Saturday, November 15, 2014

Games start Nov. 18th!



Rule discussion with Referee Simon
League A will begin promptly at 6:00 with a rule review and introduction from Referee Simon.  The first match will begin at 6:10 after the review and introduction are completed.   The League Z rule review will begin at 7:30, games beginning at 7:40.  On thursday there will be a 10 min warm up period at the start of each league time period.

Practice time happens while your team is not in a game
We will be working with players on skills and  tactics during the games that their team is sitting out.  This includes watching the play and commenting on events, tactics, and positioning as well as players working independently in small groups on passing, trapping and dribbling.  This tuesday players should focus on cushion trapping and side foot passes in addition to watching the games to improve their understanding of roles and positions in futsal.

New skills introduced every Thursday
On Thursday Coach Mitch will introduce a new footskill for players to practice.

All teams will play 4 short games (12 min each)
During our first two weeks we will try playing 12 min games (with 1 min for transitioning), each team will play 4 games. Schedule of games, with the same pattern for both leagues :
  1. Red/Orange        Vrs    Yellow/Green   [A 6:10]  [Z 7:40]
  2. Yellow/Green     Vrs    Blue                  [A 6:23]  [Z 7:53]
  3. Red/Orange        Vrs    Blue                  [A 6:36]  [Z 8:06]
  4. Red/Orange        Vrs    Yellow/Green   [A 6:49]  [Z 8:19]
  5. Yellow/Green    Vrs     Blue                  [A 7:02]  [Z 8:32]
  6. Red/Orange        Vrs    Blue                  [A 7:15]  [Z 8:45]
Shin guards, clean shoes and team colors 
  • All players must whear shin guards.   (I found a shin guard at the ACC on Thursday).
  • Wear CLEAN shoes!  
  • Wear your team color!   Double check the list-- some players are confused about which team they are on.
Important safety reminder 

Players are reminded to play with control and to avoid striking the ball out of control, and especially striking the ball high.   Hitting the ceiling, lights or sending the ball onto the upper level is a yellow card offense, and includes a penalty period of at least one minute.   

Futsal is not the same as indoor soccer. Read the full explanation of rules linked here. 

Some key futsal rule differences   
  1. Futsal is minimum contact, not a contact sport like soccer.
  2. ACC futsal requires players to use extra control due to the mixed use facility
  3. Yellow card offenses include a penalty period (1 player deficit) at least 1 minute
  4. Striking lights, ceiling or upper deck of facility is a yellow card offense.
  5. All kick-ins must be taken promptly (4 seconds) or they are forfeited to the other team
    1. Defending team must give 10 feet from ball.
  6. Goal kicks can be taken from anywhere in the goal area
  7. Shots are only scored if knee high or lower, and from within the goal area
  8. There are no goalies, there are just field players





Friday, November 7, 2014

Initial Rosters for Youth Futsal



Here are our initial rosters for Youth Futsal 2014 at the ACC.  We had a short time turn around, so these are our current best effort to make teams that are even within both leagues, and to reflect player preferences for playing at the same time as siblings. 

As we get to know the players better we may need to adjust teams to foster better balances of players within and possibly across leagues.  

Thanks for all of your help Thursday night!

Update: 
Practices and games for A League are from 6:00 to 7:30, and Z League is from 7:30 to 9:00. 

I am very much looking forward to helping all the players improve and enjoy the game of futsal.  This week our practices will include work on the obstacle course from Thursday, the team passing exercise, and short scrimmages.  

All players should wear a shirt of the color of their team to practices as well as games.  We have pinnies to alter teams if needed.   Games are played 6v6, and therefore if we are short players on a team we will draw players from the other teams in the same league / time slot. 

All players need to wear shin guards, and it is really helpful if you can help make sure the players have *clean* shoes.   The gym floor becomes very slippery with dirty shoes. 

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Thanks for a great first night!



Youth Futsal at the ACC got off to a great start tonight (Nov. 6th, 2014). Big thanks to all the parents and coaches who helped out with our first night.  The players seemed to have fun and it looks like we will have a super season.   

The video clip above highlights the great team play and precise, quick passing that makes futsal so fun.  I am pretty sure that all of those Sevilla players grew up playing futsal.  

Futsal Skills and Assesment Avtivities


Nov 6th - Dec 18th 2014 
Tuesday and Thursday Evenings, 6:00 to 9:00
Recreational Youth Futsal League
Athens Community Center   
 
Skills assessment begins Nov 6th at 6:00 pm.   This is a learning focused league which aims to help all players develop, improve and have fun playing futsal.   Ted put together a three page overview of futsal skills that we will work on, the fun assessment activities we will do, and an overview of the three key roles in futsal.  Please take a look!

  • Overview of futsal skills, assessment and player roles
    • Three page handout   (feel free to leave a comment on the document)
    • If any parents can stay and help with the assessment that would be great!
      • Bring your smartphone or stop watch


In Brief:
  • Players
    • 5,6,7, 8th grade soccer players
    • New Futsal players welcome
    • Bring your friends, indoor shoes, shin guards
  • Teams
    • Teams will combine friend groups and ability levels
    • Create balanced, coed teams in two leagues
    • 8 players per team, 6v6 on court
    •  Participation limited to first 48 players
  • Sign up before November 2nd! 
    • $32 includes practices and games at the ACC
    • Nov 6th is rules, skill practice, form teams
    • Nov 11,13 practices and scrimmages
    • Nov 18 to Dec 18 games (except Thanksgiving)
  • Two Coed Recreational Leagues 
    • "A" league:  medium pace and younger players (6:00 to 7:30)
    • "Z" league:  faster pace and older players (7:30 to 9:00)
    • Teams and leagues organized to emphasize parity, learning, and recreation