At Brazilian Soccer Schools, we use Futebol de Salão, a 5-a-side game, as the basis of our training. Here, we are going to delve into the benefits of playing small-sided games at our kids football club Bedford.
Futebol de Salão is the original Brazilian version of futsal. The term “futsal” originates from the Portuguese “futebol de salão” and from the Spanish “fútbol sala” or “fútbol de salón”. They are all translatable as “indoor football”.
With Futebol de Salão, the game is played between 2 teams of 5 players. It is played on a pitch that is the size of a basketball court with a smaller, size 2 football which is heavier and has virtually no bounce.
We use Futebol de Salão as the basis of our training for a variety of reasons but, in this article, we are going to look at how small-sided games really benefit children.
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Enhanced Skill Development
Playing in a small-sided game will help to really enhance your kid’s skills development. Futebol de Salão is a faster paced, tightly compressed and highly pressurised game where players get 600% more touches on the ball. This helps them to really develop core moves and skills, leading them to be highly skilled players.
Increased Engagement On The Pitch
As there are fewer players and the pitch is smaller, your kid will have to move more. This highly level of engagement on the pitch will lead to them having better fitness and agility.
Being active is really important for children and young people as it helps with their physical development, aids their mental health and it can lead them to leading healthy lives.
Improved Decision Making
A small-sided game will always be faster paced which will mean that you kid will have to make decisions faster. Playing small-sided games will help them to improve their decision making skills and their tactical awareness.
They Will Have More Fun!
Small-sided games, like Futebol de Salão, are more dynamic and engaging and this often leads to them being more fun to play. This will help your kid to really enjoy the sport and want to continue playing as they get older.
What To Expect At Our Kids Football Club Bedford
Each session typically begins with a warm-up, followed by body and ball manipulation exercises performed to music. We then focus on a specific skill for the rest of the session, such as juggling, passing, or dribbling.
Then, we will have a small-sided game with conditions. This will allow your kid to use the skills they have developed whilst helping to improve decision making skills and teamwork.
Each session then ends with a cool-down, essential for injury prevention, and a group debrief. This debrief is a crucial opportunity for our coaches to identify individual areas where a child may need extra support, ensuring every participant is set up to achieve their personal best.
Is Your Child Ready For Kids Football Club Bedford?
There are many benefits to bringing your child to a football club. It will be a great way for them to get active and to meet new friends. With our football training, we use Futebol de Salão as the basis of our training.
In Futebol de Salão, you play in teams of 5 players on a smaller pitch with a heavier ball. Playing on a smaller side will allow your kid to enhance their skills, to be more active and engaged and it will improve their decision making. They will also have more fun as playing on smaller sides leads to a more dynamic game.