Skip to content

Working Out · sport

Futsal: which types it suits

Ball sports

Five a side, a small court and absolutely no standing still

Futsal is five-a-side football on a small hard court, played with a smaller ball that bounces less than a normal football. The tight space means you're on the ball constantly, and possession flips so quickly that everyone ends up attacking and defending in the same game. The rules allow unlimited rolling substitutions, so players rotate on and off freely. People often book a court after work with friends or colleagues, and some groups let you sign up alone and get placed on a team.

Futsal suits people who love the buzz of competing as part of a team. Goals come thick and fast, so there's plenty to celebrate in a single game, and for a lot of players the food afterwards is part of the fixture. It's also a realistic option for anyone who loves football but can't round up twenty-two people every week.

The sport's temperament

Scored 0–100 on the eight things that decide whether it fits a person.

A sport you play as part of a team95
A sport you can start alone, any time5
A sport where form and numbers are half the fun60
A sport where you lose track of time in the rhythm55
A sport with scores, records and someone to beat80
A sport that feels more like playing than training65
A sport built on the same plan every week40
A sport where no two sessions look the same65

What's your sport?

Answer twenty questions and your result comes with your sport.

Find my sport