DO & DONT'S for a Futsal players....

Here's another tips for all futsallers. I want to stress on the technique which has been utilized by alot of world class midfielder such as deco which is the big secret to many football and futsal players. The art of receiving a pass! and move!

Often times, most futsal players tend to recieve a pass ineffectively. Many failed to control the ball after receiving a pass. Here's some hint on improving your technique:-

DON'TS:

1. Body positioning must not be straight facing the person who passes while receiving a pass. This will prevent you from going forward as you need to turn around to move forward. Futsal is about speed and every second counts if your body angle while receiving the pass is your ass facing the opposing side, you need to turn 180degree for you to move forward.

2. Do not use your inner feet to receive the pass. Well, you can do that but chances are if the pass is a strong fast pass and who use your inner feet to receive the pass via blocking it, the ball may just bounce of your feet and hence you need to chase after the ball. Most of the time, we all receive passes this way, well it's ok but it consumes way too much time and keep the ball under your control.



Here's what you should do when receiving a pass/though pass

DO'S:

1. Positioning is very important while receiving a pass and to MOVE FORWARD fast!. Always stand side ways aka ready to move forward. When a pass is played to you, due to your body angle being side ways, it's much more easier for you to move forward after receiving the pass. Best is stand in a 'L' stand with the front leg ready to receive the pass and the back leg to push yourself forward for a quick move.

This next move is regarded as the most fundamental in futsal and football

2. STEP AND ROLL THE BALL! Yes... step! Stepping the ball is the best way to stop the ball! Not blocking it via using your inner feet. If possible, always step the ball to stop the ball. Why? Cause by stepping on the ball as you receive the pass, you can simultaneously roll the ball forward. THIS MOVE ALONE SAVES ALOT OF TIME! Step and roll... If you notice alot of good players tend to dribble the ball using the step and roll method? This method is a very lethal method for every futsal player to master as it improves your time to receive the ball and move forward. Step and roll also can be a basic skill to evade tackles and to cut pass your opponent. Various dribbling skills are an extension of the step and roll technique.

3. Redirect the ball to your desired path. Always use your feet to cushion and redirect the angle of the incoming pass to where ever you want the ball to be. By doing this, you saves alot of time by not stopping the ball first and then move. Always redirect the ball to an empty space. Well you don't want to direct the ball to your opponent now...do ya? You can always redirect the pass to your team-mate and hence done a 1-2 pass and play movement.

Hope some of this tips prove useful...

Goalkeeper viewpoints.....

Wow; everyone's posting their cents load; I guess I'll put up some of mine as well, just some opinions based on the viewpoints of a GK:

1. Defenders should never stand in front of the person they're marking. Always stand 1-2 steps behind them or 1 step either left or right of them. Standing in front of them will give them more time to react if the ball cuts in behind you. This is the same for GKs.

2. Set-piece defending. Most set piece defending are won by i)positioning and ii) anticipation. Always start your first defensive position to cut out all passing options to the opposing team. Next; be aware of the players running into the box and anticipate the ball's movement when released to them. When you're part of a defensive wall; NEVER turn your back to the ball; just cover your vital parts with your hands. If you're scared of the ball, you should not even be playing. This is equally true when blocking a striker's shot. Take it like a man.

3. 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 defending. If your team has conceeded a breakaway; for a 1-on-1, let the GK deal with the oncoming striker; your job is to cover the GK's loose angles and deal with any loose balls. You should head towards the goal line, covering any available angles. It has to be remembered that in 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 situations; the best form of defense is time wasting. You're trying to stall the opponents while your teammates return to help out in defending. For 2-on-2s; once again, depending on how far into your area the opponents are; remember to utilize your GK whenever possible. If the 2 strikers are onto you and your GK is behind you; stand central to the goalposts, outside the D box to push the opponents into separate wings to reduce their shooting angles; and in that central location; just block all attempts on goal while your teammates return. However; if your GK is not behind you; ensure that you take on one man while the GK handles the other. In most cases; take the nearest opponent.

4. If you know you can't get to the ball; let it go. Trying to be too gung ho will only result in injuries.

5. Your GK is also playing and can help serve as the extra man where possible. However, be careful not to place the GK under unnecessary pressure to avoid mistakes.

