Futsal

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Futsal is an indoor version of football (soccer). Its name is derived from the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol sala/de salón, which can be translated as 'indoor football'.^[1]

Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of whom 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 that players can use to redirect the ball. Futsal is played with a #3 or #4 ball, which is slightly heavier and smaller than the #5 ball used in football.^[1] Many association football players started out playing futsal.

Other forms of indoor football games, which are played by somewhat different rules, exist and may be referred to as indoor football, five-a-side football or indoor soccer. Those games predate the formulation of official (FIFA) rules of futsal. In England, the Portuguese term futebol de salão is used to describe a slightly different sport.

Contents 1 History of futsal 2 Rules 3 Major international competitions 4 Other Competitions 4.1 Africa 4.2 Asia 4.3 Europe 4.4 North and Central America 4.5 Oceania 4.6 South America 4.7 Intercontinental 5 See also 6 References

[edit] History of futsal

The development of futsal can be traced back to 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay, the same year the inaugural World Cup was held in the country. This early form of futsal was developed by Juan Carlos Ceriani to be played at YMCAs. Ceriani's game was designed for five players per team, and could be played indoors or outdoors.^[2][3] At around the same time, a similar form of football played on basketball courts was being developed in São Paulo, Brazil. These new forms of football were quickly adopted throughout South America.^[2]. The Brazilian Confederation of Sport instituted its first official rules for futebol de salão in 1958.^[4]

The international governing body FIFUSA (Federación Internacional de Fútbol de Salón, International Futsal Federation) was created in 1971 to administer the game, and held its first futsal world championship in São Paulo in 1982. Due to an apparent dispute with FIFA over the administration of fútbol, FIFUSA coined the word futsal in 1985.^[3]

FIFA soon began to administer its own futsal games, creating its own version of the rules and hosting its first futsal world championship in 1989 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.^[2] One of the most remarkable changes was the reduction of the ball weight and increase in ball size (from a handball size to a soccer ball size 4), which enabled faster play and, for the first time, scoring goals with the head (though this is still difficult and uncommon).

In 2002, members of PANAFUTSAL (La Confederación Panamericana de Futsal, The Pan-American Futsal Confederation) formed AMF (Asociación Mundial de Fútbol de Salón, World Futsal Association), an international futsal governing body independent of FIFA and the spiritual successor of FIFUSA.^[3] Both FIFA and AMF continue to administer the game.

Some professional players start out with futsal to build fundamental skills.^[2] Brazilian players Ronaldinho, Robinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and many more started out playing futsal. There are also some notable players like Falcão who continues to play futsal at the club level.

[edit] Rules

As international governing bodies of futsal, FIFA and AMF are responsible for maintaining and promulgating the official rules of their respective versions of futsal. Like football, futsal has 'laws' that define all aspects of the game, including what may be changed to suit local competitions and leagues.

• FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game
• AMF Futsal Rules of the Game (in English and Spanish)

[edit] Major international competitions

1971 - 2002 : FIFUSA World Futsal Championships

• 1982 in São Paulo, Brazil. Winner: Brazil. Runner-Up: Paraguay.
• 1985 in Madrid, Spain. Winner: Brazil. Runner-Up: Spain.
• 1988 in Australia. Winner: Paraguay. Runner-Up: Brazil.
• 1991 in Italy. Winner: Portugal. Runner-Up: Paraguay.
• 1994 in Argentina. Winner: Argentina. Runner-Up: Colombia.
• 1997 in Mexico. Winner: Venezuela. Runner-Up: Uruguay.
• 2000 in Bolivia. Winner: Colombia. Runner-Up: Bolivia.

Since 2002 : AMF World Futsal Championships

• 2003 in Asunción, Paraguay. Winner: Paraguay. Runner-Up: Colombia.
• 2007 in Mendoza, Argentina. To follow...

Since 1989 : FIFA Futsal World Cups

Main article: FIFA Futsal World Cup

• 1989 (in Rotterdam, Netherlands). Winner: Brazil. Runner-Up: Netherlands. 3rd: USA. 4th: Belgium.
• 1992 (in Hong Kong). Winner: Brazil. Runner-Up: USA. 3rd: Spain. 4th: Iran.
• 1996 (in Barcelona, Spain). Winner: Brazil. Runner-Up: Spain. 3rd: Russia. 4th: Ukraine.
• 2000 (in Guatemala City, Guatemala). Winner: Spain. Runner-Up: Brazil. 3rd: Portugal. 4th: Russia.
• 2004 (in Taiwan). Winner: Spain. Runner-Up: Italy. 3rd: Brazil. 4th: Colombia.

[edit] Other Competitions

[edit] Africa

• African Futsal Championship
• North African Futsal Cup

[edit] Asia

• AFC Futsal Championship
• Asian Indoor Games Futsal Championship
• ASEAN Futsal Championship

[edit] Europe

• UEFA Futsal Championship
• UEFS Futsal Championship

[edit] North and Central America

• North and Central American Futsal Championship

[edit] Oceania

• Oceanian Futsal Championship

[edit] South America

• South American Futsal Championship
• Odesur Games

[edit] Intercontinental

• Futsal Mundialito
• Arab Futsal Championship

[edit] See also

• Futsal France (UNCFs)
• Futsal in Spain
• Scottish Futsal
• Futsal in Australia
• Futsal in England
• Futsal in Sweden
• Futsal in Norway
• Futsal in Iran

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Comparison between FUTSAL and SOCCER. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} For a rainy day: A brief history of futsal. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
3. ^ ^{a b c} AMF - Antecedentes (es). Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
4. ^ "The History of Futsal". Retrieved on 2007-03-02.