Futsal has the ability to be a positive influence in New Zealand football, just as it has been in Brazil, Spain, Ireland, Australia and a huge number of other countries, including those within our own Oceania Confederation.
New Zealand Football recognise the pathways this popular game offers for players, coaches, administrators at both local and international level.
Bringing futsal into the NZ Football structure also ensures the New Zealand futsal experience can be delivered in a manner that is consistent with and complementary to NZ Football’s Whole of Football Development Plan.
Futsal is a ‘pure’ form of football. While at an elite level, futsal is a highly tactical and even choreographed game, in its most basic form futsal is a fun and simple game that requires no coaching – the game is the teacher! With its emphasis on fun and creativity futsal is the ideal introduction to football to the first time and social player.
The smaller, weighted ball with restricted bounce makes it easier for young or inexperienced players to master their ball control skills. As a result, players very quickly experience improved dribbling, passing and close control.
The dimensions of the futsal court, lack of rebound walls and reduced number of players means players are ‘always in the game’, having on average around 12 times more touches per game than they do in outdoor 11-a-side football.
Playing in reduced space helps develop creativity, improvisation, technique and rapid decision making. Players are encouraged to find their way out of tight situations with a clever pass or piece of individual skill. Increased game awareness and movement off the ball occur quickly and naturally.
NZF are working together with FIFA and Oceania to actively promote all forms of football, to improve the technical ability of its players while at the same time increasing its player and supporter base, and the launch of the NZ Futsal programme is recognition of futsal’s significance and potential, and the beginning of enhanced development of that format of the game.
Futsal is the only form of indoor football endorsed by FIFA and OFC and therefore enjoys similar pathways and benefits to the outdoor version of the game.
Most notably, NZF-selected national teams (the Futsal Whites and Futsal Ferns) will compete in FIFA recognised futsal competitions, including the OFC Futsal Championships and qualifying matches for the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Players, coaches and referees will also benefit from the courses offered, and development initiatives provided by, NZF and OFC under the leadership of FIFA.
To start a league all you really need is four teams and a venue in which to play. This could be a school hall, recreation centre or local indoor stadium. NZ Football’s Futsal Development Manager can help you with everything you need to get futsal up and running in your region, town, club, school or venue. He will also provide you with advice on how to form a club and how to utilise all the futsal resources NZ Football has to offer. Also available is the NZF Futsal Resource Pack and Club Development Programme.
It will provide you with assistance with the marketing and promotional information you need, generic templates for flyers and leagues, assistance with obtaining equipment such as balls and goals and your free NZF Futsal club website.
There are major benefits to clubs/providers who affiliate to NZF Futsal. Aside from gaining access to NZ Football’s Futsal Resource Pack and Club Development Programme, players, coaches and referees from affiliated clubs/providers will also become an intrinsic part of NZ Football’s futsal programme, thus helping secure the future development of futsal in New Zealand.
Having affiliates allows New Zealand Football to deliver a National Futsal League and other futsal competitions, coaching and refereeing courses, and provide a pathway to national representation and participation in OFC Championships and FIFA Futsal World Cups.
