The pivot: A team’s focal point for progression

An area attracting the Technical Study Group’s (TSG) attention at the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025™ is the role of the pivot in matches. After the first eight games played in the Philippines, teams played a total of 231 balls into their pivots. In the following article, the TSG at the inaugural competition unpack the iconic position and explain the tactical and technical aspects that define strong pivot play, using examples from the tournament.

The TSG members in the Philippines are:

• Graeme Dell, Futsal Technical Expert & Development Consultant

• Rajaa Chatah, AFC Futsal Elite Instructor & Women’s Futsal Development Supervisor at Saudi Arabian Football Federation

• Tihana Nemčić Bojić, Assistant Professor at Zagreb University & Head Coach of Croatia’s Women’s Futsal Team

• Antonio García, FIFA Futsal Technical Expert & Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Coach of BlackPearl United Futsal Club

When their team is in possession, a pivot will typically position themselves in advanced areas of the pitch and can be considered as the “forward”. A pivot’s movement and tactical awareness are the basis for their ability to receive passes and bring others into play, as Bojić explains. “The role of a pivot player is something obvious in great teams. An elite pivot knows where to come, when to come, where the space is and where the open passing lines are.”

Where on the pitch does the pivot want to be involved? Chatah points out, “The pivot can be effective when receiving the ball in the middle zone, as this allows them to leave a mark on the game in different ways; from central positions, you have more options to turn and shoot, or pass the ball left, right, backwards, or towards the opponent’s goal. The pivot is also not limited to impacting the game in central areas. Although they may have fewer passing options out wide, they can still threaten the opposition by shielding the ball and bringing other team-mates into the attack. When shielding, they simultaneously pull defenders towards them, creating space in other areas for team-mates to exploit.”

At the same time, the pivot doesn’t always need to receive the ball to impact the game. Players in this position can drift wide to drag opponents astray, unsettle the opposition’s defensive balance and free up central areas for team-mates to penetrate. For Dell, understanding the power of this off-the-ball movement is part of the broader tactical acumen that a great pivot player possesses.

“The defender wants the pivot to be in front of them. The pivot would like the defender behind them so they can roll them. Both are at a slight juxtaposition about the outcome. Could the pivot move away from this position to draw the defender away and create space in behind?”

Similarities in movement between the pivot and football’s centre-forward
Despite being two different games, the effective movement and positioning of the pivot and football’s centre-forward can produce similar benefits in their respective formats. Just like the pivot, the centre-forward can also run from central areas out wide, pulling centre-backs out of position to free up the central channel, achieving the same outcome. The resemblance between these positions during these moments of the game reiterates the impact futsal can have on talent development in football.

As well as tactical intelligence and an underlying degree of composure, Garcíá explains that there are several technical fundamentals elite pivots possess when in possession:

• Using the space behind: Clever movement behind the defender can give a pivot an edge in the play and help gain an extra yard on the defender in order to receive the ball.
  

• Shielding: A pivot often receives with their back to goal. In these situations, it’s integral that they position their body sideways to create the greatest distance possible from the defender to the ball.
  

• Bi-directional turning: If they choose to create a chance for themselves, elite pivots are capable of fluid turns to both their left and right side.
  

• Playmaking: A pivot needs a strong decision-making ability to know when to shoot and when to assist a team-mate in a more advantageous position.
  

• Finishing: With fluid turns and movement into space, the pivot will find themselves with a brief window to get a shot away – clinical finishing is a must for players in this position.
  

• Intuition: Finally, the elite pivot is constantly ahead of the game. When in attacking areas, they anticipate rebounds and command the area and far post.

What the pivot’s team-mates do after the pivot receives the ball often determines the success in these moments of the game. Only if a pivot’s team-mates are active and engaged will the team pose a threat to their opponents.

As Bojić explains, “The link between the pivot and the rest of the team is crucial. The pivot must reciprocate the willingness to be involved by trying to get into the best position when vertical passing lines are available, providing their team with depth in possession. A pivot should never be waiting for the ball, as their activity and involvement depend on their own actions to some extent.” The connection is what sets top teams apart, explains the current Croatia head coach, “Teams that have been able to use their pivot well display great timing and cooperation between the two lines. When utilised well, the pivot is a great help to link the possession and continue play.”

“Another thing is, when the ball goes to the pivot, good teams are going for the ball from the first line. The wide players and defenders are following the ball into the pivot and support, creating numerical superiorities such as 2v1 situations. If you don’t do this, you isolate the pivot,” adds Bojić.

• Two core aspects of a pivot’s tactical intelligence are their movements to receive and movements to disrupt the opposition’s defensive balance.

• Elite pivots require a range of technical attributes which allow them to receive the ball and either bring their team-mates into the game or create goalscoring opportunities for themselves.

• Team-mates must support their pivot in possession. Pivot play demands connection and synchronisation between all four outfield team-mates for any meaningful ball progression or chance creation.