Developing the Modern Footballer through Futsal

By Michael Skubala and Seth Burkett

For Pele, futsal was “very important, no doubt”. The Brazilian FIFA Player of the Century grew up playing futsal before transitioning to the 11-a-side game. So did many others – from household-name superstars to semi-professionals to Sunday league players.

The benefits of futsal have recently entered the mainstream, with initiatives, facilities, and organisations being created, but there are still coaches who are wary of using the sport to develop footballers. In the ever-changing modern game of football, futsal can give players an advantage over others.

In Developing the Modern Footballer through Futsal, England futsal coach Michael Skubala, and Seth Burkett, detail the ways in which futsal can be used to develop the technical and tactical skills of players of all abilities.

Aimed at coaches of all levels and ages, Developing the Modern Footballer through Futsal is a concise and practical book that provides an easy-to-understand and comprehensive guide to the ways in which futsal can be used as a development tool for football. From defending and attacking to transitional play and goalkeeping, this book provides something for everyone and aims to get you up-and-running fast.

Over 50 detailed sessions are provided, with each one related to specific football scenarios and detailing how performance in these scenarios can be improved through futsal. From gegenpressing to innovative creative play under pressure, this book outlines how futsal can be used to develop a wide range of football-specific skills, giving your players the edge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bennion Kearny
• Release date: Feb 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781910515198

Book preview

Developing The Modern Footballer Through Futsal

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By Michael Skubala and Seth Burkett

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[Smashwords Edition]

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Published in 2015 by Bennion Kearny Limited.

Copyright © Bennion Kearny Ltd 2015

ISBN: 978-1-910515-19-8

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that it which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Bennion Kearny has endeavoured to provide trademark information about all the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Bennion Kearny cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Published by Bennion Kearny Limited, 6 Woodside, Churnet View Road, Oakamoor, Staffordshire, ST10 3AE

www.BennionKearny.com

Inside photos courtesy of Matt Withers | www.matthewwithersphotography.com

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

About the Authors

Download The Illustrations

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Laws of the Game

Chapter 2: The Basics of Futsal

Control

Session: Control 1 - Finding Key Areas

Session: Control 2 - College Dropout

Session: Control 3 - Control the Line

Passing, Moving and Feinting

Session: Passing, Moving and Feinting 1 - Checkmate

Session: Passing, Moving and Feinting 2 - Lose your Man

Session: Passing, Moving and Feinting 3 - Endzone

Travelling with the Ball

Session: Travelling with the Ball 1 - Fightball

Session: Travelling with the Ball 2 - Braveheart

Session: Travelling with the Ball 3 - Need for Speed

Shooting

Session: Shooting 1 - Get Set to Shoot

Session: Shooting 2 - Special Delivery

Session: Shooting 3 - Stick or Twist

Chapter 3: Defending

Session: Defending as a Zonal Diamond 1

Session: Defending as a Zonal Diamond 2

Session: Defending as a Zonal Diamond 3 (Advancing to Press)

Session: Defending in a High Press 1 (1-1-1-2)

Session: Defending in a High Press 2 (1-1-1-2)

Session: Defending in a High Press 3 (1-1-1-2)

Session: Defending Man for Man 1

Session: Defending Man for Man 2

Session: Defending Man for Man Follow Through

Chapter 4: Attacking

Session: Developing Finishing in Key Areas - The Money-Maker

Session: Counter-Attacking 1 - Box to Boxing

Session: Counter-Attacking 2 - Counter the Counter

Session: Counter-Attacking 3 - Make it Count

Session: Decision-Making in Possession - No Rest for the Wicked

Session: Fly Keeper - I Believe I Can Fly

Session: Developing Forward Combination Play - Don’t Wait; Create

Session: Combining to Play Forward in a 3-1 Formation - Transfer Window

Session: Combination Play - Linking the Chain

Session: Developing Combination Play and Making Rotations Fluid - Over the Underload

Session: Rotating as a Three

Session: Rotating as a 2-2

Session: Rotating as a 3-1 Using a False Pivot

Session: Rotating as a 4-0

Chapter 5: Goalkeeping

Session: Defending 1v1 Situations 1

Session: Defending 1v1 Situations 2

Session: Defending 1v1 Situations 3

Session: Control, Passing and Distribution 1

Session: Control, Passing and Distribution 2

Session: Control, Passing and Distribution 3

Chapter 6: Fitness

Session: Aerobic Endurance

Session: Anaerobic Endurance

Session: Anaerobic Endurance & General Conditioning

Session: Acceleration-Deceleration

Chapter 7: Final Thoughts

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Dedication

For the rock in my life, Samantha, our little princess Gracie Rose, and

the rest of my family, for all your love and support.

