Courtesy: Saipan Tribune


Futsal league still open for registration

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

By Roselyn Monroyo

Female players interested in joining the 2009 NMIFA Women's Futsal Fall League have until this week to register for the indoor event that will kick off at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium on Oct. 10.

Players can join one of the five registered football clubs (MP United, Paire Football Club, Matansa Football Club, Independents Football Club, and Tan Holdings Football Club) or organize their own team. Registration fee is $25 per player, who did not join last season's 11 aside league. Female strikers who competed in the 11 aside event can register for the futsal league for free.

Futsal is an indoor version of soccer. Each team has five players playing on the court that is roughly the same size as a basketball court. It is a game that helps develop players' techniques and skills, and put emphasis on ball control and short passes.

To prepare female strikers for the fall league, the NMIFA Women's Committee organized a two-hour boot camp on Saturday at the Saipan International School grounds.

“Twenty girls attended the clinic. It was a little rainy, so I think that may have been a factor for a lower turn out than usual,” CNMI Women's National Team goalie and NMIFA Women's Committee official Rebecca Newman said in an e-mail to Saipan Tribune. “Fifteen of the 20 girls there are new to the sport and I would say eight were high school students.”

Newman and teammate Emily Gries led the boot camp, teaching newcomers and old-timers the basics of the indoor soccer game.

“Emily led everyone in warm-ups, followed by drills for passing and dribbling. The futsal ball is much harder than a regular ball, and the girls were surprised at how quickly it rolls across the pavement compared to a regular soccer ball moving in grass,” Newman added.

Newman said last weekend was only the first and last boot camp they had and despite the limited preparation time, they are still hoping to attract more players for the fall league.

“We are hoping each team will be able to submit a minimum of one competitive team and one recreational team, since we are having two different leagues this season. Registration is open through the end of this week,” Newman said.

Games in the futsal league will be played every Saturday morning at the NMC Gym and the season is scheduled to conclude on Dec. 20.

For more information, contact Women's Committee director Lindsay Davis at lindsayfrombigsky@gmail.com.







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