In the first initiative of its Kind in England, Manchester City and
Sheffield FC as part of a massive recruitment and Development drive have
joined forces in an effort to develop and promote the game of Futsal.
Hillsborough College in Sheffield has become home to the Clubs new
Futsal/Football Centre aimed at improving technical ability at grass
roots level;
In an initiative that will see young local grassroots teams and
community organizations being invited to 2 hour coaching session
delivered by experienced Futsal and Football coaches;
Young players will experience the game of Futsal as well as seeing how
it can help their technical game regarding the game of football;
Dave Ward, who with Dave Harrison and Trevor Todd of Manchester City set
up this development initiative told Futsal Planet ‘primarily Futsal
will be promoted as a complementary player development initiative’ we
believe the game is perfectly designed to enhance, enrich and compliment
the 11 a side game and is not designed to compete with football.
As Futsal becomes more popular we hope the number of participants within
football in general will grow, with more technically minded players
coming through the Professional Academies.
Futsal is widely recognised as the ideal skill building arena for the 11
a side game, as this development programme matures we hope to improve
the technical skills of grass roots players and watch the popularity of
the game of Futsal grow nationally as well as locally;
Dave added ‘I have to thank Mico Martic and Javier Lozano for their
input and advice over the years in relation to this project, which has
helped influence an English Premiership Football club to put this
development strategy in place’.
Seeing the game played at the highest standard around Europe, especially
in Spain, and more importantly seeing how the game can be used as a
development tool in the game of football has also inspired us to get
this centre up and running;
The growth of Futsal in England has been a lot slower than the rest of
Europe, and we have until recently failed to recognise Futsal as a vital
development tool within the game of football.
Together with The Sheffield and Hallamshire FA’s Futsal programmes and
the participation of Mico Martic in delivering Futsal coaching sessions
in the area and at Manchester City’s Academy, these developments have
helped put Sheffield at the forefront of the increasing popularity of
Futsal;
Now, to sustain and maintain the long term ambitions for Futsal in
England the Initiation and development of quality grassroots programmes
is of paramount importance.
Not only to establish Futsal as a mainstream sport but to clarify the
games importance as a development tool regarding the 11 a side game.
We also believe it is important to the games progress to create and
sustain a youth Futsal league, sooner rather than later.
In addition Implementing quality Futsal programmes within schools in the
area we hope would play an integral role creating a Futsal culture and
enhancing technical ability.
The centre in Sheffield hopes that from this initiative these proposed
plans will become a reality very soon;
Mean while within the centre the general reaction to the game of Futsal has been very positive!
An unknown entity to a lot of young players in the area the qualities of the game and its benefits are being recognised by players and coaches alike. Its put the fun element back into the game has been a general comment from parents and participants.
Dave and Trevor have recognised to enhance this project further still, a Futsal development programme for coaching local grassroots coaches at the College also needs to be implemented.
We have submitted a proposal highlighting the need to provide more opportunities allowing local coaches to further their coaching knowledge by introducing the Futsal concept into their coaching regime, Dave Ward told us.
It is our aim to invite established and experience Futsal coaches from around Europe to Sheffield and to deliver sessions to both players and coaches alike.
This would be such an inspiration to local teams and players; it would certainly enhance and bring to the forefront what we are trying to do here in Sheffield;
If you would like to know more about Futsal and this initiative and the way the game of Futsal can improve technical ability, or if would just like to pass comment please send your emails to
This Report was compiled by Gary Nicholas;
*** This a project Grimsby Institute Futsal Leagues are working closely with, GSC under 10’s have already been To Manchester City Eastland Training complex. Watch this space………………
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