Futsal
   
   
 
 
Futsal' is a five a side game, played on an open sided pitch with specific goals and a size 4 football with a reduced bounce. It is played to touchlines and all players are free to enter the penalty area and play the ball over head height. The initiative is hugely popular in many countries, including some of England's most revered football opposition. Most notably, Brazil and Spain use the game as a means to develop technical ability in youngsters and provides further opportunities for their club and national teams to gain domestic and national honours respectively. The dynamics of the game mentioned above, highlight key differences to regular ' 5 a side', that we recognise as standard. These factors, simply promote a fast highly skilled and technically demanding game that generates increased attention from spectators and prospective players
 
Shropshire is one of the leading counties in regards to Futsal; the county holds annual men’s and women’s Futsal tournaments, junior club one off tournaments and one off school tournaments.
 
2008 saw increased interest in the game and school programmes are now being delivered within each School Sports Partnership with Shropshire FA planning to hold District School Futsal Cups in March culminating a County Schools Finals day. The real breakthrough though came when the Shropshire Junior League expressed an interest in playing Futsal.
 
Andy Taylor, Shropshire FA Football Development Officer said:
“Many leagues stop playing mini soccer during the winter months and even if they do have fixtures arranged they often get cancelled due to poor weather conditions. This winter Futsal programme has meant that all players, coaches and spectators are indoors and teams are guaranteed to be playing week in week out.
The development of Futsal within the county has been great, but to see the real benefit of the game the younger age groups need to be playing it so that the skills associated can be instilled at a younger age. The coaches have really taken this on board and I know that teams now transfer the skills taught in Futsal into their mini soccer matches.
The development of Futsal within the county has been great, but to see the real benefit of the game the younger age groups need to be playing it so that the skills associated can be instilled at a younger age. The coaches have really taken this on board and I know that teams now transfer the skills taught in Futsal into their mini soccer matches."
 
Shropshire FA hopes to continue this programme next year in partnership with the Shropshire Junior Football League, plans are being made to extend this programme to all age groups.