Local Futsal League Proves Vital Training Ground for Local Teens

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Staunton Recreation Indoor Futsal

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STAUNTON, VA (01/29/2010)(readMedia)-- Cold weather is to soccer what a red light is to moving traffic. One normally causes the other come to a halt. That's no longer true in Staunton. The cold weather and soccer we mean. Thanks to the Futsal league run by the Staunton Parks and Recreation Department, this indoor soccer league proves vital training ground for local teens. Several players from Riverheads, Buffalo Gap, Stuarts Draft, Lee High, Waynesboro, Stuart Hall and even Mary Baldwin College are fielding teams in the league as good preparation for their upcoming soccer seasons. Buffalo Gap soccer coach Nino Altomonte is getting to keep a close watch on several of his players as he is the primary referee for the league and touts that "this is some of the best competition around" as many of the teams are comprised of South American players who have played their whole life and have an "entire different skill set that the younger players can learn from". The league boasts several talented players from many countries that are now, in turn, grooming the new generation of players here locally. The league is currently operating at maximum capacity with respect to the number of teams that can be accomodated. League play is every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 6:15PM at the Gypsy Hill Gymnasium in Gypsy Hill Park. All public is invited to come out watch the local area talent. Admission is free.

What is Futsal you ask? Futsal is best described as an "organized form of indoor soccer". Futsal is played with a smaller ball with less bounce, fewer players, smaller goals, and usually on an indoor basketball court compared to traditional outdoor soccer for adults. The game is much quicker and has a lot more scoring with constant action in such a small space. The Futsal league is in it's sophomore year and several of the teen participants are reaping the benefits of play over the winter months. The league is open to players 14 years and older and producing some fine young players in the area that are learning from some of the area's best players.

James Corbett, Athletic Specialist for the Staunton Recreation Department explains, "Futsal teams can be comprised of any mix of male/female players so many nights the undersized teen players may be facing a team of all adult players that are very skilled and make them play even harder. It may seem on the surface that this would make for tough going in the league, but the younger players really see the benefits when they go back to playing their peers in school or tournaments plus they love the challenge". The benefits were very evident to the Mix Match team comprised mainly of Riverheads players when they won a tournament held at Mary Baldwin College earlier in January. Wayne Cowles, whose daughter plays on the team, said "the team rolled in the tournament and it was possible because of the chemistry and skill they have developed by playing against the older more experienced players here in the league". The Mix Match team is in their second season playing in the league and have dramatically improved since their entry in 2008.

Staunton Recreation and Parks offers this league in an effort to meet the needs of our diverse community and promote physical activity, a heavy part of the department's mission. For information about the league contact James Corbett @ CorbettJR@ci.staunton.va.us or by phone 540.332.3945. The Staunton Parks and Recreation Department: The City's Front Porch.