Courtesy: Oldham Advertiser


Could we be home to next Ronaldo?

by Stuart Greer

23/4/2008

A FORM of football credited with aiding players like Pele, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo is being launched in Oldham – and both youngsters and adults can get involved.

‘Futsal’ is a miniature version of the beautiful game played with a smaller, heavier ball with reduced bounce – promoting skill, ball control and short passing.

It is played by youngsters in Brazil, Portugal and Spain, but rare in England, where traditional five and 11-a-side dominates.

However, Oldham is getting in on the act with both junior and adult leagues to be launched next month.

Anthony Pauls, Oldham Community Leisure’s synthetic pitch manager, explained that n the FA is fully behind the idea.

"I am really excited about bringing this game to Oldham, as it develops skill and awareness," he said. "The game also lends itself to trying out new skills to beat players."

Futsal – which derives from the Spanish words for football (‘futbol’) and hall (‘sala’) – began in the 1930s in Uruguay and Brazil.

Crowded cities and a lack of football pitches meant that small-sided games were the way forward, leading to the first rules of the game being published in 1936.

Growing popularity saw the first Futsal World Cup in 1989. The next world championship will feature 20 teams.

English football has consistently failed to deliver the goods at international level over the last 40 years, and this has been blamed on players relying too much on strength and power rather than skill.

But that could all be about to change with the launch of the Oldham Futsal League on Tuesday, May 6, at Grange Indoor Sports Hall.

The adult league will run for five weeks and the winning teams will progress to regional and national competitions.

The junior league, for under 13s, will start in June and run for 10 weeks at Chapel Road Synthetic Pitch in Hollinwood.

Interested in entering a team? Call Anthony Pauls on 0161 6213 300 or email him at anthony.pauls@ocll.co.uk

Futsal facts:

Five players on the court for each side with rolling substitutions.
Played with the use of a longer and wider pitch, the ball is constantly in play.
All players are allowed to enter penalty areas, although ghe goals are square and measure 3m x 2m.
The ball has a 30 per cent reduced bounce.
There is a five foul limit and no wall is allowed for direct freekicks after the fifth foul.
Match duration is two 20-minute halves.
Each team can take a one-minute timeout per half.




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