Futsal comes to Canada: FIFA Futsal Coaching Course Workshop

01 November 2010

Futsal comes to Canada

The Canadian Soccer Association in cooperation with FIFA delegates recently held Futsal workshops in the areas of Coaching and Refereeing in Laval and Ottawa with the aim of the advancement of the sport of Futsal in Canada.

The FIFA Futsal Coach Instructor course ran from 18 October to 22 October in Laval, QC. The course material was designed to prepare the participants to provide training to additional Canadian Futsal coaches. FIFA Instructor Constantine Konstin led 30 participants representing six Canadian provinces as well as two guest trainers from Burkina Faso and Cote D’Ivoire through the five day session.

“The course provided a great introduction for the game of Futsal into the Canadian Soccer Association structure,” said Ms. Beliveau. “The combination of expert instructors in the game of soccer and others in the game of Futsal created a great mix and a good model for sharing expertise.”

On 19 October the Association provided a train the trainer workshop to launch its entry level Futsal Referee Course in Ottawa, ON. Led by Canadian Soccer Association Director of Refereeing Joe Guest and US Soccer National Staff Instructor Jeff Killmeyer the course introduced the participants to the standardised material for training new Futsal referees, a cross-over course for existing soccer referees, and a national examination on the knowledge and understanding of the Futsal laws of the game. The well attended session featured representatives from 10 of the Association’s 12 provincial and territorial member associations.

“The opportunity not only to receive the material but to engage in discussion on the game was extremely beneficial for all the attendees,” noted Mr. Guest.

FUTSAL is the only official form of indoor soccer approved by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). It is played in all the continents of the world by more than 100 countries and 12 million players. Futsal is normally played on a basketball-style court, although it can be played on a variety of surfaces. The game does not require the use of expensive dasher boards, as does other versions of indoor soccer, therefore making it a very economical and safe sport. Because the sport is a great skill-developer, demanding quick reflexes, fast thinking, and pin-point passing, it is an exciting game for children as well as adults. Great soccer superstars such as Pele, Zico, Diego Maradona and Ronaldo grew up playing the game and credit Futsal with developing their skills.

For more information about Futsal visit FIFA.com’s Futsal information page here:http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/futsal/index.html.

1st National Futsal Player ID Camp a Resounding Success

1st National Futsal Player ID Camp a Resounding Success

Friday, 25 February 2011 03:10 administrator
Futsal Canada would like to thank everybody who contributed to the 1st ever Canadian Futsal Player ID Camp (F-PIC’s)that was held in Toronto this past weekend at Seneca College. The innovative and groundbreaking program was by all accounts a huge success and will certainly help develop elite futsal talent in the immediate future. Check the story and pictures inside.

How many of these phenomenal talents will one day represent Canada in futsal?

The top 40 youth players from over 12 cities in Ontario and Quebec made the trek to engage in an excellent series of elite on-court and in-class futsal training sessions from Futsal Canada Technical Staff, Lorenzo Redwood and Roy Blanche. Players came from as far as Laval and Thunder Bay to join an elite cast from Ottawa, London, Montreal, Oshawa, Sarnia, Sudbury, and hosts Toronto, among others, and were thrilled to learn the tricks of the futsal trade.

Lorenzo and Roy running the players through training

The entire purpose of the camp was to bring together and identify the best male and female futsal talent between the ages of 13-17 and put them in a high-octane, pure futsal environment and to much excitement there were some diamonds in the rough discovered. The program initially sent out requests 3 months ago to futsal technical directors, coaches and league operators from across the country to select who the best 'futsallers' from each respective region were and well over 100 applicants came in from across 4 provinces. Players were selected based on their futsal experience and had to be recommended by both their league technical staff and coaches.

Futsal Canada Technical Staff Coach Lorenzo Redwood demonstrates what he wants from the players

A young player utilizing the sole of his shoe to control the ball, futsal style.

The fortunate 40 were then selected to come for the weekend and train – for free – under the tutelage of Redwood and Blanche, both of whom have some of best futsal playing and coaching experience that Canada has to offer. They were assisted by rising young futsal star Chris Duenas and top  female futsal player Trina Byrne. The program content featured 6 hours of intense on-court training coupled with an in-depth classroom session that focused on tactical strategies, adapting and understanding the new FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game, along with a focus on the future of Canadian and international futsal. Players also watched international futsal clips and came out more motivated than ever to represent the red and white one day at a future FIFA Futsal World Cup.

One half of the dynamic Gill girls, Nadja focuses on developing her already strong ball control skills.

Players enjoyed the opportunity to relax and get to know one another through a pizza party at the host hotel on Saturday night before getting some well deserved rest.

Day 2 featured a great series of games in which coaches assessed players while correcting formations and tactics. Making a special guest appearance all the way from Brazil was Alex Barbara from Penalty, Futsal Canada's Official Ball Provider, along with Penalty's Canadian Director of Development and Distribution, Louis Robin, both of whom were impressed with what they saw. Publisher Emeritus of Inside SOCCER Magazine, Canada’s National Soccer Publication, Alfons Rubbens also attended the Sunday sessions and was quite thrilled with the action, particularly with the high quality of play from the girls.

The double gym at Seneca College proved a spacious venue to host all 40 kids

Parents, coaches, kids and staff alike were unanimous in their support of the program and expressed their desire to become even more heavily involved as it moves forward. F-PIC’s will go into the future with more camps across Canada while planning trips for elite players to the USA and Brazil over the next year for a series of training sessions along with entering top tournament competitions.

Futsal Canada Technical Staff Coach, Roy Blanche, Canada's most capped futsal player

From left: Louis Robin of Penalty Canada, Kris Fernandes of Futsal Canada, Alex Barbara of Penalty Brazil

A special thanks goes out to Lorenzo Redwood and Roy Blanche (for their excellent teachings) Kathleen George (for her beyond brilliant organization skills), Veronica Harispuru (for conducting some excellent player interviews, Chris & Pablo Duenas along with Trina Byrne (for their help in instructing the players, Kris Fernandes (for creating and putting the program together), Corrie Wiersema, Kyle Washington, Edwin Saraccini, Andy McKay for spearheading the movement in their regions and the great staff at Seneca College for everything they do. 

Players and coaches happily smile together for a photo