Is it me or does this look different...

Football is the greatest game in the world, watching 11 players walk on to a patch of grass and try and get a ball into a net using their feet inspires people from mates having a kick about in the park to kids in Africa who dream of escaping poverty through the beautiful game. Apart from the 11-a-side game there are many professional forms of the games which thousands play across the world and where many of our stars learnt their trade and thousands still ply there's. This is a guide to other, but just as beautiful, forms of the beautiful game...

Futsal
Basically professional 5-a-side, the main indoor version of the sport, played on an indoor court the size of a basketball court with a goal the size of a handball goal. The sport encourages ball control and has a great focus on tricks and skills. Many of the skills we now use in the normal game were developed in Futsal, and many football clubs have a futsal team as well. There is a FIFA Futsal World Cup held every 4 years, unsurprisingly it is usually won by Brazil or Spain though other major forces are from Eastern Europe, the Futsal Euro 2012 are currently being held in Croatia. Played over two periods of twenty minutes, the record victory is Brazil 76-0 Timor Leste, what's surprising about this is that Timor Leste have a futsal team...

RUUD BOYZ!!!

Beach Soccer

The other formally organised version of the game, beach soccer is very exciting. Played on a specifically built sand pitch with goals. Like futsal it is 5-a-side with a goalie, it is a very aerial game as ribbling is difficult on the sand. You are allowed to move the sand to suit your needs at dead ball situations, a common technique is to create a small mound and place the ball on top, or to flick the ball up to volley. Bicycle Kicks are common, it is common for one of the stats shown to be number of bicycle kicks performed. Brazil had won every world cup bar one which was one by Portugal until last year when Russia beat them in the final 12-8. The average number of goals in a game is 11.

At least you get a soft landing...

Panna

Basically 1-on-1, a game of great skill. It is not officially organised but a popular game. The aim of the game is to nutmeg your opponent, skills that look ridiculous in normal football look amazing when performed by artist who can do things with a football that would make Cristiano Ronaldo cry into his probably $30,000 satin, diamond encrusted, kakapu feather pillows. 

SKILLZ BROV...

Street football is played over the world in many forms including outdoor futsal, panna and several other small sided games. It can be scrappy it can be beautiful but one thing is for certain these sports are certain to enthral for many generations to come...