Of all the positions in Futsal; it's ironic that GK is the hardest and most crucial; yet, it's often the most neglected part of the team. Ask any international futsal coach and he'll tell you that finding a GK is the hardest part of team selection. This is mainly because futsal GKs cover alot of technical and physical conditioning and training as they have to do 2 roles, whereas outfield players only have 1 main role.

Tips for defender....

I shall share some stuff regarding defender...and here's some of my opinion and advice on how to be a good defender in futsal:-

1. Always keep an eye for the runner aka the striker from the opposing team who will make a run towards your D-box via left side or right side or even in the middle. As a last man of the team, the defender have to keep a watchful eye on the runner and never let him get the through pass or a high lobbing pass.

2. While defending, it's important to pressure and mark your opposing team's striker. Giving him too much space will lead to your opponent getting a pass from his team-mates. Always keep a tight pressure and mark on the striker at all times. The term 'shadow' means to follow him and pressure him. *Do not attempt to steal the ball (See below points). Just stick to him as a shadow about 1 meter from him. Cause if marking too near will cause a problem if the opposing player manage to twist and turn or cut you on your side. So too close marking is a no-no. Too far marking also is a no-no, coz if marking too far, that's not a 'marking' already.

3. Never ever go for a tackle except you are 100% sure, that you will get the ball. It's a HUGE sin for defender to react first because the opposing member can read your movement and move to the opposite direction of your challenge/tackle. Always anticipate and wait for the opponent to move, then only you go for the tackle. By doing this, you can improve your tackle and ball stealing rate by ALOT!

4. Watch the ball and not the opponent's body. Always keep your eye on the ball cause you want to tackle for the ball and not the player. Body movement is often used by players to provide a dummy to confuse defenders into the path of movement. Often times defenders get fooled by the dummy moves done with body and often they use a fake move to cheat the defender into believing they are going on one way but goes to another.

5. Never stand straight while defending. This is a major no-no. Always stand side ways either right or left depending on the opponent's movement of the ball. Standing straight will cause to delay in chasing after the opponent after he has cut passed you. Always stand sideways aka ever ready to run back either left of right. And also never ever let your two legs opened up too big for this will be exploited by opponent in giving you a ball-thru-between-ya-two-leg @ panna @ ole @ 20cent @ kangkang. Do not chase the player with the ball, skip this by moving in a arch shape via d-box line. If the player is movin in from the side either left or right, don't follow! Just move back and cover the d-box angle. This will save you time.

6. Positioning and anticipate and cutting a pass or through pass aka LURING. This is one of the most important part as being a DEFENDER. Aside from man marking, positioning and anticipate while luring is THE MOST IMPORTANT technique and tactic for a defender to steal a pass. First, defender and to position himself quite far apart from striker or flanker but not too far. REMEMBER this is not man marking! This is LURING the opposing players to have an impression that their striker/flankers are unmarked, thus when the pass is played or a through pass is played, your job is to cut in a 45degree angle to intercept the pass/through pass. To perfect this baiting and luring technique requires time and practice and also fast movement and anticipation. Psycho your opponent in giving them false assumption and lure them. Quick feet movement and fast body reaction need to be perfected to fully utilize this technique.

7. Use your goalie as a safety assurance when you are being pressured. Always fully utilize the goalie if you find yourself cornered and all your passing option are closed.

8. Always pass! Don't try to be hero in trying to dribble and cut if you are the last man defending. Cause if you screwed up and the opposing team gets the ball, your goalie will curse you to hell! And followed by several curse from your fellow team-mates.

9. Don't be afraid in getting forward! Defenders can always act as flankers and also a holding midfielder. Always utilized a 1-2 play to get yourself forward into the middle area fast!

10. Always keep and eye to your flank and striker to release a pass/through pass early. Whenever is a chance where your team-mates above are unmarked, quickly release the ball to them via pass/through pass. Always be alert.

Defender not only act as a "DEFENDER" but often time are also the "PLAYMAKER" in the futsal game. By practicing passes, defender are a team's playmaker and chance-creator by giving 'threat-balls' to your flank and your striker. And most of the time the ball are in your control and every decision making move are basically in the hands of the players who are closest to the goalie.

Hopefully some of this tips might prove useful for you all.