Futsal Positions: Roles and Characteristics of each Position

We all know that one of the first steps towards having a successful Futsal team is defining the positions of the players on the court. Although it may look very easy, selecting the 4 field players can sometimes be overlooked and this can cause an instability on the team. In this video we will explain the main Futsal positions and its most important characteristics.

Before we start talking about the positions and characteristics of players, it's important to take into consideration that in Futsal it is essential that teams have constant exchange of positions between players and great mobility. The reason why we should have versatile players who can perform in different positions during certain moments of the match.

For this explanation we'll use the 3-1 system as a parameter to assign the positions, since the most used formation.

The first position in Futsal is, just like in Football, is the GK. The goalkeeper, perhaps, is the most essential player on the team, given that is the one who protects the net. A good Futsal goalie must be agile, have good field positioning, and communicate a lot with his teammates to organize the defensive system. In addition, the GK needs to have a good mindset and be resilient, as the chances to get scored on are much higher in the game.

The second position is called the Fixo, which means "Fixed" in english. It has nothing to do with a player being fixed in front of the GK. Maybe when the game was created, due to the lower level of movements and rotations, yes, it was related to the position, but with the evolution of the sport and the constant need for exchange of positions, the Fixo is as important as any other player to attack or score goals. The Fixo is usually located in the farthest position on the court and is responsible for the majority of defensive tackles.

The main role is to defend, but a player in this position must know the exact moment to participate in offensive plays, as an organizer, finding spaces for teammates and arriving as a surprise player to score.

The third position is called "Alas." There are 2, the right and left Alas who usually play on the sidelines of the field, creating width to the team. They are usually fast players, with good dribbling and finishing skills. Tactically, a good Ala needs to take advantage in 1 × 1 duels to create a numerical advantage for the team. On the other side, it is also important for Alas to be defensively skilled, as they have to support defense when not in possession.

The last position is the Pivot. They are usually the most advanced players on teams. Important characteristics of a good Pivot are to have good ball control, be a good passer, and also great at finishing. This position usually receives the ball with the back to the opposing GK. After receiving a pass from a teammate the Pivot can either pass the ball to an approaching teammate or try to spin and finish the play.

Bear in mind that the distribution of players on the court do not necessarily mean that they cannot execute another player's function during matches. Assigning players to specific positions is only commonly given in less experienced or technical teams. In well trained or more experienced teams, players only start the play at the position, but once the ball is played, they are free to move according to the situation.