Futsal For Football
Futsal for Football: Why It Has to Be FUTSAL
There’s no question that futsal can play a huge part in helping football development — and we’ll even be doing some work in this area ourselves. But let’s make one thing clear from the start: it has to be FUTSAL.
Only when futsal is played properly does it have the desired effects. There’s far more to it than simply moving indoors and using a heavier ball.
Lately, we’ve seen more and more people using the word “futsal” — but is it really futsal? Or has it just become a convenient label during the winter months when football is effected by poor weather?
For many, “futsal” has turned into a way to keep a football academy operational through bad weather — and to sell parents a version of futsal that isn’t actually futsal at all.
Futsal is its own sport — not just indoor football
To coach futsal properly, you need to have a passion and a deep understanding of the game. It’s not just about smaller spaces or a different ball — it’s about so much more technically, tactically, physically and mentally.
If it were simply about playing in small spaces, ask yourself a simple question. . . “why wouldn’t children just continue to play 5-a-side football?” The difference lies in the detail — futsal has its own structure, rules, techniques, and tactical demands that create an entirely different learning environment. It’s these elements that make futsal such an effective and intelligent development tool for young players.
When players are exposed to the real principles of futsal — constant involvement, transitions defending & attacking, quick decision-making, positional rotations, technical aspects, awareness, distribution, anticipation and creativity under pressure (plus much more) that’s when it starts to influence their football in a meaningful way.
But this only happens when the focus and commitment from coaches, players, and parents are directed toward FUTSAL itself.
Why True Futsal Matters
When futsal is played and coached properly, it becomes a powerful platform for development — not just technically, but tactically, mentally, physically, and socially. Players learn how to think faster, react smarter, and adapt to pressure.
Futsal demands constant involvement — there’s no hiding, no standing still. Every player is always part of the action, both in and out of possession. This continuous engagement builds focus, discipline, and awareness, helping players learn how to deliver on the small details consistently.
Tactically, futsal teaches players how to understand space, create angles, and recognise movement patterns plus much more. It encourages quick rotations, off-the-ball intelligence, and anticipation — all of which translate directly into a deeper understanding of football.
When delivered correctly, futsal develops composure, awareness, and confidence on the ball that few other environments can replicate in our opinion.
However, when futsal is delivered as “just indoor football,” those benefits disappear. What’s left is simply a different version of 5-a-side football— without the structure, principles, or learning outcomes that make futsal special.
Developing Futsal in Scotland
We understand that in Scotland, developing a real understanding of futsal can be a challenge. There’s still limited recognition of the sport, albeit there is great work being done across the country by organisations like ourselves at Joga, Futsal Escocia, Strathaven Dynamo, PYF, Aberdeen Futsal Academy, and others who are striving to grow the game at all levels.
The opportunity to learn is limited at the moment due to the lack of coach education available, which makes genuine futsal knowledge and experience even more important.
At Joga, we are fully committed to FUTSAL. Our coaches are individuals with genuine futsal backgrounds — from UEFA B in Futsal qualifications to experiences gained in Spain, Croatia, France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and beyond. Learning from some of the world’s top coaches such as Mico Martić and Sergio Gargelli, we ensure that every player in our programme benefits from a truly authentic futsal experience.
Our Commitment
At Joga Futsal, we’re passionate about developing both futsal players and footballers through authentic futsal. We believe in respecting the game, understanding it deeply, and coaching it with the detail and intent it deserves.
Because only then will futsal truly benefit your child’s football.