Introduction: Futsal Tactic
Have you ever left the court thinking you lost a game that should have won – just because you were missing Futsal tactics?
In Futsal, the match tactic is super important and, often, a match is lost due to lack of strategy, that is, lack of knowledge about the positions of Futsal players and about tactical systems of Futsal.
Skill x Match System
A habilidade dos jogadores são fundamentais para vencer uma partida de Futsal, mas o diferencial pode estar num bom sistema de jogo, ou seja, na estratégia de posicionamento e organização que uma equipe de Futsal assume durante o jogo. Você pode ter uma equipe com um bando de jogadores habilidosos jogando Futsal de forma desorganizada ou uma equipe com jogadores habilidosos, jogando Futsal de forma organizada e temida por seus adversários. O que você prefere?
The skill of the players is fundamental to winning a match of Futsal, but the differential can be in a good match system, that is, in the strategy of positioning and organization that a Futsal team assumes during the match. You can have a team with a bunch of skillful players playing Futsal in a disorganized way or a team with skilled players, playing Futsal in an organized and feared way by their opponents. Which one do you prefer?
The Positions of Futsal Players
The defender
The Defender is the player in the further back or more defensive in a Futsal team. Some of the characteristics of a good defender are being a good marker and having a good ball Pass. The Defender must also be communicative to organize the marking and the exit of ball of his team.
The wingers
In Futsal there is the right wing and the left wing. The wings are the players that occupy the sides of the pitch. Some of the characteristics of the wings are speed and agility both to attack and to defend.
The Pivot (Forward)
The Pivot (Forward) is the most advanced player on the pitch or the more offensive in a Futsal team. Some of the characteristics of a good Pivot (Forward) are having a good ball control, a good pass and a good shoot / finish. The Pivot (Forward) usually receives the ball backwards to the opposing goalkeeper. Afterwards, the Pivot (Forward) can pass the ball to a teammate who approaches or tries to turn and finish, shooting to the goal. The Pivot (Forward) must be constantly moving, looking for spaces in the opponent’s defense in order to get the ball.
The Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper is the player whose main goal is to prevent the ball from entering its own goal. The goalkeeper must be quick and can use any part of the body to perform a defense. A good Goalkeeper should be agile, have a good sense of positioning and communicate enough with his teammates, as to organize the defensive system.
The Fly Goalkeeper
The Fly Goalkeeper is the goalkeeper who assumes the role of an outfield player when their team is in possession of the ball. This usually happens when a team is losing a match and needs to increase their offensive options in order to reverse the score. The Fly Goalkeeper can be the own goalkeeper who plays as an outfield player or an outfield player who replaces the goalkeeper.
“Do you have any questions about Futsal positions? Leave a comment and we will reply shortly.”
Futsal Tactic Systems
There are different types of Futsal tactics, both defensive systems as well as offensive systems, that is, tactic system is the formation on which a Futsal team is positioned on the pitch.
How to choose a tactic system?
The choice of the match system for a Futsal team must occur based on the characteristics of the players that form the team. If you are a Futsal coach, do not try to impose your team tactical scheme without taking into account the characteristics of your players.
The best tactical formation depends on the following aspects:
- Who is the opposing team?
- What are the characteristics of your team players?
- What is the physical conditions of your team players?
“The best way to apply any tactical system is to keep in mind their basic defensive formation, i.e. when your team runs out of possession; that should be the organizational standard that players must follow on the court.”
Understand! When the team is attacking, the tactics of Futsal are also important, however, due to the great movement that occurs when the space is being filled, there should not be a rigidity regarding the positioning of the players in the attack zone.
Below, we will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the main tactical systems of Futsal.
Futsal Tactics: 3×1 System or Diamond formation
This is one of the most common formations in Futsal; it provides balance between defense and attack. It has a player dedicated to the attack (Pivot (Forward)), while there is also a player dedicated to defense (Defender). There are also two Wings, the Right Wing and the Left Wing that should support defense and attack.
Advantages of the 3×1 System:
- There is clearly an expert player in defense and a player specialized in attacking
- The team gets more compact both to defend and to attack
Disadvantages of the 3×1 System
- If both wings focus too much on the attack, this will leave the defense too exposed and the Defender will be burdened.
- That can also burden the Pivot (Forward), in case of the Wings having offensive difficulties
Futsal Tactics: 2×2 System or Square Formation
The 2×2 Tactical System in Futsal, also known as “Square”, basically divides the four outfield players of a team into the two main areas of responsibility: defense and attack. A simple system can help develop good pairs of defenders and attackers.
Although two players are more likely to be advanced (in attack) and two to be mostly in the back (in defense), these roles will need to be quite flexible, as the attackers will need to help the defense and vice versa. In addition, most teams attack and defend with at least three players.
Advantages of the 2×2 System in Futsal
- Great system for beginners
- Gives balance between attack and defense.
- Ensures that defense and attack have at least one player in every moment of the game.
Disadvantages of the 2×2 System in Futsal
- Restricts the players’ moves
- May be defensively weak if defenders join the attack and attackers are unwilling to perform defensive roles
- If the team is poorly trained or does not communicate well on the court, there may be confusion between which of the attackers should support the defense and between which defender should support the attack.
Futsal Tactics: 4×0 System
Tactical System 4×0 in Futsal is used by top-level teams, such as professional teams. The idea is to have all 4 players moving at once, promoting moves that allow many options of one-two plays, well organized court occupation and attack opportunities.
Advantages of the 4×0 Futsal System
- Promotes more dynamic moves to the team
- Always allows one-two plays options
- It hinders the defense of the opposing team due to intense moves
- Can physically wear off the defending team
- The ball moves extremely fast
- Great option to keep ball possession
- Facilitates the occupation of space
- Better way out of pressure marking
- It hinders the backup system of the opposing team
Disadvantages of the 4×0 System
- Every player in court MUST understand the system; otherwise, it will not work!
- Players must be extremely well conditioned physically
- If players focus too much on the moves, the team gets predictable and not much offensive
- Players MUST be good technically
- Players MUST be agile
- Results in physical exhaustion
Futsal Tactics: 3×2 System
The 3×2 Tactical System in Futsal happens when the goalkeeper (Fly Goalkeeper) leaves his zone to participate in attack moves of his team. Usually, the goalkeeper is replaced by an outfield player, in order to make this system more efficient offensively. With this formation, players do not change positions too often. They try make the defenders tired, passing the ball quickly in every corner of the court.
NOTE: In the above picture, the Goalkeeper (in yellow) is positioned in the attacking zone; this happens because the Futsal Rules restricts the goalkeeper’s ball possession in the defense zone. He cannot receive the ball more than once and cannot keep possession for over 4 seconds (if being in the defense zone).
“In this formation, it is important for players to be fairly accurate in ball passing and expect a clear opportunity to shoot for the goal, because a hasty shot or a wrong pass can be fatal, as the goalkeeper will be out of the goal area.”
Advantages of the 3×2 System
- Numerical advantages are created when attacking
- Enables creation of proper finishing opportunities
Disadvantages of the 3×2 System
- There is a high risk of suffering a counter-attack goal, since the goalkeeper is out of the goal area in this system
- The team may play with a goalkeeper who is not an expert in defending