Courtesy: Herald-Mail Media


Futsal a window into Washington County's busy youth sports programs

by Dave McMillion

It might be frigid outside, but things are heating up inside Hagerstown Community College's recreation center as hundreds of youths take advantage of a winter soccer-like program offered by the Washington County Recreation and Fitness Department.

John Whitman, a program coordinator for the county recreation program, estimates the futsal offerings have been around for about 20 years.

Futsal involves playing on a smaller area. While some soccer fields are 100 yards long or longer, futsal is played on a basketball court.

And while soccer stadiums have walls that players can use to contain the ball, futsal players have to be quick on their feet to keep the ball in play, since there are no barriers.

"I call it basketball on your feet," said Whitman, who added that there is a lot of ball passing in the game.

The futsal league is a window into the lively youth sports scene in Washington County, which is sometimes the subject of discussions in political circles.

Instead of being among those who have pushed for a new baseball stadium in Hagerstown, Hagerstown City Councilman Kristin B. Aleshire has said he would instead favor a youth sports complex in the area. Aleshire said many local youths and their parents go out of the county to get to the sporting venues they like due to facility limitations here.

Whitman said he would love the county to have a "standing facility" dedicated to youth sports.

The futsal league, offered to youths in grades eight to 11, plays in HCC's Athletic, Recreation and Community Center.

Because the center is for the college, the school gets first priority on its use, Whitman said.

"We get what's left," said Whitman, referring to the times the county recreation department can use the facility.

But Whitman said he is thankful his department gets to use the ARCC.

"It's amazing how many people we put in here. If we did not have this facility, we would be in trouble," he said.

Whitman estimated that about 250 boys and girls are signed up for this year's futsal program, which started the second week of December and runs to about the last week of February.

On Sunday, up to six teams were playing at one time on three basketball courts.

Whitman said there are limits to how many people can be enrolled in the department's programs.

John Bramson of Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., was among dozens of parents watching their children play on Sunday.

Bramson said two of his sons played in the futsal league and his daughter is now enrolled in it.

"I think it's great to keep soccer going in the winter," Bramson said.

Although Bramson noted that cities like Frederick, Md., might have more sports venues, he said Washington County was the first area he knew about that offered futsal.



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