On January 11th I begin playing Futsal within the Cool Springs Athletic Association league – at the A-Game Sportsplex.
I’ve been learning the game and practicing – in advance of the season – on Friday nights, with 17 other players – who will soon be playing on several different teams within the new league. The eight-week clinic has been taught by Andy Stone – an amazing coach who was born and raised in London, England.
For those who aren’t familiar with the game, Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, and up to seven substitutes per team. Unlike indoor soccer, the game is played on a hard court surface – about the size of a basketball court. Walls or boards are not used. Futsal is played with a small weighted ball that has very little bounce. This game is all about ball control and passing in small spaces.
Here is the Futsal ball I just bought
Very few soccer players in the U.S. have ever had the opportunity to play Futsal. It hasn’t caught on, like it has in other parts of the world – but I believe that will soon change.
According to Wikipedia, the game was started in Uruguay, in 1930, as a version of soccer for competition in YMCA gyms. In Brazil, this version developed on the streets of Sao Paulo, and eventually a rulebook was established. The sport began to spread across South America – and now you’ll find it all over the world. The U.S. even has a national team. Go to www.futsal.com to learn more about the game.
If you live in Middle Tennessee, and you are interested in playing in the Cool Springs Athletic Association Futsal League, drop by the A-Game Sportsplex or click on this link and it will take you to the Futsal section on their web site, www.goagame.com.
Soccer Underground 