Scott Gilligan gives a unique insight into futsal’s development over the last 20 years. As a player and coach Scott represented Australia at the highest level. Visting Brazil and Spain he has amassed a wealth of knowledge about the game many credit with developing the most technically re ned players the world has ever seen. Scott is currently head coach of the New Zealand Futsal-Whites, a FIFA Coach Instructor and Technical Analyst at the last FIFA Futsal World Cup.
PDP: Futsal has taken you around the world, can you tell us where you went and what you learned?
SG: Over the years I’ve been fortunate to play and coach in many different countries, most notably the top two for futsal, Brazil and Spain. The three most notable tours, in order, would be:
- Brazil, 1994 – I was selected as one of the coaches to attend the inaugural Centre of Excellence Program. We spent a month training twice a day and playing a total of 17 games, learning all aspects of the game. This was where my education really took a turn as I realised then that we knew very little in Australia about futsal. I wrote down every session and this became my Bible – I still refer to it to this day.
- Singapore, 2001 – my first tournament as the Australian National Men’s Coach in the Tiger 5’s Cup. The game we played against Italy was a real education for me as they did things in that game that I’d never seen before. It made me realise that the game at the highest level was far different to anything I’d seen before.
- Spanish Cup, 2005 – I’d been invited by Javier Lozano (Spanish coach and World Cup winner in 2000 and 2004). The Spanish Cup was contested between the top eight clubs at the halfway point of the Spanish National League. Javier organised for me to attend all the training sessions plus all the games. Again, I wrote down every session and this I added to my Bible.
PDP: Can you give us a quick playing history?
SG: I played futsal from 1971, aged nine, until I retired in 2006 aged 44. In that time I was lucky enough to play with and against some incredible players and teams. I represented my country for five years, won eight titles in 10 years with New South Wales and played in many National Championships, winning two Men’s Club Championships. I was also lucky enough to be able to play in the five years of the televised James Hardie National League, winning two National League titles with the Sydney Tornadoes.
PDP: If you could go back and change anything about your developing years, would you do anything differently?
SG: I would have started playing futsal earlier!
PDP: How has futsal changed over the last 20 years?
SG: The game has evolved in many ways – in terms of speed, tactics, thinking time, laws, to name a few. Back when I was playing most international teams played the 1-3-1 system with a fixed pivot and most goals were scored after a lay-off from the pivot. There were rules about where the ball could bounce, and we had throw-ins.
Now the game has evolved to include all players in a 1-4-0 system and often involves the GK in attack. Defences are consistently pressing and teams are adapting to a 2-3 touch game with constant rotations, ensuring as one player runs out after passing that another player runs in to support. The dynamism is spectacular!
PDP: Can we see futsal’s influence in the playing style of some football teams? Do you have any good examples?
SG: As everybody has said previously – you only need to watch Barcelona play in the middle of the pitch when in tight situations to see that constant changing of positions to offer support or create support for the player with the ball. Most Brazilians use skills honed in futsal when playing football, like rolling the ball with the sole of the foot or using the toe to shoot.
Saad Assis (right) playing futsal for FC Barcelona. Photo: natursports
PDP: Which countries have most successfully integrated football and futsal? And what is it that they’ve done so well?
SG: Spain would be the country who has most successfully integrated both sports. Futsal is part of the fabric of their football. As far as I know they use futsal as a great development tool for football between the ages of 6-12, focusing on technique and allowing the players to find solutions on the small court. The futsal ball, of course, plays a big part in the development process. Players are then taught the tactics of football once they turn 13.
PDP: Ok let’s talk tactics: can you briefly explain the idea behind the 4-0 rotation in futsal and the style of play it promotes?
SG: The 1-4-0 rotation was introduced to me when I was coaching the late 90s. Initially it was explained as players running in circles, with two players occupying one side of the court while the other two players occupy the other side of the court and the ball travels back and forth, no more than 5m, across the court. Of course, the system had many more permutations and different movement patterns. My understanding of the idea is to engage all four court players in attacking rotation. It’s better used with limited touches and all players must be in constant motion. All players are looking to receive the ball, two moving towards the player with the ball and one moving away. With the constant movement the attacking players are trying to pull out the defence to open up the space behind these defenders. Once the space has been created then the ball is passed to the player running in behind the defence.
PDP: After futsal started featuring the 4-0 rotation, football coaches began experimenting with the 4-6-0 formation and Spain started playing without strikers – is this an example of football learning from futsal?
