FAI lights the Futsal Fire! Ever wondered what the ingredients are for a never ending production line of World Class soccer stars? Five times World Champions, Brazil appears to have discovered some of them with their seemingly endless supply of World Champions from the days of the great Pele right up to today’s superstars like Ronaldinho.
However, the FAI is now beginning to focus on a key element widely recognised as being an integral ingredient in the development of these highly gifted players.
The game of Futsal (from the Portuguese, futebol de salao and meaning indoor football) has been cited by such luminaries as Pele and Ronaldinho as having a major impact on their development as players.
The legendary Pele said:
“I played Futsal for 2 or 3 years before I joined Santos. Futsal was important in helping to develop my ball control, quick thinking and passing. Also for dribbling, balance and concentration….futsal was very, very important, no doubt”.
Futsal is the Official UEFA and FIFA version of indoor 5 a side football and most Brazilian youngsters grow up playing little else until they reach the age of 12 or 13.
Futsal is a high tempo game played with a size 4 ball which is designed to have a reduced bounce.
The consequence of this is that the ball tends to stay close to the floor more often which accelerates the development of skills such as passing, dribbling and close control.
The small pitch size also means players have to think quickly and react with a quick pass or a dribbling move to get out of tight situations.
The result over time is the production of highly skilled, quick thinking, creative players!
Perhaps you may have seen the recent advert on TV featuring footage of a very young Ronaldinho displaying dazzling skills on a Futsal court. This is testimony to the type of player Futsal can produce and the greatest endorsement of the game available. World Player of the year Ronaldinho doesn’t sit on the fence when he talks of his love of the game and how it helped him as a young player. He says:
““Futsal is an extremely important way for kids to develop their skills and understanding of the game.
My touch and my dribbling have come from playing futsal.”
Not only is Futsal a great tool to help develop gifted players, it’s also a game of high professional profile across the world. Spain for example has a full time professional league of 18 clubs.
There are an estimated 110 million players participating in Futsal across the world.
FIFA and UEFA have recognised the popularity of Futsal and have established World and European Championships competitions taking place every 2 years.
If you want to learn more about Futsal and the FAI’s plans to develop the game, you are welcome to attend a Futsal workshop which will take place as follows:
Venue: De La Salle Hall, St. Gerald’s College, Castelbar.
Date and Time: 21st September from 7-9pm
Just to let you know that there will be a Futsal Workshop in De La Salle Hall, St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar on Thursday 21st September 2006 from 7pm – 9pm. The work shop will be hosted by Derek O’Neill and assisted by Development Officers, Niall Harrison and Paul Byrne. The players on the night will be provided by the Mayo Academy.
So come along and see an alternative to the 11-a-side game and if it interests anyone in your club/organisation the development officers can discuss setting up a possible Futsal league/competition.
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