Delay, dictate and deny the opposition

Given that counter-attacking represents a good way to create goalscoring chances in futsal, it is important that a team are able to defend such situations. This exercise focuses on the principles of delaying, dictating or deflecting and denying.

Explanation

4v3 scenario in favor of the defending team

Organisation

Use three quarters of the court.
Set up a goal at each 6m mark.
Position a goalkeeper in each goal.
Arrange three teams comprising three players each.
Set up a 3v3 plus a defensive joker on the court to create a 4v3 in favour of the defending team.
Place the members of the remaining team at each end of the halfway line, with two players at one end and one player at the other.

Explanation

The exercise starts with one of the goalkeepers playing the ball to one of the players positioned at either end of the halfway line.
Once this player receives the ball, their team-mates join them to attack the goal at the opposite end of the playing area from where they received the goalkeeper’s pass.
The attacking team aim to score, while the defending team look to prevent them from doing so.
Once the attacking move is over, the defending team take up positions on the halfway line and becoming the attacking team.
The team that were waiting on the halfway line become the defending team.

Coaching points

Try to delay the opposition’s passes to slow the pace of the counter-attack.
Press the ball carrier at all times while coordinating with team-mates providing defensive cover.
The joker should try to dictate to which side of the pitch the goalkeeper throws the ball, based on the team’s defensive set-up.