Michael

For all of those who continue to inspire me in everything I do.

Seth

Acknowledgements

When Michael approached me to ask whether I wanted to help produce a book on futsal, it didn’t require much thought on my behalf. ‘Skubes’ has had a great influence on my own development in futsal, and his approach is both innovative and engaging. I believed he had a whole host of ideas waiting to be released that could truly benefit the wider community.

Skubes is just one of a number of excellent coaches I have been fortunate enough to work with. Alongside figures such as Idafe Perez Jimenez, he is helping to shape the sport of futsal in this country. I am indebted to all of those coaches who helped shape me as a young footballer, in addition to those in Brazil who introduced me to the concept of futsal as a development tool for football. 

Thanks also go to my publisher, James Lumsden-Cook, for believing in this book and helping us to develop it. The guidance of Ian Ridley has also been pivotal in developing my own writing style over the years. It was Ian who encouraged me to write as often as possible. 

Skubes and I couldn’t have done this without help. The contributions of England futsal goalkeeping coach Tony Elliott and England futsal sports scientist Daniel Berdejo del-Fresno – for chapters 5 and 6 – were immense. Their knowledge proved to be priceless.

Finally, thanks go to my family who continue to support me in whatever I pursue. I am truly grateful. Seth

This book and indeed my career to date would not exist without some significant events and having so many significant people invest a great deal of time into my development, to which I am eternally grateful. First of all I would like to thank my mum, dad and family for always being there for me and supporting me in whatever I have done: playing, coaching or life.

I would also like to thank Graeme Dell for introducing me to the game of Futsal many years ago as a player, and then for opening my eyes to the coaching world. Playing under Graeme taught me many things around detail and organisation in elite performance environments. I would also like to thank my good friend and great coach James Ellis, who saw something in me as a budding young coach and gave me the opportunity to work at Loughborough University. Being in such a prestigious sporting environment has given me a number of great experiences.

James challenged me on what elite performance actually looks like, and working so closely with him on Great Britain’s university football team was an incredible experience that was priceless in my personal development.

Lastly, I would like to thank Pete Sturgess, not only for believing in me and giving me the opportunity at a very early age to become an international coach, but also for being my mentor and good friend. I have been privileged to learn and work alongside a great man for many years: the conversations around coaching, coach education and performance are priceless for me to lay down my own path and style within the coaching world. Everyone you meet shapes who you are and, for me, these three people are key to where I am today in my coaching career.

Most importantly I would like to thank my beautiful wife Samantha for always being there for me and allowing me to follow my dreams. You are my rock and my world. Thank you for being there and giving birth to our amazing princess Gracie Rose. Sam you are an amazing wife and an amazing mother – this book is for you! Michael

About the Authors

Michael Skubala is the England Futsal Assistant Head Coach, a position he has held for the last five years. Prior to this, he captained the side, and holds the record number of playing appearances for England. In addition to this, Michael is the Head Coach to the England under-23 squad, Great Britain Universities, the International Futsal Academy [www.internationalfutsalacademy.com], and Loughborough University. He is currently coaching the FA Futsal Level One and Level Two awards, one of only two coaches qualified to do so. In football, Michael holds his UEFA A Licence and is Performance Manager of Loughborough University Football Club. Previously he has been assistant football coach of Great Britain Universities. On Twitter, he is @mskubala.

Seth Burkett is the last Englishman to play professional football in Brazil. In Brazil, he became aware of futsal, understanding how it was used to develop Brazilian footballers. Upon returning to England, he began to play the sport. Seth has an honours degree in Sports Science from Loughborough, as well as a Master’s degree in English. His previous books include Hobby and The Boy in Brazil, declared by the Daily Mirror as ‘a captivating tale of a lad who refused to give up on his dream’. On Twitter, he is @burkett86.

Download The Illustrations

You are reading an electronic version of this book and will likely find some of the illustrations difficult to explore fully on your Kindle or Nook or iPhone.

All the illustrations in this book are available as a freely downloadable PDF.

Download the file from the publisher’s web page at: www.bennionkearny.com/Futsal.pdf

Foreword

In English football, there is a sense that we