Winter Futsal

Turf field futsal. 1:30 to 3:30; Sundays all winter [Outdoors!]
Location:  Athens High School stadium field. 

To participate in turf field futsal you need to be a member of Athens Community Soccer (ACS) which organizes the Saturday soccer league during spring, summer and fall. You can sign up for ACS online, and enrollment includes a full 12 months of participation in ACS leagues. Another major benefit of ACS membership is that it provides per person facility and accident insurance during events. ACS is $35 annual for adults, $20 annual for youth.  We bring ACS forms to the field. 

ACC futsal, 6:00-8:45; Fridays in January [Indoors!] 
Location: Athens Community Center. 

Futsal is free, but you have to pay to use the building. Day passes $5.00, punch passes 20 for $60, or membership in the ACC. Ted usually purchases a punch pass and puts it at the front desk for NEW futsal players to use, and then people who enter using the pass are asked to pay him $3.00. Once you plan to come regularly, you should plan to buy a punch pass. 


GASA (Greater Athens Soccer Association) supports soccer and youth soccer programs in Athens.  GASA recently purchased goals for the Walmart fields, and new goals and the equipment pictured above for Athens Futsal.   Futsal in Athens would not be possible without the support of GASA.   If you enjoy Athens family futsal please Donate to GASA online via PayPal!.  Thanks!


Futsal email list:    send an email to h.t.welser  AT   gmail.com

Turf field weather rubric:
Sunday participation depends on weather, but we are hearty souls, and will plan to play under most conditions: 

sunny and 27 or warmer? = play 
clouds and 33 and warmer? = play
rain 45 and warmer? = play
lightning? = no play

Turf field Futsal: starts Nov 17th at the Athen High School stadium

New program:  The winter turf field futsal program at the high school is a collaborative effort between Athens High Soccer, GASA, Athens Community Soccer, and Athens Futsal.   The program runs on Sunday afternoons from November into April and provides scheduled times for family futsal on the turf field of Athens high.  The program will support the development of youth players (from U8 through high school) and adults in a playing environment focused on fun participation and peer mentoring.  The fee for the turf field program will raise funds for GASA and equipment for highschool soccer and futsal.

Purpose:  This program creates wintertime opportunities for players of all ages to develop their skills, enjoy the game, and build community with other futsal/soccer players in Athens.  To support the development of youth players in an environment focused on skill and fun.  

Three fundamental rules of Athens Family Futsal:

1. Have fun!
2. Don't hurt anyone (including yourself)
3. Take it easy on those that need to taken easy upon.

Sign up online:

1. Become a member of Athens Community Soccer 
1. Includes membership in ACS spring, summer, and fall programs
2. Adult annual fee $35
3. Youth annual fee $20
2. Join the "Turf field futsal" on the ACS page  [This new page is not yet available]
1. Adult fee $20
2. Youth fee $10
3. Athens high student:  No charge

[Note:   Turf field futsal is a brand new program, so the page for it does not yet exist at ACS.  We are working on it and will let everyone know when we get it set up-- thanks for your patience!  Ted]

Where:   1 High School Drive, immediately off of Johnson Road in the Plains, the turf field in the stadium.
When:   Sundays 1:00 to help set up;  Play 1:30 to 3:30   (within constraints of reasonable winter weather) 

Bring:

• Shin guards and shoes:  cleats, turf shoes, and indoor shoes all work.  Cleats or turf shoes will be best for most players.
• Different layers of clothes: long underwear, sweatshirts and jackets, hats, gloves, as well as large t-shirts.
• T-shirts in several color options (dark, light, red) for outer layer (over sized tshirts).  We will have pinnies, but might need some fields to go with dark or light shirts. 
• Water
• Desire to have fun, play well, and help others learn.

What is Athens family futsal?  Futsal is played on a lined field with a low bounce ball that allows from greater control and encourages skillful, team play.  Our games are self officiated based on principles of fair play and compassion for fellow players.  Teams are formulated with the objectives of parity and maximizing the enjoyment and learning of all players. All players are field players, and the ball may not be picked up or touched with hands or arms.  Kicks or shots on goal are only scored if they are low (approximately knee height or less).  Height exceptions are made for artful shots made with the head, chest, or thigh.  Long shots on goal are not allowed. Plays out of bounds are restarted with an indirect free kick.

Mission of ‘Athens Futsal’ the organization
    Athens futsal is an Ohio University and Athens community based group that includes futsal players of all ages, genders, abilities and backgrounds.  We are dedicated to fostering opportunities for members of the broad OU and Athens community to develop the love of the game, improve skills and abilities, and to foster friendship and community among all players.  We do this by encouraging inclusive participation in recreational, just-for-fun games and by actively demonstrating our commitment to fair play, and compassion for the safety, enjoyment, and development of all players.   See more details on the Athens Futsal Mission.

Exciting Prospects for Futsal in Athens

Athens Futsal is looking forward to a new chapter for the local community.  We are teaming up with local soccer organizations (GASA, ACS) and the highschool soccer coaches to offer family and youth pick up futsal on Sundays during the winter months.  We will play on the all weather turf field at the high school.

The inaugural event is planned for Sunday, November 17th, at 1 or 1:30 in the afternoon.  Check here and on the FB page for further details. 

