THE SPORT OF FUTSAL

Futsal is an indoor variation of soccer (football), that is played on a hard court, in a much smaller area than a soccer pitch. Futsal is played between two teams of five players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper.

The sport of FUTSAL:

• Incorporates rules of soccer that are modified for smaller space play
• Uses a special sized soccer ball and smaller nets
• Players play close together in a smaller area, so the speed of play is faster and decision making quick
• Played on any flat surface, typically an indoor gym, so play is not affected by whether conditions
• Easy to learn & play and great for all ages regardless of ability or skill.
• It is a complimentary sport for school curriculum and minor soccer associations player skill development
• Does not require players have any early soccer experience
• Is affordable and fun to play

POINTS OF INTEREST

CANADA:

• Futsal Canada is the National Sports Organization that governs futsal in Canada.
• Canada’s National Futsal Team regularly participate in Americas Futsal Tournaments.
• Canada is ranked 53^rd in the world (2020)
• The Canadian Soccer Association host a Futsal Championship annually
• Soccer Canada supports the growth of futsal
   

GLOBAL:

• The sport of Futsal started in 1930 as a way to play soccer indoors and out of the elements of the weather
• There are currently two governing bodies: Asociación Mundial de Fútsal (AMF), also known as the World Futsal Association, and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) which are responsible for maintaining and regulating the official rules of their respective versions of futsal.
• The first Futsal World Championships was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1982
• Twenty-four (24) countries qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup which is held every four years
• The 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup was watched by just under 140 million viewers
   

FUTURE:

• Futsal has grown dramatically over the last 15 years
• It was originally known mostly in South America and Southern & Eastern Europe but now has a presence in 115 countries
• The sport of Futsal is far from reaching maturity and is expected to have exponential growth in the coming decade
   

To learn more about FUTSAL check out our
RULES OF PLAY or VIDEOS RULES