Can Bhutan try Futsal?

Futsal (five-a-side soccer), locally known as Tiger-5, isn’t unpopular among our youth. Often we find young people playing futsal creating their own little spaces in basketball and volley ball courts. More excitingly, young people are seen playing futsal in the overcrowded streets, courtyards, parking lots and roads. This shows how enthusiast our young friends about playing the game. The hunger and thirst for this game is exponentially huge.

It is exciting game for children as well as adults. So when the children love playing this game it is important that the government of Bhutan should satisfy their hunger by constructing many futsal courts in the country.

Firstly the game is very economical and safe, simple and fun to play. Futsal is type of soccer that is played inside on hard-wood floor and outdoor on a concrete court (confined area) with a low bounce ball, 5 vs. 5 (including goalie), with 2m (high) and 3m (wide) goal posts. An outdoor futsal court can be constructed at very minimal cost.

Secondly this game suits the geographical feature of our country. Making a football field or stadium in our country is environmentally hazardous. It requires a huge area of land and leads to cutting down of numerous trees and bulldozing the hills. Originated in South American countries of Brazil and Uruguay during 1930’s, futsal is maximum of 42m (length) and 22m (width) long, half the size of the soccer field. Therefore, it is the best place to find this beautiful game in Bhutan.

Thirdly, it is a very beautiful game. It promotes showmanship. Individual talent is executed and creates moments of beautiful play that is the by-product of creativity, imagination, mastery of ball through handling ball in a confined area .

Fourthly and very importantly, futsal quickly develop skills required for soccer: - balance, motor ability, agility and co-ordination, ball mastery, accurate and quick passing and receiving, perception insight and awareness. That’s why in US, Japan, Spain, China and South America futsal is hugely popular among the soccerholics (youth). Many star soccer players worked on their skills on a futsal court. In brazil, Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Robinho may be the perfect examples of player who began to build up their technical abilities in futsal before going on to their successful careers on the soccer fields throughout the world.

Pele once said, “I developed my skills playing Futsal in my home town in Bauru.” Zico, another footballer acknowledged that “It’s the best start for kids.” Futsal courts offer a home to those who want to play a pick up game of soccer essential for players’ growth and development.

Bhutan needs to take this step to fulfill the desire and needs of our youth. Like in any other game, the government should provide regional and national level competition opportunities in futsal. This game is the foundation to promotion soccer in the country.

Playoff format:

1. The duration of preliminary games, quarters and semi-finals are 30 minutes of regulatory time, (two 15 minute halves)

2. The duration of all FINALS are 40 minutes of regulatory time, (two 20 minute halves)

In case of a tie-full 5 minute overtime-No sudden Death.

Still tied-FIFA PENALTY KICK Rules.