Courtesy: Journal Times


Indoor soccer without walls

by Paul Sloth

Sunday, January 10, 2010

RACINE - Greg Hilderbrand had played soccer his whole life, but he'd never heard of futsal.

The sport has been around for a long time, but it's catching on slowly in southeast Wisconsin, especially here in Racine.

The Prairie School played host to its first futsal tournament this weekend. Twenty three teams from southeast Wisconsin - mostly from Racine and Kenosha - participated in the tournament, which wrapped up Sunday.

Hilderbrand, a coach for the SE United soccer club, jumped at the chance to play in the tournament when he heard futsal was a good way for his players to train off season. None of his players had played the sport before.

To the untrained eye, futsal might look like soccer in miniature, which, in many ways, it is. Futsal is a quicker version of soccer, played indoors with a heavier ball on a field the size of a basketball court.

"It's described as indoor soccer without walls," said Cory Oakland, boys' and girls' soccer coach for The Prairie School , who helped organize the event.

Nick Hilderbrand and Cody Schwartz sat on the bleachers in The Prairie School gym resting, watching a match, just a short time after losing a match of their own. This was the first time either had played the game, which originated in Brazil.

Nick and Cody, who both live in Pleasant Prairie and play for SE United, said futsal is supposed to help players with speed and endurance.

There is a U.S. Futsal Federation, with leagues throughout the country, including in Wisconsin.

Brian Ketterer, the event's main organizer, said the whole concept is to give soccer players a chance to work on their foot skills during the winter.

Ketterer said he hopes to make the futsal tournament an annual event.

This weekend's tournament was an informal affair - organizers changed some of the rules - that brought together soccer players, boys and girls, from several area clubs and high schools.

Like Greg Hilderbrand, Jill Osiecki had never heard of futsal until the Racine Area Soccer Association sent something out about it. This was the first time she'd seen the sport played, she said. Her daughter, Brenna, plays league soccer, but she'd never played futsal.

"Now that I've seen it, I might consider having my kids participate," Osiecki said.


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