Football is extremely popular among young people. However, its street versions, known as Street Football, require not only having a proper team (or at least one partner to play with), but also a pitch. It’s not always possible to find or create a suitable playing area in a given location. And that’s where a variation called Panna Football comes in.
Panna Football – philosophy of the game
Football is a discipline that, in its essence, requires nothing more than a ball – everything else is up to the players’ imagination. It is precisely on the streets, in front of apartment blocks, on Orlik pitches, where the simple act of kicking a ball around often marks the beginning of a journey that can end on the biggest stadiums. Brazilian football stars know this particularly well. That’s why organising tournaments and leagues is not only a great way to keep children and teenagers occupied, but also helps ignite a real love for the game and provides plenty of physical activity.
However, traditional football is by nature a contact sport, which means serious injuries happen quite often. But there’s a solution for that too! An excellent alternative to classic football is Panna Football. In this version, physical contact is not allowed – which also means no fouls. This is very important because it eliminates unpleasant situations such as injuries caused by fouls, and it prevents the build-up of negative emotions that often come with aggressive physical play.
Panna Football - rules
Players compete in 3-minute matches on a defined small surface. The game is won by scoring the highest number of goals plus so-called Panna points. A Panna is when you manage to kick the ball through your opponent’s legs. It must be intentional (not accidental) – the referee decides. The goals are small and the playing area is limited, which gives every player a chance to significantly improve their skills, technique and ball control – abilities that can later be transferred to full-size pitches and big stadiums.
An essential part of the game, however, is the philosophy of Panna – respect for your opponent and good, non-invasive fun.