Courtesy: Delmarva Now.com




Futsal debuts in Ocean Pines

Jan. 10, 2012

by Greg Caldwell

OCEAN PINES -- A soccer-esque game that is popular across most of the world except the United States will debut in Ocean Pines and other areas of the Eastern Shore early in 2012.

Futsal, indoor soccer without walls, will begin a clinic Jan. 20 at the Ocean Pines Community Center. Each week will be a one-day tournament featuring different age groups, with a championship at the end of the season. There will also be a free Futsal open house in February to learn more about the sport.

"Futsal is FIFA recognized. It is what the rest of the world plays instead of indoor soccer. Players improve their skills so much by not playing the walls. It is perfect for development of all parts of the game," said Adam Manning, who is in charge of the league and is a former soccer player at North Caroline High School and coach of various area soccer clubs.

The sport will be played on the gym floor in the Community Center. The walls are out of play as is behind the goals. There are four players per team plus a goalie and teams of no more than 13 players compete in two 20-minute halves.

"Futsal is a much harder game than traditional indoor soccer," said Manning. "Your mistakes are exposed and you will fail at it before you succeed."

Manning has been actively talking and training the Henlopen Soccer Club about the sport. The players will be coming to Ocean Pines throughout the season to help teach the local players the intricacies and skills needed to be successful in the sport. Each week of the developmental clinic will include 30 minutes of skills and 30 minutes of games for children ages three through nine on Saturdays at 2 p.m. The cost is $96 per person.

The other option will be a weekly Futsal tournament on Sundays for older children. The U18 boys will play Jan. 22 and the U18 girls Jan. 29. The U16 will be Feb. 5 and the U16 boys Feb. 12. The U14 girls will play Feb. 19 and the U14 boys Feb. 26. The U12 boys and girls will play together March 4, with an adult open house March 11. The cost of this is $175 a team and includes at least three games.

Manning, who coaches the boys soccer team at the Salisbury School, said he hopes to get between four and six teams per age group this year and ultimately develop an understanding of this sport across the Eastern Shore. "Many local high school players already are familiar with Futsal and I hope this helps raise the awareness of the sport across the peninsula," said Manning.

The Ocean Pines tournament is one of four Manning expects to have running in 2012. The others will be in Easton, Caroline County and Queen Anne's.

For more information, visit www.burytc.com or call




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