that you all can get a clear big picture. There's alot of factors involve this game and knowing that makes me loving this game more and more... Hope it the same goes with you all...

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Added on October 15, 2008, 3:42 amHi. Since i can't sleep so i decided to add another topic which covers the issue on defending. Was just after a mamak conversation between my 2 friends after futsal session in pan global. We were talking about how top college futsal teams like HELP, whereby the runs they play are mean to confuse the other team's man-marking system. So here's my intake on defending methods.

1. Man-to-man Marking
2. Zone Defense:-
a) Box-Shape (2-2) Zone Defense
b) Y-Shape (2-1-1) Zone Defense
c) T-Shape (3-1) Zone Defense
d) Flat-Shape (4) Zone Defense

1. Man-to-man Marking



Basically the whole idea is everyone in the team except the keeper takes 1 person to mark. Player have to follow and cover the angle and to tackle whenever has the chance and to prevent the person being marked to passed by. Marking and off-ball player will prevent the person from getting a pass from his teammate.

2. Zone Defense

This method of defense is delegating players to assign them to guard a particular zone. Whoever enter the player's zone, it is the player's responsibility to mark and follow or pressure him. There are various zone defense which uses the various formation as i mentioned in my previous post. Below are some of the various Zone Defense.

a) Box-Shape (2-2) Zone Defense



b) Y-Shape (2-1-1) Zone Defense



c) T-Shape (3-1) Zone Defense



d) Flat-Shape (4) Zone Defense



From the diagram above, we can try to ponder and make known on each zone defense system of it's forte and also it's weakness. None the less, knowing too much but don't implement the knowledge it's pretty useless too. As my friend quoted "The best tactic is defend, pass the ball and score"

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 15 2008, 03:44 AM

Don't miss the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 on ASTRO ch 811 tomorrow night.

Semifinals:-

Semi-final 1: Brazil vs. Russia

Semi-final 2: Spain vs. Italy

Current Top Scorer:-
1. Pula (Russia) 15 goals
2. Falcao (Brazil) 14 goals
3. Lenisio (Brazil) 11 goals

Russia has a superb record this tournament as they have scored the highest goal margin where by Russia beaten Solomon Island with a score of 31-2. But then Italy did a superb win over the US with Italy thrashing US
37-1. The 2 power house, Brazil and Spain has yet to have win against any teams with huge goal margins, so we are all curious to see how the semifinals will go down in Rio de Janeiro.

LOL! True that...

Don't miss the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 on ASTRO ch 811 Thursday night at 9.30pm

Semifinals:-

Semi-final 1: Brazil vs. Russia

Semi-final 2: Spain vs. Italy

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Added on October 17, 2008, 2:17 amJust a small update on what's going on with the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

SemiFinals 1: Russia 2-4 Brazil

SemiFinals 2: Spain 3-2 Italy

3rd Placing Playoffs: 18th Oct 2008

Final: 19th Oct 2008

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Added on October 17, 2008, 3:04 amHere's the PUMA website for GOALKEEPERS. They have training tips and techniques shared by world class goalkeepers such as buffon, given, hildebrand and matt reis.

http://www.pumafootball.com/goalkeeper/

This post has been edited by ken0777: Oct 17 2008, 03:04 AM

Greats tips on the shielding and leaning... Personally, i get pretty annoyed when players exploit it very well. ^^