Futsal, one of the fastest growing sports in New Zealand, makes a return to Matamata this Friday, with the Matamata Futsal Training Programme for junior and youth aged children kicking off at Headon Stadium.
Open to everyone, these new futsal sessions are for boys and girls at under-16, under-13, under-11 and under-9 age groups. Spots are still available across all groups. “We’re excited to bring this to Matamata and we hope children from all sporting backgrounds come along for a look at something that’s just a little bit different,” said Scott Parsonage, WaiBOP Football Federation’s Development Manager for this region.
“It’s an ideal summer sport. Short, sharp, fun and exciting, futsal is a great way for young people to work on their co-ordination, ball skills and speed of thought. For young footballers, futsal will help them develop their skills during the off-season, while it’s also a great supplement for players of other sports as they’ll work different parts of their bodies in different ways.”
Futsal is the only FIFA and NZ Football approved version of five-aside football and the world’s fastest growing indoor sport. Originating in South America, the name futsal is derived from the Portuguese words futebol (football) and sala (hall). Futsal is a small-sided game played with a smaller low bounce ball, on a basketball sized court without rebound walls or nets. It is a game which combines fun, creativity, speed, technique, teamwork and quick thinking.
The Futsal Training Programme runs on four consecutive Fridays with different session times for different age groups. Players interested in giving futsal a go can find out more information, and register, here or contact Parsonage on 021 915 459. Following the training programme interested players may also take part in a regional tournament in Te Aroha on Sunday December 10.