Futsal in Australia

Futsal in Australia is conducted under the auspices of the National Futsal Commission of Football Federation Australia and State/Territory based futsal associations. [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/Community/default.aspx?s=comm_futsal_about]

"The first game of competitive Indoor Soccer (not Futsal) in Australia was played at the YMCA Sporting Complex in the Sydney suburb of Epping in August 1970. It was introduced by Edwin (Eddie) Palmer, a new immigrant, who had recently arrived from East Africa. Karl Plexis was Administrator of the Centre at that time.

"The rules were simple. The four walls of the arena were the boundary lines, (used by players to bounce the ball off in getting past opponents). The ball had to stay below head height. No dangerous play. 15-minute halves. No substitutes. Outdoor football (soccer) balls were used initially but a felt covered furry ball with lining similar to a tennis ball was introduced in later years.

"The game spread to other YMCA Sydney suburbs of Bankstown, Revesby and Kogorah. But the lack of suitably enclosed arenas restricted its growth and lead to the introduction of boundary lines at other venues."

T"his prompted Dennis Murray to look to the future of the game and after a visit overseas to Brazil in 1984 introduced the game of Futsal in 1985 at the Revesby centre.""First President of The Australian Indoor Soccer Association, later named The Australian Futsal Association, was Joe Brent. Joe was a driving force in the early development of the sport prior to FIFA involvement through the ASF."""

Early years were not without major dramas in that the game was seen as a threat to the outdoor game but the truth was it was very different, requiring different skills not always applied outdoor. The game was likened by many players as basketball style with the skills of soccer in particular the foul counts etc.

The first game was played at Revesby YMCA in 1985 under the control of AIDSA Technical Director Bill Pursey. This first game was a real learning experience by everyone, the rule book was a composite from an American rule book and a Brazilian rule book with the latest modifications. Players were not used to the heavy ball the lack of bounce. Our venues were not exactly designed for the game. In the original rules scoring was not allowed from within the goal area nor was the keeper allowed out of the area. Many players applied the outdoor fundamentals which in the tighten confines earned a foul, the speed and skills of the game ten became clear.

Whilst the game was played all year round, the major season was the summer season often used as a means of maintaining skills for the outdoor soccer game. It was in January that the Australian Championships were held in Canberra from these games players were selected to tour to improve their skills. Later rule changes made the game more like the outdoor game.

Australia has played in all five FIFA Futsal World Championships.

External links

* [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/Community/default.aspx?s=comm_futsal_about About Futsal]
* [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=18453 First Advanced Futsal Course Announced]
* [http://www.seven-seven.tk Seven-Seven]
* [http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/ Victorian Futsal]
* [http://www.geocities.com/futsalsouthaustralia/ South Australia Futsal]
* [http://www.footballnsw.com.au/futsal/ Soccer NSW Futsal]
* [http://www.isport.com.au/futsal/qld/ Queensland Fustal]
* [http://www.futsal4all.com Futsal4All Australia and New Zealand]