Futsal & Football, the perfect fusion
As a youngster, I train 2-3 times per week at my club, but I also played for 3-4 hours per day on the streets, or in the local hardcourt. This is where I learned the majority of my game.
In a world of parental fear of children playing on the hardcourts on their own, how do we get kids to simply play? Street football is simply picking up a ball, finding some space, and playing. There is no coaching and no parents, just kids being expressive with a ball at their feet. There are no over excessive coaches screaming what to do at every turn and essentially 'joysticking' their players for for an hour. In order to create the best young players, they need to learn to play with freedom, flair and creativity, which is what Brazil, Spain, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany have successfully done. They've created players of such unquestionable skill and IQ that they have largely dominated at producing the best players in the world.
Futsal - exactly what youth footballers need
Futsal could is the perfect link between street football, and the 11 aside game. Players like Messi, Xavi, Neymar, Iniesta, Ronaldo, Maradona and Pele were raised on futsal. Cristiano Ronaldo said he felt "free" whenever he played the game. Futsal has limited space and less bouncy ball, meaning technical and tactical play becomes crucial. With the spacing, this isn't about running, it is about playing. Players have to play under pressure and manipulate the ball to be successful. This requires spatial awareness, creativity, checking shoulders and making lightning-quick decisions. These are seemingly the qualities of the best players of the current generation of stars.
In a game of futsal, players get around 5 times as many touches than they would in an 11 aside game, But more importantly, almost all of these touches are under pressure. This makes them critical touches, and the player has to have some tactical application to what they are doing. These are not repeated touches, repeating moves over and over with no pressure. These touches and passes have consequence, but a consequence in an environment that is encouraging positive decision-making and creative players.
Watch the Brazilians play and you see the creativity, craft, and cleverness, all this at top speed. Is it tactically perfect football? Are the best decisions being made all the time? No, but that's not the point. That stuff can be addressed at a different time and place. This is the time for free play with no structure and little adult oversight. This is a place for players to express themselves and, as Cristiano said, be "free".
Our philosophy and coaching programs centre around a player centred approach to learning, with a huge amount of problem solving scenarios, with an aim to create young players that can play with freedom, and develop the technical, tactical & cognitive skills to become creative young players.
