Courtesy: Des Moines Register


Soccer lovers go indoors to play Futsal

November 27, 2007

by Amber Bryant-Tapper

Kids from Morris Elementary School who love to play soccer outdoors in the spring and fall are now beginning the Futsal season indoors.

J.R. Fernandez, physical education teacher at Morris, is also the director of the Des Moines Futsal League. He said his goal in organizing the league is to give more kids the opportunity to be involved in an organized sport.

"It's an experience that some kids have never had," Fernandez said. "It's affordable, it's a safe place and it's a fun game."


He said Futsal is a game played internationally and is similar to soccer, but the rules are slightly different. One of the main differences is the ball, which is heavier and less bouncy than a regular soccer ball.

"It helps the kids develop more skills because the kids must have more ball control," Fernandez said.

There are five players per team on the field at a time rather than 11 like in soccer, Fernandez said. He also said there are no slide tackles and no rough play, plus the game is played indoors.

"The kids love it," he said. "They have fun."

Fernandez said there are 24 teams on the league, and many of those are organized by elementary schools, such as his team from Morris. The cost is $400 per school, which averages out to be $40 per teammate on a 10-player team, and it includes a T-shirt. Each coach can choose to throw in a few extras, too. This season the Morris team also received water bottles, and next season Fernandez said players on his team will receive new soccer balls.

"It's my goal now to get more schools involved," Fernandez said. "We offer a lot of selected teams, but it's also a chance, for kids who have never played, to teach them a new game."



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