You’ve decided to take the leap or are thinking of joining a futsal team, congratulations. It’s a great sport that will make you fitter, improve your skills and you’ll make new friends doing so.Futsal is fast and furious and filled with excitement. We’ve done our best to ensure you’re fully informed on what to expect when joining a futsal team for the first time.
How to Join A Futsal Team? In order to join a futsal team, you’ll need to find a side that is looking for players. To do this you should looking in the following places:
- Contact your local YMCA/recreation center and register your interest
- Search local online notice boards
- Try the Fubles app
- Search local futsal sides on Facebook
- Attend local games and speak to teams
Once you’ve found a team that is willing to give you the opportunity to register as a player, you’ll need to carry out a number of steps from passing trials, paying registration fees and getting uniforms fitted. If you can carry out all of these processes that’s only the start, you’ll need to work hard and stay committed to reach your goal of becoming a great futsal player.
Finding the Right Futsal Team
Finding the right team is very important, if you’re new to futsal you’ll rely on them to give you your introduction to the sport.
If it goes bad or you have the wrong vibe from the team at the get go you run the risk of a sour experience which could make you turn your back on futsal for good.
We don’t want that, we have seen it happen on a number of occasions from youth teams to senior sides, some great players have turned their backs due to a few rotten eggs.
When you are seeking a team to join it’s as much about you proving yourself as it is about them proving to you that they are a desirable destination.
Things to look for in a good futsal team are:
- Organization: are they structured correctly i.e. manager/coach, captain, group of committed players.
- Transparency: in amateur leagues particularly, transparency can be an issue in terms of opportunities, playing time and even the payment of fees. Try and speak to current players and ensure everyone is treated equally.
- Growth: if you want to start futsal for a social kick around or a stepping stone to something bigger it’s important that you find a club that shares the same values as you do or you’ll both be left disappointed.
What You’ll Need
The most important thing you’ll need is the right attitude, leave all egos or opinions at the door and be willing to learn, assist others and work hard.
As with any sport there are a few pieces of equipment that you’ll need to purchase if you don’t already have them in order to be able to play effectively.
Futsal shoes are not a “no futsal shoes no play” requirement, however, we do not recommend turning up to a game of futsal in your basketball shoes and outdoor soccer boots wouldn’t be allowed on the court either.
If you can’t afford or find a pair of futsal shoes that’s fine, tennis shoes can be worn and one of our favorites as a substitute is the Dunlop volleys. Although they don’t provide the thickness or grip of futsal shoes, they do a decent job.
Shin Pads are not to be overlooked, although you won’t face the prospect of studs hitting you shouldn’t forget that you are playing on a hard surface and futsal players do stick legs out late.
We don’t recommend playing without shin pads, different leagues and competitions will have different rules that will dictate whether they are required or not.
Sock tape is great to prevent your socks sliding down and your shin pads becoming uncovered.
Similar looking to electrical tape, you can expect to feel much more “together” in the legs as you’ll feel more secure due to the compression, I can’t play without it.
You can’t afford to miss a second in futsal because of loose shin pads, socks or boots. I encourage players to tape not only their socks but also laces, jewelry and any piercings.
If you plan on being a shot stopper/goalkeeper in addition to the above you’ll need a couple of extra pieces, these will not only help you grip the ball better but will add some safeguards to ensure you can keep playing injury free.
Mouthguards are not overkill by any means, I know of at least three occasions where a goalkeeper has suffered mouth injuries in futsal from stopping shots with their teeth to wearing loose elbows.
Teeth are not a cheap thing to fix, you could also end up missing time off work. It’s better to be safe than sorry – consider investing in a mouth guard.
Futsal goalkeeper gloves, slightly different to soccer goalkeeper gloves the keeper gloves in futsal will usually have the fingers exposed with padded gripped area in the palm of the hand.
Gloves will prevent your hand from getting stung and will allow for extra grip to prevent the ball from slipping inadvertently.
Kneepads and goalkeeper pants, goalkeepers in futsal will be doing a lot of sliding around the place. If you’ve ever seen someone slip on the basketball court, you’ll know that it’s painful.
It’s important to keep yourself protected when playing especially if it’s at an amateur level or children’s league.
Getting Fit for Futsal Trials
Depending on what level of futsal you’re intending to play, and the club requirements trials may or may not be on the table. If they are, you’ll need to prepare your body for a lot of running.
There’s an emphasis on explosive pace in futsal so you’ll need to have a good cardio system to keep up with the pace of things.
In the lead up to your trials you should do some of the following exercises to boost your cardio:
- Start practicing the beep test, if you can get between a level 8 to 10 you should have decent baseline to build from. Read our guide on the beep test here if you’d like some pointers.
- Practice running up and down stairs, most cities and towns around the world will have local schools, colleges or other buildings that aren’t used often outside of business hours.
- Run at least 30 minutes per day.
- Play futsal! Go to the local futsal venue and have a runaround, nothing beats getting fit and doing something you love.
You should also consider minor dieting, again this is dependent on the team you’re seeking to join. Make sure you get medical advice before dieting or partaking in strenuous exercises.
Things to Expect When You’re Part Of A Team
Once you’ve successfully found a team to join there will likely be a little bit more involved than just showing up for match day.
Most futsal teams will have one to two training sessions per week, it’s important to attend at least one of these if you can. Better if you can attend both.
Training is important as it will allow you to go over tactics, learn how the team plays and get comfortable with your teammates and allow you to show your commitment to the cause.
Unless you’re playing at a professional level or have another deal going on, you’ll be required to contribute money towards fees etc.
These fees will be used to cover things like match costs, training costs and equipment like uniforms and balls.
Expect to Earn Your Place
Just because you’ve earned a spot in the team doesn’t mean you’ve earned a spot on the court. Futsal has 5 players on the court at any one times and each team can have 12 substitutes.
Let that sink in for a moment, 17 players all competing for a limited number of places. You need to attend as many training sessions as possible, maintain a high level of fitness and get very use to the game of futsal.
Practice does make perfect and futsal is no different, as futsal players progress throughout their playing careers they’ll often find that the players remaining were not necessarily the ones who were the most skillful but those that stuck with the game and gave it their best efforts.
Related Questions
Can I Use Futsal Shoes to Play on Grass?
You shouldn’t use futsal shoes on grass, they don’t have the required studs to dig into the ground and provide adequate support.
If there is any form of liquid on the field of play you will likely slip and suffer an injury.
futsalguide.com 