Courtesy: This is Derbyshire


Willows preparing for official launch of Futsal in the city

FUTSAL, the small sided version of the beautiful game backed by FIFA, will receive its official launch in the city in January.

Willows Sports Centre, which has been piloting the game for the past six months, is inviting local companies and a few of the more established Futsal teams that they have had playing in the pilot scheme to take part in an exhibition of the game on January 21.

James Windscheffel, centre manager at Willows and a keen supporter of Futsal, said: "The pilot has been very successful here at Willows.

"We've been able to have various events throughout the autumn and also a mini-league of six to eight teams concluding over the festive period.

"We have used the time to become accustomed to the subtleties of the game and the nuances between the five-a-side game that we play and the Futsal phenomenon.

"We are confident that Futsal will prove very popular in such a large footballing city such as ours.

"We have also been working closely with the FA and related organisations, who have helped us with support and some funding enabling to fully adopt the game as it is meant to be played."

Futsal, which began in Uruguay in the 1930s, is played indoor between two teams of five players.

Unlimited substitutes per team are permitted and, unlike other forms of indoor football, the game is played on a hard court surface with the splaying area marked out by lines. Walls or boards are not used.

Futsal is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regular football.

The rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.

Anyone interested in Futsal should contact James Windscheffel on Derby 204004.


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