Futsal basics at the ACC

Day passes for the ACC are $5, and 20 visit punch passes are $60 ($3 per visit).   Multiple people can share the same pass.

Futsal at the ACC is played on a basketball court with a low bounce ball.  Futsal involves less running and tighter skill and precision than outdoor soccer or standard US indoor soccer.  We self officiate with a very friendly atmosphere. We don't keep score and we cheer for all of the good plays.

1. Three basic rules: 
1. Have fun
2. Don't hurt anyone (including yourself)
3. Take it easy on those that need to be take easy upon. 
2. Bring your shin guards and your indoor shoes or running shoes. 

See the links above for the detailed rules, the mission and the schedule for Athens Futsal.

Futsal at Athens High was a great success!

Micah draws a crowd with his orange socks!

Nic is open on the wing!

Jay and Jagger steal the ball back for Oranje!

Thanks to Isaac Thomas and Athens High for making this happen!  The Athens Futsal community members really enjoyed the chance to play on the high quality field.  We had about 35-40 players out on Sunday.

Sunday Futsal outdoors on AHS turf field!

Athens Futsal will play this Sunday on the High School turf field.  We will set up 2 or 3 Futsal fields playing across the field (rather than lengthwise).   Bring cleats, this is a modern turf field.

3:00-3:30    Warm up and set up (while Highschool players finish up)
3:30 to 5:30   Slow, medium, and fast paced Futsal games.

Hope we have good weather!

New Sunday Schedule

Post your thoughts on the FB page or in the email discussion.

Sunday: 

1:00 to 4:00

All players welcome, kids, families, adults.  We create teams and balance them based on the experience levels and ages distribution that are there.   If we need to we will form 4 teams, two with younger kids, two without younger kids, so that we can have different paced games in the same time slot. 

4:00 to 5:00

Girl power hour including U12, U15 girls teams plus moms and other women. 

5:00 to 7:00 

Speedier paced game including adult men and women, plus the older and more skilled kids.  

The hope is that this will allow more flexibility while allowing some of the more experienced folks to chose to focus on either early or later game times, if one time slot fits their schedule better. 

Firday Night Futsal! @ ACC

Friday Feb. 1:

1. 6:00 to 7:00  Mellow futsal including young kids, older kids, teens and adults.
2. 7:00 to 8:00  Medium futsal including older kids, teens and adults.
3. 8:00 to 9:00  Speedy futsal including teens and adults.

Bring:

1. Shin guards
2. Different shirts (light, dark, red)
3. Fun

Sunday Feb 3:

1. 1:00-2:00  Girl power hour:   U12, U15 girls teams plus women and moms
2. 2:00-3:00   Mellow futsal including young kids, older kids, teens and adults.
3. 3:00-5:00   Medium futsal including older kids, teens and adults.
4. 5:00-7:00  Speedy futsal including teens and adults.

Shirt left at futsal in December

Light polar fleece full over with stripes down the arms.

Was left behind at futsal in December-- just found it in the laundry room. 

Will bring to pickup today. 

 

 

 

Here is the planned schedule for Sunday Jan 27th:

1:45 to 2:00 U12 girls game warm up, passing practice
2:00 to 3:00 U12 Girls team and women's games
3:00 to 4:00 kids and family practice and games (mix of practice and games depends on range of age groups of kids, and abilities that show up; parents and adults play supporting role to kids games / practice in this time slot)

4:00 to 4:15 (warm up and team formation for the medium speed pick up)
4:15 to 7:00 Open pick up, beginning medium speed and moving towards faster speed-- still friendly, safe and not competitive, just faster paced.
5:00 to 7:00 Faster speed pick (good time for teenagers and most skilled adults) 

As always, bring three different shirt colors (light, dark, and red).

Great start at the ACC!

I got some photos during part of the kids / family time.  About 15 min after this we had a bunch more folks show up.  After 4:00 we had four teams of 6 or 7 for a while.  Then we eased down to 3 teams, and eventually to 2 teams of 5.  

We called it quits at 6:00.  So despite the crowding earlier, we had room for more folks later in the day.   I wonder if we could name the last 2 hours as especially good for the faster paced game?  

Also, it would be really helpful if we could get all of the kids to show up for one hour in particular where all the kids would be on the court, with a couple of adults / parents playing supporting roles.  (the first hour perhaps?  

Anyways, here are some more photos.

Someone make a run to back post!

Yay! The kids get a goal.

Syd can't wait for Futsal on Sunday

Gimme some Futsal!

Currently, the best ways to get involved are:

• Like Athens Futsal on FB
• Complete the Futsal interest survey
• including your name and email 
• Come to the ACC during scheduled futsal hours
• Check the calendar 
• Read up on the rules and expectations for futsal at the ACC

Times for January and February:

• Sunday:   2-4  family friendly pick up with adults and younger kids
• Sunday:    4-7 friendly pick up with adults and older kids
• Friday:  6-9 pm 
•   (starting on Feb 1st)

Things to bring to the ACC:

• Shin guards.  Everyone needs to wear shin guards.
• Three shirts, one each:  light, dark, red.
• Water bottle.
• Futsal ball, but no soccer balls allowed.