Solent and England Futsal develop partnership to advance futsal in the UK

The partnership positions Solent as a national academic and applied hub for futsal, bringing together world-leading research expertise with elite performance environments. Central to the collaboration is a shared commitment to coach development and the long-term growth of futsal in England.

An early success of the partnership has been the award of an ARK research grant, enabling in-depth investigation into performance and development within England Futsal. The funding has supported the creation of a dedicated Futsal Research Assistant role at Solent, enhancing student opportunities while directly supporting the performance pathway.

Solent academics and researchers are already working closely with England Futsal Performance Pathway staff, strengthening the link between cutting-edge research and elite practice. In addition, a forthcoming Special Issue of Football Studies, titled Understanding the Physical, Technical, and Tactical Demands of Elite Futsal Tournaments, will further cement the University’s contribution to the international futsal research community.

Dr Nuno Nunes, Senior Lecturer in Football Coaching at Southampton Solent University, said:

“This partnership represents a hugely important step for everyone at Solent. It allows us to connect world-leading research with the realities of elite performance, while creating meaningful opportunities for our students to engage in applied, high-impact work.

“By aligning our teaching, research, and coach education activity with national and UEFA priorities, we are proud to be playing a role in shaping the future development of futsal in England and beyond.”

A key pillar of the partnership is the development of the next generation of futsal researchers and practitioners, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of expertise to support the sport’s continued growth.

Head of Development & Technical at England Futsal, Sion Kitson, added:

“For futsal to grow, we need alignment across education, research, and performance. This partnership helps contribute to raising standards across the wider game while directly supporting the evolution of our performance pathway through evidence-led practice.”

Looking ahead, the partnership will continue to expand its scope and impact. Planned projects include research into England Futsal coaches’ perceptions of key development needs, detailed performance analysis of major international competitions such as the UEFA Futsal EURO and World Cup, and observational studies examining elite coaches’ offensive training practices.