.png)
Futsal Positions: Roles and Characteristics of each Position
- Futsal TA
- Mar 15, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
One of the first steps towards building a successful futsal team is deciding where each player starts on the court. It looks simple, but choosing the four outfield players is often overlooked, and getting it wrong leaves a team unbalanced. Below we break down every futsal position, what each one is responsible for, and the characteristics that suit a player to it.
What are the five positions in futsal?
A futsal team plays with five players on court: one goalkeeper and four outfield players. In the 3-1 system — the most widely used formation, and the one we use throughout this article — those four outfield roles are the Fixo, two Alas, and the Pivô.
Goleiro (goalkeeper) — protects the goal and starts the attack.
Fixo (defender) — the deepest outfield player and the defensive organiser.
Ala (winger) — there are two, right and left, holding the width of the court.
Pivô (forward) — the furthest player forward, usually playing with his back to goal.
Before going through them one by one, it is important to understand that futsal demands constant rotation and mobility. Players exchange positions throughout a match, so a squad needs versatile players who can perform in more than one role.
Goleiro — the goalkeeper
The goalkeeper is arguably the most important player on a futsal team, because he is the one protecting the net on a court where chances arrive constantly. A good futsal goalie must be agile, position himself well, and communicate a lot with his teammates to organise the defensive system. He also needs a strong mindset and real resilience, because the number of shots he faces — and goals he concedes — is far higher than in football.
Fixo — the defender
The Fixo is the futsal defender: the deepest outfield player, and the one responsible for the majority of defensive tackles. The name means “fixed” in Portuguese, but it no longer describes how the position is played. When the sport was created there was far less movement and rotation, so the name fit. As futsal evolved and constant exchange of positions became essential, the Fixo became just as involved in attacking and scoring as anyone else on the court.
The main role is still to defend, but a Fixo has to know the exact moment to join an attack — organising play, finding space for teammates, and arriving late as a surprise finisher.
Ala — the wingers
The Alas are the wide players. There are two of them, right and left, and they play along the touchlines to create width for the team. They are usually the quickest players in the side, with good dribbling and finishing. Tactically, a good Ala needs to win his 1 v 1 duels to create a numerical advantage. Alas also have to be defensively reliable, because they drop in to support the defence whenever the team loses possession.
Pivô — the forward
The Pivô is the most advanced player on the team and usually receives the ball with his back to the opposing goalkeeper. A good Pivô needs excellent ball control, sharp passing, and the ability to finish. Once the pass arrives, he either lays it off to an arriving teammate or spins and shoots himself.
Do futsal players stay in one position?
Not for long. Where a player starts does not mean he cannot carry out another player's job during a match. Rigid, fixed roles are mostly used with less experienced or less technical teams. In well-trained sides, players only begin a phase of play in their position; once the ball is moving, they rotate freely according to the situation.
Watch the full breakdown
Want to learn these positions on the court? Futsal TA runs year-round Brazilian-methodology futsal training for players ages 7–17 across five North Carolina locations. See our academy programs.
