“If it wasn’t for futsal I wouldn’t be the player I am today.”
– Cristiano Ronaldo

At the very heart of SoulBall’s philosophy is the fusion of the core elements of futsal, football and street football.

So, what is futsal?

Futsal is a small-sided game that was first developed in Uruguay and Brazil during the 1930s, and that players such as Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Coutinho and Pele all grew up playing.

The distinct differences of futsal in comparison to football are:

The ball is heavier and smaller – size 4 for adults, size 3 for teenagers and size 2 for children

The sole of the foot is used a lot to control and move the ball

The game is played indoor on a hard surface

The court is marked out by lines

Kick-ins replace throw-ins

4 seconds rule for kick-ins, free kicks and a goalkeeper’s time with the ball

It is 5 v 5 with roll on / roll off subs

The goals are the same size as handball / similar to field hockey

The court is generally slightly larger than a full size basketball court

The small space, the heavier ball and the time-limit on kick-ins and goalkeepers all contribute to a fast-paced game that requires quick-thinking, skill, intelligent movement and confidence on the ball.

Here is a wonderful compilation of skills by the Portuguese futsal player, Ricardinho, who is considered as one of the best futsal players of all time.

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