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Futsal Tourney to Benefit D.C.'s Inner-City Youth

Not only is Futsal the world indoor game, dominated by Brazil, but it is also the most inner-city of sports, even more so than basketball. All you need to play the game is a ball and some playground space. The game will be demonstrated once again at the third

"Stop the Violence" Futsal Tournament

March 21-22 at American University in Washington D.C.

The tournament will bring together the unusual sponsorship combination of the U.S. Secret Service Soccer Club and DC SCORES, an after-school program that provides academic and recreational guidance to 400 youths in 13 Washington D.C. public schools. The tournament will include eight Under-12 youth teams, 32 men's law enforcement and embassy teams and six women's law enforcement teams. Preparation for the D.C. tourney is moving along "too well," according to James Oman of the Secret Service. "We have a waiting list in case somebody does drop out." He noted that the embassies are very interested in playing, and getting players together for this five-a-side sport is relatively easy compared with the number required for outdoor soccer. Oman said there were 10 teams involved in the Embassies' Futsal league last year, "and I could probably double that this year if I wanted to." The tournament will kick off at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 21, with the D.C. Youth Ensemble singing the national anthem in an opening ceremony. Guest speakers will include Chief Richard Friedman of the Secret Service Uniformed Division and Kevin Payne, President and General Manager of Major League Soccer's two-time-champion, D.C. United. It will conclude at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, March 22, with the men's championship game and an awards ceremony. The event raised over $8,000 last year for DC SCORES, Oman said. For further information, contact Oman at 202-634-2555, or Julie Kennedy, founder and Executive Director of DC SCORES at 202-296-2051. Futsal is governed by FIFA, and the U.S. competes regularly in international tournaments, using players taken primarily from the indoor National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). The U.S. finished third behind Brazil and Argentina in the Mundialito '98 Futsal Tournament Jan. 13-18 in Rio de Janeiro. Finishing behind the U.S. in the six-team tournament were Italy and Belgium. Wes Wade and Mark Moser of the U.S. had four goals each to tie for third in scoring with Vander Carioca of Brazil.

Stop The Violence Tournament Held in Washington D.C.

Not only is Futsal the world indoor game, dominated by Brazil, but it is also the most inner-city of sports, even more so than basketball. All you need to play the game is a ball and some playground space. The game was demonstrated once again at the third "Stop the Violence" Futsal Tournament March 21-22 at American University in Washington D.C. The tournament brought together the unusual sponsorship combination of the U.S. Secret Service Soccer Club and DC SCORES, an after-school program that provides academic and recreational guidance to some 400 youths in 13 Washington D.C. public schools. Also present were representatives of D.C. United's Screaming Eagles support group. The tournament included eight Under-12 youth teams, 32 men's law enforcement and embassy teams and six women's law enforcement teams. James Oman of the Secret Service said that the embassies are very interested in playing Futsal, and getting players together for this five-a-side sport is relatively easy compared with the number required for outdoor soccer. Oman said there were 10 teams involved in the Embassies' Futsal league last year, "and I could probably double that this year if I wanted to." "It was a tremendous success," Oman said. "We've already started planning for next year. Everyone had a really good time and is looking forward to coming back. We'll probably expand it." The tournament brought in $18,000 for the DC SCORES program, more than twice the $8,000 collected last year. In the tournament finals, the Achterhoek Police of Holland won the men's final, 1-0, over the Maryland Area Police in sudden-death overtime. In the women's competition, the Toronto Police defeated the Peel, Ontario, Police, 2-1. The youth teams played five games apiece without playing for an actual title. Each youth received a certificate and tee shirt and took part in clinics conducted by Denison Cabral and William Baptista. There were teams representing the Sarah House, the Eddie Pope Soccer League and DC SCORES, among other groups. Also represented was the Gunston Futsal Club of Northern Virginia, which has formed its own league. The certificates were handed out by D.C. United's Ben Olsen and Judah Cooks. Cabral is with the now-dormant Washington Warthogs indoor soccer club, and Baptista operates the Brazilian Soccer School. Baptista coached the Maryland police team which almost won the title. Next year's tourney, which will be the fourth, will be held at American University, once again, at the end of March. Oman said the Secret Service Soccer Club is planning a series of clinics that will continue through the summer for inner-city youngsters in cooperation with DC SCORES. Cabral and Baptista will be helping the club get ready. "We stress that you don't need 11 kids on each side to have a game," Oman said. "You just need four or five kids to have your Futsal." More Futsal is ahead for the Secret Service club. They're leaving in a month for Barcelona to take part in the Catalonia Cup 98, an international tourney for police teams. "It will give us a chance to gain more ideas for our soccer program," Oman said. In October, the club will go to Holland to take part in the World Indoor Police Championship. There will be 64 teams competing. "It's great for us to learn more about Futsal," Oman said. "It brings everybody together. We're taking only eight players. That's why it's so great a thing. You don't need a lot of players." For further information on this annual tournament, contact Oman at 202-634-2555, or Julie Kennedy, founder and Executive Director of DC SCORES at 202-296-2051.