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Futsal started in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani Gravier, a teacher in Montevideo, Uruguay, created a version of indoor football for recreation in YMCAs. This new sport was originally developed for playing on basketball courts, and a rule book was published in September 1933. Gravier's goal was to create a team game that could be played indoor or outdoor but that was similar to soccer, which became quite popular after Uruguay won the 1930 World Cup and gold medals in the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics.
Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced small-sided football game that is widely played across the world. The nature of the game places a large emphasis on technical skill and ability in situations of high pressure, and is subsequently an excellent breeding ground for football competencies that can be translated into the 11-a-side format of the game.
Futsal is a five-a-side game, normally played on a flat indoor pitch with 3 meter by 2 meter goals and a size 4 ball with a reduced bounce. It is played to touchlines and all players are free to enter the penalty area and play the ball over head-height. Games are 20 minutes per half, played to a stopping clock (similar to basketball) with time-outs permitted.
There are a number of differences to our traditional version of small sided football, but the dominant elements are the absence of rebound boards and amendments in the laws that encourage and foster skillful, creative play above the physical contact that tends to be a feature of traditional five-a-side.
The surface, ball, and rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity, and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.