Courtesy: The FA.com


Deaf squads go East

By Alex Stone

Friday, 03 November 2006

For the first time ever, two Deaf Futsal teams will perform wearing The Three Lions crest when they travel to Moscow for the European Deaf Futsal Championship.

Teams have previously competed as Great Britain and now Jeff Davis, The FA Disability Football Development Manager has brought the teams under the umbrella of The FA.

Both the men’s and women’s tournaments will take place between 8-19 November, with most of the men’s players having experience of club football with the Doncaster College for the Deaf.

This is the first trip abroad where the England men and ladies are supported and funded by FA, and there has never been a better opportunity for them to achieve so well in the championship.

The men’s competition will see 23 countries battle it out for the title, whilst nine countries will compete in the women’s tournament. Amongst the men’s favourites this year are the hosts Russia defending champions Croatia and Spain. Amongst the ‘outsiders’ are Netherlands and Ukraine, and I would rank England amongst this group too.

Head Coach Peter Sturgess and Assistant and Support Coaches, Brian Green and Jon Smith communicate to players in British Sign Language and Signed Spoken English, with Peter also communicating to players via lip-speaking.

Referees communicate during the match using a flag which is raised up at the same time as the whistle is blown. The officials are aware of deaf players not being able to look up at the referee at all the times, and there are also assistant referees who will support the referee with the game.

England Men will compete in Group D alongside: Portugal, Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey.

England’s Women are in Group A with: Germany, Italy, Ireland and Norway.



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