Courtesy: Beaumont Enterprise


Beaumont council moves forward with futsal court in Central Park

by Brooks Kubena

Monday, October 3, 2016

While walking the streets of Salamanca, Spain, Lamar senior Marco Hernandez saw something he thought could help unify his hometown of Beaumont.

Hernandez, who was studying Spanish abroad in the summer of 2015, saw Spaniards playing soccer on small, concrete courts with netted goals. It reminded him of the sandlot game he and residents of Beaumont's South End would play on a tennis court in Central Park.

In Beaumont, they did it out of necessity - the tennis court was the only well-lit place after dark. Hernandez realized they were playing this Spanish game all along, a tighter and faster version of soccer called "futsal."

Beaumont City Council last week voted to move forward on plans for a futsal court in Central Park - plans that Hernandez pitched to city council last October after he returned from Spain. The city won't break ground on the project until next spring, according to Parks and Recreation director Ryan Slott, and planning will continue for the next few months.

The in-house estimated cost is more than $100,000, but the number will likely change when contractors bid on the project.

"This park would be a positive resource," said Hernandez, 22, a Central High graduate who has lived in Beaumont since he was 4. "A lot of times the kids get bored, and when somebody gets bored, they go out on the street or go to sleep. Sometimes, they don't have anything to do."

South End residents started playing in the Central Park tennis court because the popular soccer spot next to Babe Zaharias Stadium was always full.

"People have to sit and wait," said Eddie Gomez, 23, a Central graduate who plays soccer at Central Park. "They also play at The Meadows (a park near West Brook High School), but that's a long way to go. So here, during the day, some people play tennis. So just to stay out of people's way, we just play later."

Atop the entrance of the tennis court is a sign that reads, "No soccer playing on tennis courts," and Gomez and other players would be asked to leave by neighborhood police.

"They were very respectful kids," said Beaumont's Slott. "They just asked, 'Where are we supposed to play?'"

"The police department said we should go to the city and make a petition," Hernandez said.

Hernandez collected a petition form from the city clerk and worked on his request with his English professor at Lamar. He sought signatures and asked Tacos La Bamba owner Carlos Zuniga Sr. for help gathering support.

"I told him it was a good idea and we would try to help as much as we can," said Zuniga, 66, who started the Golden Triangle Soccer League in 1995.

Hernandez collected more than 400 signatures, enough to make a pitch to City Council.

Futsal originated in South America, the exact location unknown. The game became popular in Brazil, which held the first futsal World Cup in 1982.

It's a more tightly played version of soccer that forces its players to improve their skills or risk turnovers. Less space, less room for mistakes. Soccer legends Pele, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each played futsal in their youth, crediting the sport for later success.

The United States Futsal Federation was founded in 1981, and this August, 64 USA teams competed in the World Futsal Championships in Orlando, Florida. There are several futsal courts across Texas, including Houston.

There are five players per team, including the goalkeeper, and matches consist of two 20-minute halves. Fields are typically 30 to 43 yards long, and 16 to 21 yards wide. The dimensions are similar to the Central Park tennis court, which is 36 yards by 20 yards when split in half. The newly built court will have a concrete surface and goals. South End residents designated their goals with a section of fence that lined up with a light post.

"That court is going to bring a lot of people," said Joe Garcia, 19, a West Brook graduate who has been playing soccer at Central Park since he was 15.

Hernandez's persistence and patience will soon provide a considerable upgrade.

"I saw what the court did for Salamanca," Hernandez said. "We never had a place of our own."


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