Courtesy: Daily San Diego Soccer News


Q&A with San Diego Futsal Founder

August 16, 2009

The San Diego Futsal League recently wrapped up its second season, but that doesn't mean founder Mario Mrakovic -- who also conducts Futsal summer camps -- will slow down. XKSD caught up with the busy but enthusiastic Futsal instructor to chat about where the league has been and where it's going.

XKSD: How has the Futsal League grown since its first year?

Mario Mrakovic: The number of teams has grown from 14 teams last year to 21 this season. The level of play improved significantly. The teams and players had a much better sense and knowledge of the game. Coaches and managers also did a better job instructing their teams. We at SD Futsal were much better prepared and organized this year running the league. It all points to the fact that the sport has been embraced and that the word of mouth traveled.

Even the soccer stores now sell varieties of indoor soccer shoes and many models of Futsal balls. Just a year ago, I went to a local soccer store and they had only one model of Futsal ball in stock! I went to the same store just yesterday and they carry about 10 different Futsal balls now. They also receive very positive feedback about our league and see the Futsal demand for shoes and balls to be rapidly growing.

XKSD: How have the players who have played both seasons progressed?

MM: The players that have played last year for the first time compared to this year…cannot really compare. The skill improvement is simply years apart. The best example is A.J. Yilmaz, 7. I remember that last season I had to remind him up to 15 times per session not to fall down on the ground. He also depended solely on his stronger foot.

This season, he displayed an amazing ball control, sense for space and decision-making. Now he uses both feet -- inside foot, shoe laces, bottom, outside and toe-poke -- all of them very effectively to score goals at will. And…he stays firmly on his feet with much better balance and hears a ton of praise from other kids and spectators.

The closest and best example that I have is my 7-year old boy, Luka Mrakovic. When he started playing arena soccer a year-and-a-half ago, parents were comforting me and convincing me that he will improve and play better - eventually.

After having him play Futsal for a few months after arena and then going back, the parents were now complaining that he should be playing one or two years up because it is “unfair” that he plays his own age because he is too good!

It was certainly not his size people were complaining about – he weighs only 42 pounds. I know for fact that this is not a coincidence because I see already the same pattern with my 5-year old boy as well. This is what Futsal does in a span of a few months. No other soccer-related training or game can do this.

XKSD: What are your goals for the third year?

MM: The goals are to spread the word of the benefits of Futsal and promote it more efficiently. Once coaches and managers realize the benefits of Futsal, they will have their teams playing Futsal all the time. We understand that the soccer community is still not ready to fully endorse and accept Futsal the way that it should. Soccer tournaments, practices and leagues all make the priority of soccer families’ schedules.

But once the club coaches learn more about Futsal and start feeling more comfortable about it, the sport will grow faster than imagined. I anticipate that all the clubs in So Cal will be using Futsal training in their respective programs within five years. Soccer enthusiasts watch soccer on TV and see that the game has evolved into one-two touch soccer with the speed of play increasing constantly, which is exactly what Futsal teaches and does. It takes time, but all the signs are showing that the sport is arriving in a big way.






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