1.

3 THE PRINCIPLES must try to find spaces that will provide Possession game, 5v5 on a 1/2–sized court,
PETITE CORRECTION

the player in possession with passing one touch/unlimited touches

OF FUTSAL
options. Off-the-ball movement
can be used to support the player 1
in possession or to find gaps in the
defence, with team-mates taking up
positions where a pass will enable the
attacking move to continue.

6. Support
This is the action taken by players
1.3.1 Basic core attacking concepts 2. Body positioning without the ball to create passing
This is another basic core concept that options for the player in possession by
Regardless of the formation adopted on the pitch determines both the ability to perceive situations means of movement off the ball. The
or the attacking system deployed, the correct and, to a large extent, tactical intent. Positioning support players must constantly seek
application of technical options and our ability to the body in one way or another can alter the to assist the player in possession.
evaluate and analyse the game will depend to a options available with and without the ball.
large extent on the basic core concepts of attacking Positioning the body correctly in response to 7. Feinting
play. Generally speaking, the most basic core the game situation can increase the tactical This is a core technical/tactical concept
concepts are those that involve perception/motor or options available, affording the player improved that involves a shift or movement of
coordination skills and individual attacking tactics spatial and temporal perception of their position the body with the aim of deceiving LEARNING UNIT NUMBER OF PLAYERS
(individual technical/tactical options), as the greater and situation in relation to their team-mates, or confusing a direct opponent so Individual and group technical/tactical 10.
the group aspect of the core concept, the greater opponents and the ball. that they themselves make a shift or options.
the complexity. It therefore follows that these basic movement that enables the player EQUIPMENT
core concepts are the foundation upon which small- 3. Controlling space with the ball and in performing the feint to then execute a PHASE Balls, bibs and cones.
Skills acquisition/proficiency.
group tactics (small-group technical/tactical options) relation to one’s marker subsequent planned action.
DRILL DESCRIPTION
and team tactics (team technical/tactical options) Being able to control the space needed to CONTENT • Possession game on a half-sized court
may then be developed. execute manoeuvres in a controlled manner 8. Switching the play Basic core attacking and defensive (20x20m), 5v5.
is another key factor at a tactical level. The This involves the player in possession concepts. Decision-making when passing. • Both teams try to keep possession of the
Basic core attacking concepts can be defined as player‘s ability to position themselves at the selecting a passing option that Body positioning. Visual command of the ball. Once a team loses possession, it
being comprised of movement, positioning and correct distance and in the correct direction and changes the focus of the play to a playing area. Marking. Tackling. Closing switches to defence. If the ball goes out of
attacking elements, executed either individually or position in relation to the defender marking different area of the court in order to down passing angles. Spatial awareness in play, a kick-in is awarded against the team
switching positions. that last touched the ball.
in combination with team-mates, depending on the them when they receive the ball or are already improve the options available to the
• Conditions: if a one-touch pass is played
aim or objective of the attack (e.g. keeping the ball, in possession of it involves anticipating, at all team. The switching of play involves OBJECTIVES to a team-mate, that team-mate can take
developing play, finishing on goal/scoring a goal). times, defensive actions while they are on the the player in possession shifting their To improve the basic core attacking and as many touches as they like. However, if
These elements provide players with the options ball. In anticipating these actions the player body into position and moving the ball defensive concepts needed to keep and a player takes more than one touch, the
needed to execute effective solutions to problems must also bear in mind their subsequent into position and then making use of recover possession. team-mate that they pass to may only take
they may encounter during the game. Given that tactical intentions. As we can see, all of these it by playing a pass or running with it. one touch.
decision-making relies on an analysis of the game efforts are designed to make it difficult for the
situation, based on perception, this means that core defender to carry out their man-marking duties.
perception and decision-making concepts are the
foundation of good tactics. 4. Applying the basic core technical concepts
As we have already seen, while passing, control,
The basic core attacking concepts can be touch, dribbling and shooting are all technical
categorised as follows: elements, the use of them in any given game
situation involves a prior cognitive process, namely
1. Visual command of the playing area perception and decision-making. We could say
Making the right decisions based on analysis that tactics are both the cause and the effect of
of the game involves the player having a visual any technical element.
command of the area around them, including
the position of the ball and the positions of 5. Off-the-ball movement
team-mates and opponents. A player needs to This is the movement a player makes to prevent
know where, how and what to look for at all an opposing player from marking them when
times of the game. their team has possession of the ball. The team

