Pupils from the region’s secondary schools will be participating in the city’s first junior Futsal Academy today [Thursday 15 April] at the University of Bristol. Futsal, short for futebol de salão, is an adapted version of indoor soccer that originated in South America and encourages speed, skill and sound technique.
Pupils from the region’s secondary schools will be participating in the city’s first junior Futsal Academy today [Thursday 15 April] at the University of Bristol. Futsal, short for
futebol de salão, is an adapted version of indoor soccer that originated in South America and encourages speed, skill and sound technique.
Coaches from the University’s Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health have teamed up with volunteers from the University men’s football club to run the Academy. The camp is part of Futsal Fever, a University project which is supported by the Football Foundation, the John Rutley Sports Fund and RELAYS (Regional Educational Legacy for Arts and Youth Sport).
Some of the world’s best footballing nations such as Argentina, Brazil and Spain, who will be competing in the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa, are all countries with Futsal at the heart of their football development.
Robbie Fox, RELAYS School Event Coordinator, said: “We’re delighted to host this Academy. The response from the Futsal coaching we have done this year has been extremely positive. All the youngsters coming to the Academy have shown great attitudes as well as great ability.”
Matthew Paine, University of Bristol Men’s Football Club Coach said: “Futsal will definitely get bigger and better in the next few years. Futsal is an effective way to teach the game to youngsters and is a sport that we should build on in the UK as much as we can. This Academy will help us assemble a junior side that can represent the city at tournaments and events throughout the region.”
Further information
The RELAYS (Regional Educational Legacy for Arts and Youth Sport) project seeks to engage young people in the South West in sporting and cultural events in the run up to the London 2012 Games. Led by Universities South West, through a network of regional universities and cultural organisations, RELAYS aims to blend youth sport and cultural in a vibrant mixture of activities across the region in the build up to the 2012 Games. It is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity that has been set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games and HEFCE (The Higher Education Funding Council for England).
