Futsal formations are obviously very different from outdoor soccer formations, because you can only have six players on the field instead of eleven. Of course, in all futsal formations there is a goalkeeper, but the other five players can take on a variety of roles. This article is about the three most used formations in futsal.

The most classic formation is 2-3, which means you have two defenders and three forwards. Generally, the centre-forward stays in the other team’s half in midfield. He is the one who should be scoring the most goals. The two wings should spend most of their time on the sidelines in the attacking zone, but if there are any unmarked men on their side, they should go back and pick them up. The wings have to run a lot from you to theirs and back, so make sure you pick people with good stamina. Defenders should practice man marking, where they pick a guy to guard and stick with him until he’s no longer a threat. This formation works well for most normal teams that have a couple of good defenders, a couple of good midfielders (playing on the wing), and a good striker.

A variation of the 2-3 formation is the 2-2-1. In 2-2-1, the striker wanders all over the opposite field. He doesn’t score as many goals as in a 2-3, because he usually gets the ball from the defence, and then the two midfielders can run and get the ball from him to score. In this formation, the midfielders try to stay in the center of the field unless you are launching an attack, in which case they advance with quick runs and try to score. The defenders play the same role as in a 2-3, and must guard the man.

The most difficult formation, and perhaps the most effective, is the 2-1-2. In this, your two strikers should not be restricted to one side, but both should roam the opposition side. They will receive the ball a lot and will have to practice good passes and quick shots to try and score. The midfielder should be on your side, but close to the center of the field. His job is to receive the ball from the goalkeeper or defender and pass it on to the forwards. It’s a technically challenging position, as you’re trying to pass from midfield. Defenders and midfielders should practice zone marking when they can, but if the midfielder has gone on the attack, defenders can switch to man marking.

Now that you know the basic futsal formations, you should be ready to play! It’s a great game, so go out there and win some games armed with your newfound knowledge.