Completing the UEFA Futsal B in Finland: A Unique Learning Experience
Completing the UEFA Futsal B in Finland: A Unique Learning Experience
Over the past six months, I had the incredible opportunity to complete the UEFA Futsal B License with the Finnish FA—an experience that has been both challenging and rewarding. The course took place in the scenic Eerikkilä Sports Resort, located about 90 minutes from Helsinki, where we attended three in-person periods (September, November, and January), complemented by two online learning phases. This experience took me completely out of my comfort zone—travelling solo to another country for coach education can be daunting, but the tutors and peer coaches certainly made that a much easier process.
I will miss the trips to Finland; it is a beautiful country, and the people were excellent. Who knows, maybe one day we will be able to return with Joga Futsal Academy.
Having just completed my final period in Finland, I wanted to reflect on the structure of the course, the invaluable insights gained, and the world-class coaching expertise we had access to. More importantly, I want to share how this experience will directly impact the ongoing development of Joga Futsal and, crucially, the players within our Academy.
This experience has given me fresh perspectives on tactical and technical futsal development, and I am eager to integrate this knowledge into our coaching framework. Our players will now benefit from an elite futsal methodology—something I firmly believe is not found anywhere else in the west of Scotland.
Course Structure & Learning Topics
The UEFA Futsal B License was designed to provide a strong foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of coaching, ensuring that we, as coaches, can develop players & teams more effectively as well as understand how to manage the role of head coach.
Key topics covered included:
1. Tactical Principles
Understanding different systems of play, team rotations, and attacking & defensive strategies.
2. Physical Development
Examining all aspects of how to physically develop a futsal player, including individualized programs and team-based conditioning—an area we will introduce more at Joga Futsal (Don’t worry, this is something that can be done with little change to our current delivery).
3. Technical Development
Coaching core futsal skills such as passing, body orientation, control, finishing, movements, and many other fundamentals, all the way down to position-specific training or broader team-based development.
Goalkeeping, an area we can certainly improve on and one in which we now feel a lot more confident and knowledgeable to help our goalkeepers develop as futsal goalkeepers.
4. Set Plays
Understanding the importance of set play situations and how to maximize their effectiveness with multiple variations.
5. Mental Coaching
A crucial area, not only for futsal development but also applicable to everyday life—enhancing how to approach this with players, better strategies to understand individuals, and goal-setting methods.
6. Special Situations
Strategies for managing power play situations (5v4 attack or defense) and how to approach 4v3 scenarios following a red card.
7. Periodization & Planning
Structuring training cycles over weeks, months, and even annually to ensure consistent player development.
Final Assessments & Projects
The final period in Finland was focused on applying our learning in real-world coaching scenarios. The four foreign coaches were assigned a Finnish club to watch a previous match, analyze it, and design a training session based on an area they felt could be improved. For me, the focus was on building up attacks from deep on the court.
Additionally, we were required to:
✔ Present an annual training plan for our futsal team.
✔ Submit a coaching thesis—my chosen topic was "Building Mental Resilience Through Futsal."
The Coaches & Tutors
One of the standout aspects of this course was the diversity and quality of the coaching group. The cohort included:
✅ Finnish coaches working across all levels—Youth, U17, U19, Men’s, and Women’s teams.
✅ International coaches from Italy, Azerbaijan, and Morocco, adding a global perspective to discussions & learning
A major highlight was learning from Sergio Gargelli, the Finnish National Team Head Coach. His tactical insights, extensive experience, and ability to challenge our thinking were invaluable.
Alongside Sergio, Finnish FA tutors Kerkko, Matti, and Marko ensured the course was delivered to the highest standards, encouraging us to think critically about player development—technically, tactically, physically, and mentally.
The Experience & Impact on Joga Futsal
The UEFA Futsal B License was far more than just a qualification—it was an immersive learning experience that pushed me to refine my coaching philosophy and expand my futsal understanding.
For Joga Futsal, this course has reinforced the importance of:
Enhancing our training programs to provide a more structured development pathway.
Integrating tactical frameworks, match analysis techniques, and periodization to help players progress at a faster and more effective rate.
Refining our game models, session planning, and player progression strategies based on elite-level futsal principles.
With futsal rapidly growing in Scotland, Joga Futsal wants to lead the way, offering an elite futsal training environment comparable to top futsal nations.
Finland’s commitment to futsal development was inspiring, and I’ve come away with new ideas and strategies for how we can push the sport forward in Scotland.
Final Thoughts
As I return to coaching, I am more excited than ever to implement what I’ve learned and continue pushing Joga Futsal forward.
Futsal is constantly evolving, and courses like this are essential for coaches who want to stay ahead of the game.
Would I recommend the UEFA Futsal B course with the Finnish FA? ✅ Absolutely!
If you are serious about futsal coaching and want to develop at a high level, this course will challenge and improve you in ways you won’t expect.
But now, the real work begins—taking this knowledge and applying it to help Joga Futsal and our players reach new heights.
🚀 The journey continues! 🚀