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 Perception game, 4v4 plus goalkeepers in
PE T I T E C O R R E CTION 9. Creating passing angles 12. Buying time in attack Drill with equal/inferior/superior numbers,
a 40x20m playing area, one touch Passing is key to any attacking link-up Just as defences can buy time, so scoring in two goals; extra players added
play. The more passing options there are can we also reduce the tempo when
2 available, the easier the decision-making attacking in order to slow things down one by one
process is for the player in possession. and execute the attack at a slower 3
Therefore, attacking players, both the pace. In altering the pace of play,
one in possession and those without we are then able to create a more
the ball, must always look for ways to favourable or advantageous situation
create passing opportunities. in which to execute our tactics.

10. Creating/occupying/using space 13. Blocking

Game situations vary according An action executed by one player on
to the spaces and passing angles an opposing player defending against
available to the player in possession. a team-mate who is in possession (a
Most attacking movements without direct block), or on an opposing player
the ball are designed to change the defending against another team-mate
areas where space is available or to who is not in possession but is looking
make use of the space that is already to receive the ball (an indirect block).
available. A player can create space by Acting within the rules, an attacking
moving from one area to another and player takes up a position to stop the
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Individual and group technical/tactical 8 plus two goalkeepers.
opening up space in an area that was defender from getting into a specific
options. previously occupied. This causes one area of the court, thereby enabling
EQUIPMENT of the defenders to alter position, as this space to be used by the team-
PHASE Balls and bibs. they move in response to the attacking mate in question (who may or may
Skills acquisition/proficiency. movement of the opponent without not be in possession of the ball). LEARNING UNIT DRILL DESCRIPTION
DRILL DESCRIPTION the ball. Another option available to Individual and group technical/tactical • Drill on a 20x20m court with 4v4 plus
CONTENT • Real game situation, 4v4 plus GK, one options. goalkeepers and one server per team. The
an attacking player is to make runs 14. Moving without the ball
Basic core attacking and defensive concepts. touch, but two touches if the ball comes two teams form a line, one on each side
Decision-making when passing. Creating from an opponent, or from a team-mate off the ball and supporting runs to We have already discussed the
PHASE of the court with their respective server
passing angles. Body positioning. Visual who has taken one touch, or in order to occupy space. The ultimate objective benefits of the core concept of
Skills acquisition. positioned on the opposite side. One by
command of the playing area. Spatial finish on goal. of creating and occupying space is players moving off the ball in order one, additional players are added to each
command over the marker. Closing down • The player is forced to evaluate the always to make use of this space when to create better passing options and CONTENT team. Every time a player comes on, the
passing angles. Watchfulness. Pressing situation before receiving the ball, and receiving the ball. more space. However, this is worth Core technical/tactical concepts. Finishing server on that team plays the ball onto the
the ball on passing angles. Anticipation. position their body so as to gain visual reiterating, given its importance, as on goal. Peripheral vision and awareness of court.
Intercepting, etc. command of the court and play a one- surroundings. Making the most of a numerical • Once the ball is in play, nobody else can
11. Drawing out the opposition it makes it harder for defenders to
touch pass if necessary. When the ball advantage/copying with a disadvantage. enter the court until the ball is out of play
OBJECTIVES comes to the player, they must know When an attacking player is in anticipate danger, mark effectively,
Execution speed when finishing on goal. or a goal is scored. The server can play the
To improve the basic core attacking and what to do and make the right decision as possession, there is a big difference and make use of all the core
Perception and decision-making. ball to any player who is on, or about to
defensive concepts needed to develop play, quickly as possible. between moving into the defender‘s perceptive and decision-making enter, the court.
recover possession, prevent the opposition space and the defender breaking concepts they possess. OBJECTIVES • The situations are: 1vGK, 1v1, 2v1, 2v2,
from developing play and getting into a into the attacking player’s space. By To improve decision-making when presented 3v2, 3v3, 4v3, 4v4. Players can score in
position to finish on goal. moving into the defender’s space, and with opportunities to finish on goal quickly either of the two goals, but only when
by correctly positioning their body, and to increase speed/accuracy when keeping all of the attackers on the court have
an attacking player can find effective the ball moving and in the final third. touched the ball, and they can change
direction whenever they wish. After the
solutions that the defender will
NUMBER OF PLAYERS game reaches 4v4, the sequence begins
struggle to prevent or control. 10 plus goalkeepers. again, with the order in which players
enter the court changing.
EQUIPMENT
Balls and bibs.

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