Courtesy: Soccer Nation


Soccer City

by Diane Scavuzzo

Friday, September 24, 2010

Southern California Soccer Spotlight: SOUTH COAST SOCCER CITY

Soccer is becoming more popular than ever and to meet the growing need of soccer enthusiasts, new soccer facilities are flourishing. In the midst of South Bay area in Torrence California there is a fabulous state of the art soccer spot .

South Coast Soccer City is a dream facility dedicated to indoor five-a-side soccer, the game officially known as Futsal. This 73,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art soccer facility offering 7 Futsal fields is the first of its kind in Southern California. South Coast Soccer City is the largest facility in the United States dedicated to indoor small-sided soccer. "Small-sided soccer, or Futsal, is at the very core of the high skill level demonstrated by South American players and is critical in the development of young players from that continent, especially in Brazil,” says Paul Higgins, President of South Coast Soccer City. “Soccer City provides playing opportunities for players of all ages in the region, and helps redefine the way young players develop their soccer skills by introducing them to a version of the game that emphasizes creativity, skills and ball control.”

U.S. soccer icon and LA sports legend Cobi Jones joined South Coast Soccer City as an owner and active advisor last November. Cobi Jone's unparalleled passion for the game and enthusiasm for Futsal prompted him to invest in SoCal Soccer City Holdings, the parent company of SoccerCity. Jones is a veteran of Major League Soccer (MLS) who played 12 seasons with the LA Galaxy (1996 to 2007) and is a three time World Cup player for the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team. "Futsal allows young players to learn soccer skills that include finesse, creativity, ball control and so much more; all elements of the game that would greatly impact their success in the outdoor game," says Jones. "I strongly believe that developing a network of facilities that promote small, five-a-side soccer will revolutionize the way young soccer players develop in the U.S.."

"South Coast Soccer City has been open since December and offers programming for soccer enthusiasts of all ages and levels including youth and adult leagues, open play, field rentals, summer and holiday camps, clinics, private training, and tournaments. South Coast Soccer City also has a unique soccer toddler program known as Lil' Kickers for children between the ages of 18 months and 7 years. Events and private, team or birthday parties packages are also available," says Kevin Eagleston, Director Of Soccer.


What is Futsal? Great information on Futsal
The origin of Futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competition in YMCAs. The game is played on basketball-sized courts, both indoors and out without the use of sidewalls. Futsal is the only "Official” form of indoor soccer as approved by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Futsal is FIFA's official indoor soccer game which is, essentially, a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors. It is a five-a-side game played on a smaller field, roughly the same size as a basketball court. Unlike some other forms of indoor soccer, the game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines; walls or boards are not used. It is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, and up to seven substitutes per team. Futsal is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regulation soccer ball. The rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in a small space.

This is the game that outdoor soccer players around the globe play when they are indoors to refine and maintain their control skills and touch. In Futsal, players are constantly reminded to play the same quality control game that is required for success in the outdoor game, which develops the overall fundamentals of soccer more effectively. Because the sport is a great skill developer, demanding quick reflexes, fast thinking, pinpoint passing, and a four-second limit on all play restarts, it is an exciting game for children as well as adults. Great soccer superstars such as Pele, Zico, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, and Socrates grew up playing the game and credit Futsal with developing their skills.

For more information on SouthCoast Soccer City visit their website at www.scsoccercity.com


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