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Futsal is the indoor version of association football (soccer) that is officially sanctioned by football's international governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Its name is derived from the Portuguese futebol de salão, and the Spanish fútbol sala, both of which mean hall football.

Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of which is the goalkeeper; in addition each team may have a number of substitutes. Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the field is delimited by lines, and not nets or boards which the ball may be played off. The ball used tends to be heavier so promotes better ball control skills as well as passing on the ground. Furthermore the smaller area of play further forces players to improve their skills and decision making.

History of Futsal

The development of futsal is traced back to 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay, the same year the World Cup was held in the country. The credit for this is given to Juan Carlos Ceriani who wanted a version of football to be played at YMCAs both indoors and outdoors. Credit is also sometimes given to a similar form of football being developed in Sao Paulo, Brazil. These forms of football were quickly adopted around South America, and many of the continent's greatest stars played futsal before migrating to full-size association football. The first common rules were reportedly published in Sao Paulo in 1936.

A governing body was created in 1971 to administer the game and its championships; this was the International Indoor Football Federation (FIFUSA, from the initials in both Portuguese and Spanish), which later became the Worldwide Futsal Association (AMF). FIFA took over control over the game in 1989 and continued the tournament in its name. New rules and amendments to previous rules were created by FIFA at this point. One of the most remarkable changes was the reduction of the ball weight, which made possible faster play and, for the first time, scoring goals with the head (though this is still difficult and uncommon).

FIFA's regulating of the game has led to increasing interest, and increased participation, in futsal. Many countries are attempting to promote futsal over the informal (and 'unofficial') form of five-a-side football.

Official rules

Note: Futsal, like Football, does not employ 'rules' but has its Laws of the Game. These Laws define all aspects of the game, including what may be changed to suit local competitions and leagues.

• download the rules of futsal (right click, 'save target as')

• futsal books and manuals

Major international competitions

The FIFA Futsal World Championship is contested by 16 teams and has been held five times.

Main article: FIFA Futsal World Championship

The list of hosts and winners is as follows:

• 1989 (in Rotterdam, Netherlands): won by Brazil
• 1992 (in Hong Kong): won by Brazil
• 1996 (in Barcelona, Spain): won by Brazil
• 2000 (in Guatemala): won by Spain
• 2004 (in Taiwan): won by Spain

See also

• Futsal in Australia

external links

• Futsalplanet

• UEFA History of Futsal

• http://www.gofutsal.com/

• Dictionary definition of futsal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gordon Strachen: "I know a lot of younger players don’t love the game now, but it is not a game you love anymore. When I was young we played in the street, had fun, identified with great players, thought & talked nothing but football, lived for a Saturday game on telly. Now there’s too many games on TV & you see the kids now in their teams at 9 years old, & its do this, do that with their parents on the touchlines screaming at them…"

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