Futsal: Recovery Map, Where We Win the Ball Back

While their team plays, two analysts mark on a court diagram every ball the team wins back and which third of the court it happens in. Looking at the map, the team sees whether its press is working high up or whether it only wins the ball near its own goal, and adjusts how high it defends.

How to play

1. The teacher hands out sheets with the court split into thirds and explains the code: a dot for a recovery and a cross if the recovery leads to a shot within ten seconds (4 min).
2. First half, 8 minutes, 5v5 with goalkeepers; analysts mark every recovery by their team (8 min).
3. Read the map: which third do we win it back in most? Which recoveries led to a shot? The team decides whether to push the press higher or drop it lower (5 min).
4. Second half, 8 minutes, using the adjustment, with new analysts (8 min).
5. Compare the two maps and write the team's takeaway as one sentence on the sheet (6 min).
6. Analysts turn in the sheets and one map is discussed with the whole class (4 min).

Rules

• Defend without sliding tackles or contact from behind.
• Analysts sit in the stands or behind a line, never on the court.
• The map belongs to the team; nobody records who made the steal.
• The goalkeeper doesn't handle the ball outside the area.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited mobility: serve as lead analyst and present the findings.
• Students with visual impairments: play with a ball with a bell in a one-sided 3v3, or analyze with a partner who narrates.
• Less confident students: start as analysts and come in for the second half with a clear defensive job.

Learning goals

• Record where recoveries happen on a court map.
• Connect how high the team presses with how well it counterattacks.
• Adjust the team's defensive plan from the data.

Equipment for a class of 25

• futsal balls: 2
• pinnies: 15
• score sheets: 4
• pencils: 4
• goals: 2

Teacher tip

Print one sheet with four small courts so it covers two games. The typical mistake is counting clearances as recoveries; clarify that it only counts if the team ends up with the ball under control.

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