New Engalnd Futsal News - Canada brings Futsal in from the Cold

Bill Croft
News Sports Editor

The South Okanagan has been selected as one of the first regions of B.C. to help spread the word about the sport of futsal.

Futsal - an indoor version of soccer - is particularly popular in Southern Europe and South America, but is just getting a foothold in Canada.

The B.C. Soccer Association, in conjunction with the South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association, will be hosting a free, one-day introductory workshop dealing with the sport on Sunday at Princess Margaret Secondary School, starting at 10 a.m.
Tommy Phillips, head coach for SOYSA said futsal features five players on the floor per team, and uses a special low-bounce ball. "It's a small-sided indoor game that has been adapted for use on basketball courts," said Phillips. "So basically, you can play anywhere in the world." Phillips added that because of the close quarters and the type of ball used, the game focuses more on finesse than power.

"It really focuses on your coordination and agility," said Phillips. "You've got to be light on your feet - you can't play it otherwise." While the sport has been around for over 70 years and is already enjoyed by millions of participants around the world, Phillips believes that SOYSA is the first youth association in B.C. to promote the sport.
"It's really caught on with all international associations and just recently England approved it, as did Canada," said Phillips. "So the B.C. Soccer Association is on board."

Initial discussion about the introduction of the sport through the provincial association took place provincially last summer. The go-ahead to introduce the sport was given at the BCSA's annual general meeting last month. Phillips adds that the introduction of the sport in the South Okanagan is a benefit to the local players, because it allows the association to lengthen the season, avoiding the bad weather in the winter months.

"With the environment in the Interior, it gets around the weather problem. We're looking at year-round soccer and we're trying to solve the crisis for facilities," said Phillips. "It's an opportunity that's come at the right time."
Sunday's seminar with be split into two parts. The morning session will feature a classroom presentation, including a history and the objectives of the futsal program, as well as a video and an overview of the rules and field of play and how they compare to the outdoor game.
The afternoon session will give participants a hands-on experience, as the session moves to the Princess Margaret school gym, where all participants will be involved in playing. Participants are asked to bring soft-soled shoes and shorts for the afternoon session. System of play and basic strategies will be demonstrated. While Sunday's workshop is presented by the B.C. Soccer Association and SOYSA, organizers say the session is open to anyone. Phillips said he would particularly like to see representation from area schools. "We do need to get association sports into schools. We need that kind of two-way feed," said Phillips.

Anyone wanting more information about the sport or the workshop is asked to contact Phillips at 490-9395.