The small pitch size forces players to rely on their talents and techniques. Futsal has limited defensive strategies. All of the players are accustomed to passing, and the game is frequently fluid. Physical fitness is also not put to the test because many substitutions are permitted.
Because there are only five players on a team, they need to make sure that they use all of their positions well. This means that no player should be stuck in one spot for too long - sometimes this leads to over-reliance on certain individuals. However, because there are so few players, any combination will work if it produces a positive result. This makes scouting important for team managers.
Some countries may lack the necessary resources to field a competitive team, but this does not mean that they cannot play. These countries may choose to form a league with other less wealthy nations and play each other once at the end of the season. The winner is determined by number of goals scored during these games. This type of competition is known as a "friendly".
The most popular sport on earth that isn't called soccer is probably basketball. Although soccer is played in many countries around the world, it is predominantly an international men's sport. Women's soccer began to take shape only recently, even though it has been around for some time now.
Control of the ball The futsal ball is smaller and heavier than a traditional soccer ball. The futsal ball takes more skill and thinking while moving the ball around, forcing players to think a little more. This makes futsal more difficult to play than soccer.
Size and shape The size of the futsal field is 90 by 60 yards (82 by 58 meters). The goal is 20 by 15 feet (6 by 4 meters). There are no time limits for games, but if there is a score level at the end of regulation time, then extra time will be played. If still not finished, then a penalty shoot-out will determine the winner.
Field markings The referee has the right to award free kicks for any reason during play. These can include cases where the ball goes out of bounds or is deliberately kicked away by a player. The only other way to stop the game is by calling "time".
Lines and markers On the field are two lines that run across the middle. One is called the "free kick line" because players cannot touch the ball behind it. The other is the "goalline" because players can only get past it by shooting into the net. Markers are small balls that can be put on the ground to help the referee identify certain situations during play.
It also has a lot less bounce (up to 60 percent less, according to FIFA). This means that it is harder to control accurately.
Physical demands Futsal is a physical game. Players often spend hours a day training and playing games, which requires a high level of fitness. Because there are less players on the field at any one time, there is less competition for spots on the team sheet, so most players can be expected to be able to play several matches per week. However, because there are less players, fouls and mistakes happen more often in futsal than in soccer. A player who is not fit enough for soccer can still play in a futsal league if they are small enough (1.78m tall and below 70kg) or have special permission from their club to play despite being overage (most clubs allow players to stay with the club until they are 23).
Rules There are currently no international rules for futsal. Instead, each national federation develops its own set of guidelines for players to follow. These vary between countries but usually include requirements for weightlifting and aerobic capacity. There is also some variation between leagues/clubs as they develop their own standards.
People consider futsal to be a smaller version of soccer, and they like playing it. At first appearance, most regulations appear to be the same between soccer and futsal, however there are several changes in detail. Consider the phrases appearance and rule as examples. Soccer requires 11 players, but futsal only 5 players. The coat size is also variable. In general, futsal is designed for play on a court that measures 100 by 65 centimeters (39 by 26 inches).
The games themselves tend to be shorter than soccer matches. A typical game will last about 20 minutes instead of 90 minutes. There are two reasons for this: first, there are more opportunities for action in a futsal game because there are less pauses while players change sides; second, the intensity of play is higher because there are no time limits except for when you are waiting for your turn at high level competition.
Futsal was originally developed as a sport for use by soldiers during peacetime. It is played on a hard surface such as concrete or asphalt with a ball that is roughly the size of a basketball. The game itself is similar to soccer in many ways, but there are some differences related to the size of the field. For example, players can get hurt if they fall badly because there is no buffer zone between them and the other players. This would not happen in soccer because the players are outside of the field of play.
There are different levels of competition for futsal.