Futsal: 3-1 and 4-0 systems, rotations and beating the press

The starting point: four players, constant change

The classic roles are the fixo (the deepest player), two wingers (alas) and the pivot (the most advanced). On an international court of about 40×20 metres the distances between them are tiny, so any movement by one player forces the other three to readjust. That's why a single arrow is rarely enough on a futsal board: you need to show how the space left by the moving player gets reoccupied.

The 3-1: playing with a pivot

In the 3-1 (also described as a 1-2-1 when counted as a diamond) there's a fixed pivot with their back to the opponent's goal and three players behind. The pivot pins the central defenders, receives, shields and lays off for second-line runners, or turns and finishes when they have the edge.

It works well when you have a pivot who is strong with their back to goal and opponents who defend close to their own area. Its risk is losing the ball on the pass into the pivot: a turnover there leaves three players badly positioned for the transition.

• Parallel: the winger carries or passes down the line to the pivot dropping into that channel.
• Diagonal: an inside pass to the pivot or to the far winger attacking the back post.
• Pivot screen: the pivot screens the winger's defender and rolls towards the ball or the goal.

The 4-0: rotating with no fixed reference

In the 4-0 all four outfield players line up flat or at two very close heights, with no fixed pivot. The aim is to drag the defence around with circulation and constant rotation until space opens in behind for a run. It demands that everyone can play every position and that the rotations are thoroughly automated.

The most basic rotation is pass-and-go: whoever passes towards the touchline breaks diagonally towards the middle or the back post, and the others fill their space. If the defence follows the runner, the space they left is free; if it doesn't, the runner receives unmarked.

Playing out against a high press

Many futsal teams press man-to-man across the whole court. Against that, the key is creating an overload or a mismatch in the first line:

• Use the goalkeeper as an extra player, with short supports either side and one player offering in the passing lane forward.
• Off-ball screens to free a teammate to receive facing play.
• A direct long ball to the pivot when the press leaves one defender alone against them.
• Remember the time limits: the goalkeeper has four seconds to play the ball in their own half, and kick-ins, corners and goal clearances must also be taken within four seconds. A well-rehearsed build-up avoids losing the ball on time.

Flying goalkeeper: attacking and defending the 5v4

With a flying goalkeeper the attacking team plays five against four, usually in the closing minutes or to break down a very compact defence. The most common shape is a line of three behind and two players near the area, circulating until a free player appears at the back post or an unopposed shot opens up.

Defending it takes a very compact diamond or square that keeps shots far away and forces long passes that can be intercepted. The board includes templates for attacking and for defending this situation, and the drill designer has a 5v4 drill to train it.

Restarts: every dead ball, a rehearsed play

Set pieces carry a lot of weight in futsal. Kick-ins are taken with the foot, the ball is a few metres from goal and the four-second rule forces quick decisions. Two or three rehearsed plays per type of restart, each with a name and a signal, are a real advantage. On top of that, from the sixth accumulated foul in each half direct free kicks are taken without a wall, and, depending on where the foul happens, they can be taken from the second penalty mark, 10 metres from goal.

Taking it to the court

1. Explain the system on the board in four steps at most.
2. Train it unopposed in half the court — just the rotation mechanics.
3. Add passive, then active defenders (4v2, 4v3).
4. Finish with a full-court game where a goal from the trained rotation counts double.