3 minute read
FOCUS ON FUTSAL
£300,000 INVESTMENT BOOSTS FUTSAL IN ENGLAND
Last September saw the launch of The FA’s first ever dedicated Futsal fund to help develop the sport in England. Normally a five-a-side game played on a flat indoor pitch with a weighted size four ball, the exciting, fast-paced sport is played across the world and is officially recognised by both UEFA and FIFA.
The FA pledged £300,000 to providing Futsal starter packs to County FAs, football leagues and schools, designed to adapt existing sports halls, playgrounds and other hard surface facilities and provide new opportunities to youngsters looking for their first experience of Futsal.
The fund was targeted at previously unengaged groups, including:
• Female Futsal (12-18 years) • Youth Futsal (14 years-and-over) • Youth football leagues (U14-to-U18) • Association of Colleges (AoC) members with facilities offering community usage • English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) and Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) member schools with facilities offering community usage The scheme has already made a considerable impact, with 254 packs awarded to community groups from across the country. This has helped to provide access to over 100,000 players and inspired the creation of around 400 new Futsal leagues and competitions.
Michael Skubala, England Futsal Head Coach: “Futsal is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, yet the majority of youngsters in schools won’t have had the opportunity to try it prior to this Football Foundation scheme. Futsal is brilliant for helping to develop the technical skills of players, communication and overall player development, so it’s fantastic to see The FA investing in the future of the sport and helping people to get involved.”
REACHING THE SUMMIT –
FUTSAL FUND PROPELS MOUNT CARMEL TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
Before the start of the 2017/18 season, the majority of Mount Carmel High School’s Under-13s girls’ team had never kicked a weighty Futsal ball before.
Fast forward a year and the girls have exceeded all expectations to become one of the most successful youth sides in the entire country.
The catalyst for this was receiving a grant from The FA’s Futsal Fund. Under the stewardship of PE Curriculum Leader, Gaynor Gallagher, the team would enjoy a hugely successful first year of competition.
The girls became Hyndburn and Ribble Valley champions, overcoming 11 rival schools in the local area. They then represented Accrington Stanley FC in the North West Futsal championship and were once again victorious. This led them to compete in the National under-13 Futsal Championships as representatives of the North West region.
The girls went unbeaten during the competition and eventually finished in third-place, an unbelievable feat for a side that had never played a game of Futsal at all just 12 months earlier. Striker Ella Whittaker, who won the golden boot at the National Finals after notching eight goals, said: “It was an incredible experience and we loved every minute of it. It was slightly nerve-wracking to be involved in a national competition but we were all so proud to have been able to represent the North West and we definitely did ourselves proud.”
The team has been supported by Accrington Stanley FC throughout their journey, with the newly promoted League One side providing branded kits and weekly training sessions for boys and girls. The club has also created a pathway at the school for post-16 students to complete BTEC qualifications.
Gaynor Gallagher, said: “The whole experience has been a bit of a whirlwind. At the start of our journey, we never envisaged it ending with a third place finish at a national competition so the girls have done an unbelievable job.
“Through the Futsal Fund, we’ve been able to introduce a brand new sport into the curriculum, created opportunities for young people to develop team skills, improve communication and promote lifelong participation in sport and what’s more, it’s all been absolutely free for us.”
