Courtesy: FAI.ie


Football Association of Ireland “FUTSAL” U11s Blitz

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

On Sunday 22nd Feb 2009 in the fabulous Community Sports Hall in Old Leighlin the F.A.I. held a Futsal blitz for all U-11s teams in the Carlow and District Juveniles League as part of the further development of Football in County Carlow.

In total 133 players took part with 13 teams representing 10 clubs from the Juveniles League. Those present on the day were entertained with some excellent team work and some brilliant individual technical skill. An incredible 36 games were played with all 133 players getting to experience the now worldwide recognised FIFA version of 5-a-side Football, Futsal, for the very first time.

While the Republic of Ireland's Futsal International team were in preparation for their UEFA Championship qualifiers in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Sunday, perhaps the next generation of Futsal players were getting a chance to try the game for the first time in a structured environment.

The day was organised by F.A.I. Development Officer for County Carlow, Garry Coady, and was designed to introduce clubs, managers, coaches, parents and players to the game of Futsal. Hopwever, it was also an opportunity for the Emerging Talent Programme Coaching Staff (Des Clarke and Alan Coyle) to start their process of identifying players from the U-11s age group for the 2009 – 2010 U-12s F.A.I. Emerging Talent Programme.

The head coach of local league of Ireland club FC Carlow, Pat Purcell, was present on the day to offer his support the blitz and to encourage clubs and players to use the game of Futsal to help the future technical development of players from U-8s up the player pathway.

Futsal is the smallest, easiest way of playing football without losing any of the ingredients such as the ball, opponents, team mates, space, pressure, rules, time, direction and tactics.
FUTSAL IS WEATHER PROOF!!!!

The day was a total success and the F.A.I. would like to thank the co-operation of all the clubs who took part on the day. All managers and coaches were prepared and had all players at the venue on time, while all players took on board the rules of the game and gave it a go and the most encouraging aspect of the day was the high technical ability of the 133 players who played. Well done to all who were there and not to forget the support from parents and family on the day. In the future with the support of the Carlow and District Juveniles League we hope to run Futsal days for the U-8s, U-9s, U-10s and U-11s and from there bring in the U-12s – U-16s as well.








Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com