Indoor Soccer & Futsal Guide

The first big snow storm means it’s time to think about winter soccer and that means indoor soccer and futsal. Below is the Rocky Mountain Soccer guide to Indoor Soccer, Futsal and where to play in Boulder County/North Metro.

Indoor Soccer — A fast paced small-sided soccer game with walls, regular soccer balls and smaller goals.

Indoor soccer is good fun and great exercise. The action never stops because the ball rarely leaves the field. There is usually a lot of goal scoring. Players participate in the offense and defensive side of the game regardless of position. Indoor soccer is a great place for defenders to attack and attackers to defend.

Futsal — A small-sided soccer game without the use of walls and is usually played inside. A weighted ball (size 4 or smaller) is designed to stay on the ground. Just like it’s 11 vs. 11 cousin, futsal has corner kicks and restarts when the ball goals over the touchline.

The new kid on the block (but hardly new to the international soccer scene), futsal is the most popular form of indoor soccer in Brazil, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal. Did you notice the countries listed and how skilled their players are? Futsal is now becoming a part of the US soccer culture as coaches and players look to improve their soccer game while having fun.

Benefits of Playing Futsal and Indoor Soccer:

• Have fun! – Players enjoy the challenge of playing fast-paced- skill-oriented games.

• Recharge enthusiasm – Playing can help a player stay enthusiastic for soccer by breaking up the routine of outdoor games and practices. This is especially true if coaches let the players play and limit instruction during the winter months. The game is a great teacher and simply playing these games will teach a player much about the game. Playing a fun small-sided game without over instruction is a great way to recharge enthusiasm.

• Improve soccer IQ – As mini versions of a soccer game, players must make hundreds of soccer decision per game and understanding of the game is enhanced. These games feature the same basic tactical principles as the full outdoor game. This experience will improve a player’s soccer intelligence.

• Become a better ball handler - With limited space and constant pressure, ball control skills and good technique are required for success. Futsal takes it to an even high level because errant touches do not bounce back into play.

• Improved confidence and composure with the ball – The more touches a player has on the ball the more confident they will have with the ball on their foot. A confident and composed player will enjoy the game at a higher level, control the tempo of their game and have a greater impact in the flow of a match. Research shows futsal players will touch the ball 600% more times than outdoor soccer. In a statistical study comparing futsal to indoor soccer with walls, players touch the ball 210% more often.

• Improve off- the-ball movements – With limited space to play in, players will find more success if they look to move into spaces between opponents and teammates. Because the ball moves nearly constantly in these small-sided games, players should be moving in to spaces with every movement of the ball.

• Improve reaction, focus, concentration – With continuous ball movement, crowd spaces, limited time and space, successful players will stay focused and be prepared to continue with and join in the flow of play instead of stopping and watching. Many goals and turnovers happen from rebounds and deflections. Players will learn to keep their feet and body ready for action.

• Improve balance, agility, quickness – Indoor soccer and futsal are one of the best SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, Quickness) training opportunities available. Games are full of soccer specific quick starts, sharp stops, lateral cuts, diagonal sprints.

• Improved goal scoring instincts — Futsal and indoor soccer are usually high scoring games, players learn to shoot with just half chances, from various angles and in tight spaces. Players learn to get in goal scoring positions and become predatory finishers.