Whether you play it for fun, or at a professional level, we all love to win when we play futsal. To do so, we must consider tactics as one of the most important parts of the game. The way your teammates position in the field plays an important strategic role to win any game, including futsal. Today we are going to teach you 6 useful futsal formations and consider their pros and cons.

First, let’s start with the basics. In traditional football where teams are made of 11 players, there is a series of formations that teams use: either be the popular 4-4-2, the modern 4-3-3, or the hybrid 4-5-1.

On the contrary, in Futsal, since there are significantly fewer players, most of them tend to unintentionally play all positions at some point during the game. However, there are three key roles in futsal: the goalkeeper, the defender and the attacker. These three positions are the main ones that players will chose almost every game, with small differences depending on your goal, your opponent’s strength, and the players’ familiarity with each other.

So, without further ado, let’s jump into the formations!

 

Great Futsal Formations When You Prefer to Be Defensive

The Pyramid (2-1-1)

This formation consists of 2 defenders, 1 midfielder and 1 attacker. As it is a defensive lineup the end result would be, theoretically, fewer goals, but it is the most effective team formation against strongest opponents or if you’re thinking of playing half-court press.

Keep in mind that your most powerful and effective attacker needs to be on the front line, and your teammates, who are good defenders, at the back. However, the key to success in this formation is the position of the midfielder since he works as the link between defense and attack. He becomes the third man back in a defensive position or the only one supporting the attacker when the team counterattacks. This guy needs to be the fastest and most skillful player in your team.

 

The Wall (3-0-1)

No one will be able to step in your game. This is the Pyramid on steroids. As a super defensive strategy, it is better to adopt it only during certain periods of a match, rather than as the default training/strategy. With 3 defenders and 1 attacker, there will be fewer goals than with other setups, but this formation comes in handy when you are preventing the other team to score (if they are stronger than you) or for protecting an advantage.

Disclaimer: tell your attacker to be very patient since he will only have to play pivot.

 

The Best Futsal Formations To Use When You Choose to Be Neutral

The Square (2-0-2)

Okay. So maybe your team has little experience playing together. This formation provides a simple balance with two defenders and two attackers which ensures that there will always be support in both attack and defense. It is different because most teams tend to attack or defend with 3 players.

The cons? Probably the opponent team will be quick to read and predict the strategy. However, this can be solved if your team maintains some flexibility (as the attackers will need to help the defense and vice-versa) and remain clear on who will support both attack and defense.

 

The Diamond (1-2-1)

This is ideal for a team who is the best at ball possession. The roles are clearly defined and the team is balanced. The key is to ensure that the position of the two midfielders is occupied by fast players who can respond quickly to changes in the game. If you have a good number of substitute players to keep fresh legs in the middle of the court, you have very high probabilities of scoring! The only downside is that the midfielders are at risk of being trapped outside a defensive position and isolate the defender.

 

Here Are The Futsal Formations That Work Best When You Want to Attack

The Y (1-1-2)

Let’s say the other team is not so strong and you feel like playing a little risky. This strategy works best with a style of pressure on the offence. Your team will play to win the ball as fast and high on the court as possible.

The position of the midfielder is once again the key to this strategy. It is his responsibility to support the defender when the opponent is in possession of the ball. It’s not a surprise, then, that the weakness of this formation is when the defender doesn’t receive enough support and ends up being isolated.

 

The All or Nothing (1-0-3)

Prepare yourselves mentally for this strategy! But really, if there is anyone with heart problems, it is better not to adopt this formation because this formation is truly scary. Unless you can score more goals than your opponents, it is probably not recommended to go with this system for long periods of the game. Only use this strategy when your team is at a disadvantage and you want to achieve victory in the final moments of a life or death match.

 

Summing Up

Remember that skills and talent are just as important as strategy and teamwork. Futsal is a fast game and all the players should be able to cover all positions, but it can become a little messy. That’s why the most organized team is the one with higher chances to win. Try out each of these formations during practice with your team and see which works best for you. Good luck in your next match!

You might also be interested in checking out some great equipment options when it comes to practicing futsal here.