FUTSAL REVOLUTION IN SHEFFIELD

by Gary Nicholas

In the first initiative of its Kind in England, Manchester City and Sheffield FC as part of a massive recruitment and Development drive have joined forces in an effort to develop and promote the game of Futsal.

Hillsborough College in Sheffield has become home to the Clubs new Futsal/Football Centre aimed at improving technical ability at grass roots level;
In an initiative that will see young local grassroots teams and community organizations being invited to 2 hour coaching session delivered by experienced Futsal and Football coaches;
Young players will experience the game of Futsal as well as seeing how it can help their technical game regarding the game of football;
Dave Ward, who with Dave Harrison and Trevor Todd of Manchester City set up this development initiative told Futsal Planet 'primarily Futsal will be promoted as a complementary player development initiative' we believe the game is perfectly designed to enhance, enrich and compliment the 11 a side game and is not designed to compete with football.

As Futsal becomes more popular we hope the number of participants within football in general will grow, with more technically minded players coming through the Professional Academies.
Futsal is widely recognised as the ideal skill building arena for the 11 a side game, as this development programme matures we hope to improve the technical skills of grass roots players and watch the popularity of the game of Futsal grow nationally as well as locally;
Dave added 'I have to thank Mico Martic and Javier Lozano for their input and advice over the years in relation to this project, which has helped influence an English Premiership Football club to put this development strategy in place'.

Seeing the game played at the highest standard around Europe, especially in Spain, and more importantly seeing how the game can be used as a development tool in the game of football has also inspired us to get this centre up and running;

The growth of Futsal in England has been a lot slower than the rest of Europe, and we have until recently failed to recognise Futsal as a vital development tool within the game of football.
Together with The Sheffield and Hallamshire FA's Futsal programmes and the participation of Mico Martic in delivering Futsal coaching sessions in the area and at Manchester City’s Academy, these developments have helped put Sheffield at the forefront of the increasing popularity of Futsal;

Now, to sustain and maintain the long term ambitions for Futsal in England the Initiation and development of quality grassroots programmes is of paramount importance.
Not only to establish Futsal as a mainstream sport but to clarify the games importance as a development tool regarding the 11 a side game.

We also believe it is important to the games progress to create and sustain a youth Futsal league, sooner rather than later.
In addition Implementing quality Futsal programmes within schools in the area we hope would play an integral role creating a Futsal culture and enhancing technical ability.

The centre in Sheffield hopes that from this initiative these proposed plans will become a reality very soon;

Mean while within the centre the general reaction to the game of Futsal has been very positive!
An unknown entity to a lot of young players in the area the qualities of the game and its benefits are being recognised by players and coaches alike. Its put the fun element back into the game has been a general comment from parents and participants.
Dave and Trevor have recognised to enhance this project further still, a Futsal development programme for coaching local grassroots coaches at the College also needs to be implemented.

We have submitted a proposal highlighting the need to provide more opportunities allowing local coaches to further their coaching knowledge by introducing the Futsal concept into their coaching regime, Dave Ward told us.
It is our aim to invite established and experience Futsal coaches from around Europe to Sheffield and to deliver sessions to both players and coaches alike.

This would be such an inspiration to local teams and players; it would certainly enhance and bring to the forefront what we are trying to do here in Sheffield;

If you would like to know more about Futsal and this initiative and the way the game of Futsal can improve technical ability, or if would just like to pass comment please send your emails to mico.martic@futsalplanet.com


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