Funino – children’s soccer & youth soccer with more playing intelligence

Funino goals - playing intelligence in children's soccer & youth soccer

Funino is the latest trend!

Professional promotion of young players by concept

With Funino, a playing form in children’s soccer and youth soccer is currently on the rise! But what is Funino and how is it played? In this article we describe the background and would like to give you further information about the rules and playing forms of Funino. We will also briefly discuss the technical possibilities of artec goals for Funino. So, let’s go!

Especially after the elimination of the German national soccer team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the promotion of young talents in Germany has also come into the focus of criticism. It is criticized that German soccer is too slow, not creative enough and lacks playing intelligence. It is criticized that German soccer is too slow, not creative enough and lacks playing intelligence. There is also a lack of players with strong dribbling skills who can assert themselves in 1:1 situations and open up the game creatively. Behind this is a very serious fear that German soccer could lose out in international comparison in the future. And it is precisely for this reason that the DFB and its regional associations see it as their duty to proactively address the aforementioned problems and work on the deficits identified as early as the youth level. And one answer to this is: Funino!

Four goals on a small playing field

provide flexible playing intelligence in children’s soccer

Funino describes a variant of mini soccer played on a reduced playing field with four goals. In its original form, the field is 32 m long and 25 m wide (depending on age, other field sizes are also played on). There are two goals on each of the baselines of the field. In front of the baselines is the so-called shooting zone at a parallel distance of six meters from the respective baseline (depending on the age group, the shooting zone has different distances). Players may only score goals within the respective shooting zone. Each team consists of four players, with one player always acting as a substitute. After each goal is scored, one player on each team is substituted, so there is constant rotation. If the team is behind by more than three goals, the trailing team is allowed one more player on the field. There is no offside, no corners, and no throw-ins (dribbling in or passing in) in Funino. Also, there is basically no goalkeeper or referee in Funino. And the trainers and coaches, who no longer make substitutions in Funino, become mediators and arbitrators in the event of conflicts arising, and in some cases, as before, still become the little kickers’ shoe-binding helper! (some things just never change…)

Funino mini goals from the manufacturer artec

Funino – fast and flexible

Youth soccer with skillful positional play

Due to the form of play described above, Funino has many advantages. The main argument is certainly the promotion of playing intelligence as well as dribbling already at a young age. Because of the field constellation and the associated rules, Funino offers a technical-tactical focus in which suitable solutions can be found for almost every situation that arises through clever positional play and flexible shifts in play. This promotes above all the perception as well as the attention on the field and makes the game altogether faster and more flexible.

The space available on the field is also used more effectively in Funino, since no fixed positions are taken. This means that the children do not specialize too early, so that they can be used flexibly in different positions later on. Meanwhile, studies show that compared to conventional training games (e.g. 7 vs. 7), more than 50 percent of ball contacts are generated and almost twice as many passes are played. These are clear indicators that Funino significantly promotes positional and passing play and that a high speed of play is generated.

In Funino, there is almost always action. The little players are constantly chasing the ball. And those who have the ball quickly become the hunted themselves and must look for possible solutions through clever passing or a successful dribble. And after scoring a goal, it’s straight on to defending your own goal. This is where constant substitutions make sense, of course, because the forces for such a fast and dynamic game are naturally limited.

Funino is usually not played in the traditional form of two teams against each other. Instead, tournaments are usually held in which many fields are separated on a large playing field. A special mode is then used to kick with fields going up and down. This promotes the playing fun and provides constant variety!

Funino mini goals

Rules serve as a guide

No goalkeeper and an exciting tournament mode

For a brief overview, we summarize the main rules of Funino, which serve more as a guide, as follows:

  • The game is started with a high ball and the players are standing on the goal lines
  • Rotation of a player after each goal in a fixed order (without interruption of the game)
  • Goals are scored only from the shooting zone
  • Blocking the goal for defense is not allowed and may be penalized with a penalty tackle.
  • Kick & kick-off from the baseline as a pass or dribble (opponent outside the shooting zone)
  • In case of a foul, the game is continued with a free kick (indirect or dribbling) or a penalty tackle.
  • In case of a sideline kick, the ball is passed or dribbled into the field of play
  • Corners are taken from the sideline at the height of the shooting zone
  • In tournament mode: In case of a draw, the team that scored the last goal is promoted
  • In case of an o:o, scissors-stone-paper decides
  • Not represented in Funino: Kick-offs, offsides, penalties and throw-ins

DFB starts pilot project

10 national associations are participating!

Currently, Funino is not yet played throughout Germany. Currently, Funino is not yet played throughout Germany. However, since the middle of this year, the DFB has decided that a one-year pilot project will be carried out in ten regional associations (the Bavarian Football Association, as a partner of artec Sportgeräte, has already had experience with Funino for a year). Also, larger events are increasingly contested with Funino. One example is this year’s Funino Festival in Mainz, where very positive experiences were made. Against this background, it can be assumed that Funino will become more and more popular in Germany and will establish itself as a future form of play for the little kickers. The focus is mainly on the age groups U6/U7, U8/U9 as well as U10/U11 (whereby the last age group is already considered too old for Funino by many).

Of course, artec Sportgeräte is also facing up to this funino trend and provides long-lasting technical equipment with the appropriate mini goals. Because quality on the field also requires corresponding quality in the goals!

Our mini goals convince in the usual artec quality made of high quality aluminum profiles. Since the current Funino rules limit the maximum goal size to 2.00 x 1.20 m, the following standard goal sizes are available from artec as fully welded or folding versions:

  • 1.20 x 0.80 m
  • 1.50 x 1.00 m
  • 1.80 x 1.20 m
  • 2.00 x 1.20 m

All goal sizes are available in the premium version with our milled net suspension or alternatively in the easytec version with safety net hooks. Ultimately, the customer decides for himself whether he chooses the high-quality premium version or the cost-optimized easytec version is the right mini goal for a perfect funino game!

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Goals with safety net hooks manufacturer soccer goals training goals mini goals youth goals

Funino goals in all variations

Funino goals from artec Sportgeräte! We offer you all types and kinds of soccer goals, of course also as Funino goals! And all this directly from the manufacturer with competent and expert advice. Your advantage as a customer: You save the detour over the trade and buy directly at the source!

Feel free to contact us if you want to buy Funino goals. We will be happy to advise you and offer you the right goal! You can reach us at 05422 / 9470-0or the mail address info@artec-sportgeraete.de. Convince yourself and make your own picture of our competences. And if you have special requests? No problem! Then we try what is feasible and are happy to realize new technical developments or special designs!

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