Courtesy: -> Futsal Planet


619 Futsal Kicks Off Play

by Stephen Prendergast

Monday, December 5, 2011

Futsal League Play Stars in San Diego

619 Futsal Opening Day

The new season kicked off at 619 Futsal on Sunday, November27, at the Miramar Community College Fieldhouse Gym with a full slate of games ranging from U-8 and up. The action was fast-paced as both futsal veterans and newcomers shared the excitement of this technically demanding sport. The enthusiasm on the courts was matched by that in the stands as families and friends cheered on their teams. 619 Futsal owner Sean Bowers and Director of Player Development Mike Gentry took some time out of their duties to talk about the day and the program.

Sean Bowers, Owner of 619 Futsal

On the beginnings of 619 Futsal
About seven months ago there was a push to start a futsal program through US Soccer. We put a lot of time and effort into this, and we actually have 58 teams that are signed up for the very first year, which is a record for our organization across the country. We really did this for developmental purposes. I’ve read a number of articles that say United States youth soccer players are behind technically.

That was the number one reason we wanted to something like this, to get the kids out here whether they are eight years old or seventeen years old. As a nation we need to get better at the technical side of soccer, and I think this is one way we can do it. I wish I had it when I was a kid. I grew up here and we didn’t have anything like this.

On his own futsal background and goals
In 1995-1996 I was called up to the U.S. National Futsal Team. I didn’t know anything about futsal. We trained on a parking lot in Florida, so that’s how far we’ve come with futsal. I spent ten great years on the National Team and played in two Futsal World Cups. So for me it’s about sharing that experience, because I didn’t have it as a kid, and sharing it with my kids and other kids around here. So that’s what we’re really trying to do.

Other countries, especially the countries that are good in soccer, have youth futsal programs. We’re really the only country that hasn’t established that. We’re getting there, but we haven’t established it yet. Hopefully the kids who play here will grow up and be good at futsal and represent our country like I did.

On the response to 619 Futsal
We’ve had overwhelmingly great response for what we’re doing. The first time you put something on, there are always bumps and bruises with it, but we really haven’t had too many of those yet. Everyone who leaves here has had a smile on their face. All the parents say, “The kids are going to get better and they’re going to learn this game.” That’s what we’re doing. Whether it’s futsal or indoor soccer or outdoor soccer, we just want to share with all the clubs that are here and help the kids get better.


Mike Gentry, Director of Player Development for 619 Futsal

On his beginnings with 619 Futsal
Around March of this year Sean Bowers came to me with the idea of 619 Futsal and asked if I wanted to be involved. I jumped on board right away, since I was already running an open-play futsal program here at Miramar College on Friday nights. I had a direct line to recruit some players and teams to join the league. To my knowledge we are only the second league with this many teams out of the gate – 58 teams. Far and away the most teams in a league in San Diego.

On his own futsal connections
I’ve been exposed to futsal for about three years now. Sean had played for our National Team and introduced me to the rules of the game. I started the open-play program at Miramar College about a year ago because a number of kids, including my daughters, wanted to play on Friday nights and there were not a lot of options that night. We said, “Why not?” and started telling everybody; it just spread through word of mouth and now we average 30-40 kids every Friday night.

It’s fun for them because there is no coaching involved, just playing. They get to express themselves exactly how they want to. We give them the basic rules to let them go, and maybe we’ll give them a hint or two wherever they need it, but otherwise it’s all about them expressing themselves.

On the benefits of playing futsal
Since they started playing futsal, my daughters have shown huge improvement. Their touch has greatly accelerated. The reason I say that is because there are probably four times as many touches in futsal as in an outdoor game. We’re here today and you’re seeing these kids play – there are only four on a team plus a goalie, so there are only a few options to play and pass.

They’re going to make touches consistently. With those touches, the opportunities to gain success are elevated. And with that, they find things that work and fail, and they improve in a very short period of time. I’ve had kids who have said that they feel they have improved 100% in just three or four weeks. That’s a huge thing.

On 619 Futsal
With the league here, we’re seeing kids who are very skilled at the get-go and others who are looking to see how they can get better. They watch each other – they’re here early, they’re watching and playing, and picking up on things just as if they were watching professionals out here.

Last week we were able to start off with an exhibition match in the men’s game and followed that up with a skills session. There were about 130-140 people watching the men’s game, with 70 kids who were just soaking everything up. Sean ran the skills session last week, and those kids got so many positive touches and learned so much about a game that’s catching fire all over the world.

On futsal around the world
England has picked up on futsal and made it a requirement. US Soccer has made it a requirement now for their Academy programs – they are now required to have futsal programs installed and played. Futsal is very popular in Spain and Portugal, along with street soccer, and helped create the existing National Team for Spain who won the World Cup last year. It was phenomenal. The Brazilians, the Uruguayans – they are all very big advocates of futsal and having it introduced at a very young age. They would rather have their kids play futsal than regular organized soccer, to allow them to get better.

It’s incredible – you can go on YouTube and see Ronaldinho, Robinho and other great Brazilians when they were 9 or 10 years old, and they had phenomenal skills already. Hopefully in a short period of time we’re going to be able to play catch up at a National Team level and see some success. The future is all with these kids who are out here now as 8s, 9s and 10s. If they keep playing futsal, our national program is only going to benefit.

Mike Gentry’s invitation: I hope the readers of SoccerNation will come out next session in the Spring and try it for themselves. Maybe they’ll drop by on a Friday night and see what futsal is all about if they’ve never been introduced to it.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com