By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
November 9, 2023-New York Futsal is back this winter with gymnasiums in Manhattan as well as Astoria, Queens for the first time. The league has been affiliated with the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) since its inception over a decade ago. Games will be played on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays.
The 12-game season begins on the weekend of December 8 to 10 and continues through the weekend of March 8 to 10, 2024. The playoffs are on March 15 to 17, 2024.
The origins of futsal can be traced to Uruguay in 1930, where, amid the euphoria that greeted that country's victory at the inaugural World Cup on home soil, there was a soccer ball seemingly being kicked on every street corner in the capital of Montevideo. Juan Carlos Ceriani, an Argentinian physical education instructor living there, observed many kids practicing soccer on basketball courts because of the shortage of soccer fields. It was there and then that the idea for a five-a-side variation of soccer came about and futsal, a contraction of “fútbol de salón,” was born.
Futsal develops balance, motor ability, agility, coordination, ball mastery, accurate passing and receiving, perception and awareness. Futsal’s increased popularity comes from players using these skills that they acquired in the indoor winter season when they return to playing outdoor soccer in March.
Teams can register to play New York Futsal for $1,600. If you do not have a team and still would like to play futsal, the fee is $295 and New York Futsal will place you on a squad. $450 for a team training session conducted by a professional futsal coach. FIFA certification training for coaches is to be announced soon.
Remember that if your children are not playing in an ENYYSA-affiliated league or tournament, then they are not covered by our insurance, and chances are, they are not covered by any insurance. Always ask about the insurance coverage before registering your children or team. And unlike like most other indoor leagues, New York Futsal has certified referees and heat in the gymnasiums.
Log on to https://www.newyorkfutsal.com to register. For more info, go to that website or phone New York Futsal’s Leslie Hamer at 917-861-9782.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/