SG: Yes, I think so, especially as Spain is one of the leaders in futsal. Because of the dynamic nature of futsal it allows coaches to think outside the box and devise new ideas, no matter how crazy they seem at the time, to experiment. As lesser teams tend to drop 10 players into defence around 30m from their goal in football and create two lines of defence, then it makes sense for attackers to move in between these two lines – and as this space is roughly the dimensions of a futsal court it makes sense to use that to practise and develop the necessary movement.
PDP: Do you need a certain type of player to play this style? How would you describe this player?
SG: Players need to be quick thinkers and have good speed. They need to have a good first touch and possess accurate passing skills. Fitness would come into play as they would need to be moving constantly in and around the ball.
PDP: Can you give us an insight into why different countries can have such distinctive styles of play? For example, why do we see such a difference in Oceania between Australia, NZ and the Islands?
SG: From my work with Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) I have seen quite a difference in playing ability and thought processes and I think it also has a lot to do with lifestyle. The technical ability of the Pacific Islanders far outweighed the OZ/NZ players but, from the introduction of futsal, they lacked the tactical knowledge of the game and struggled to implement this at times. Individually there are no better players with skill, as can be seen with the Solomon Island players, who are comparable to some of the Brazilian greats of futsal. However, now that futsal has been around for a number of years in Oceania, one can see that these Pacific Island nations are now starting to understand that the tactical side of the game is just as important as utilising the technique.
Scott Gilligan and Falcao, after the 2012 Futsal World Cup Final in Bangkok. Photo: Scott Gilligan
PDP: In your experience what are the most important attributes of a futsal player? And how do these differ from a footballer?
SG: As futsal is more dynamic, a player has to be able to run at pace for up to four minutes straight without dropping in intensity or ability. Footballers may have to do this in 30 second intervals with periods of recovery in between. This means that they can manage their performance throughout a 90 minute game. I look for thinkers, with vision, speed and futsal technique along with an eye for goal, and an ability to quickly learn the tactical side of the game.
PDP: What are the most important things futsal teaches young players?
SG: Playing futsal at a young age teaches you to play with freedom. As the space is limited then you have to think quickly to be able to avoid losing possession or getting tackled. Therefore players have more opportunity to express themselves. You learn quickly that kick and run won’t work as the ball will just trundle out. The ball plays a huge part in developing technique as it doesn’t bounce and therefore allows for instant control. This promotes a high level of comfort on the ball and allows the player to develop skills from their first touch. Without realising it, players gravitate to both attack and defence because of the constant transitions in the game. There are always scoring opportunities and goals are prevalent, which means you experience a gamut of emotions at a young age.
PDP: If I could give you a blank slate (and a magic wand) and asked you to design the ideal player development environment, what elements would you choose from the different countries you’ve visited?
SG: I think all countries have different attributes to offer. I think most of the top countries in both disciplines use futsal as a development tool for young players from 6-12 years. This is because it gives them greater technique and quicker speed of thought, teaching them that you must pass and move in order to create space, whether for yourself or your teammate. So my ideal development for younger players would be just to teach them technique and show them where they can use it in different scenarios on the court. Ideally they should be given the freedom to find solutions within the game. Once they reach 11 then we should start to introduce some of the tactical aspects, adding components as they grow older and develop further.
If I was a new coach to the sport of futsal then I would gain technique practices and individual attacking movements from Brazil, discipline and defensive structure from Spain and research mental toughness from German football.
PDP: Who are the best futsal role models for young players in each area of the game?
SG: Falcao, from Brazil, is an immensely skilled player, adept at dribbling and shooting, and is regarded as the best player in the world today. Ricardinho, from Portugal, is another in Falcao’s mould and he is definitely worth looking at.
In the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup there were two Columbians that stood out when it came to dribbling: Andres Reyes and Angellot Caro.
I wouldn’t single out individual players for passing but rather refer to teams. The top European teams would be who I would watch – Spain, Portugal & Italy. For me Spain is the team to watch when it comes to defence as they show how to defend as a good team unit and display good individual technique within the team structure.
PDP: Do you have a charity you support that you’d like us to mention?
SG: I don’t necessarily support a charity but I have spent many years in the development of futsal for Intellectual Disability athletes. So I encourage all people who know somebody that has an intellectual disability to look at introducing them to the wonderful sport of futsal. The joy I have seen this sport bring to all people who get involved never ceases to amaze me.
Cover Image:
Zidane playing futsal for France. Photo: CpaKmoi
