By Todd Taylor
DANVILLE — In a cold, empty building at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds Tuesday night, all wasn’t in hibernation. Roy Polhill, director of coaching for the Fusion Recreational Soccer Academy, was running a training session for Fusion soccer players of various ages.
Numerous Fusion coaches attended the two-hour event, focusing on coaching strategies for the different age groups.
“The kids loved it, we normally have a break because of Thanksgiving and Christmas this time of year and start again in January,” Polhill said.
For Polhill and the Fusion Academy, it is a challenge to keep young soccer players active during the winter months. Unlike states such as Florida and California, Indiana soccer coaches must find ways to keep players’ skills sharpened when outdoor play isn’t an option. One way they are dealing with the issue is by developing a Futsal league.
Futsal is the only form of indoor soccer approved by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and is being offered for the second year in the area.
The game is similar to traditional soccer, but it is played indoors on a smaller space the size of a basketball court with only five field players and a goalie.
The sport also uses a smaller, harder low-bounce ball — futebol de salao — making for a more skilled brand of the game. The futebol de salao is even smaller than a typical Futsal ball, and Polhill’s program is the only of its kind in the area that uses it. Games consist of two 20-minute halves.
“The game is really gaining a lot of momentum in the area,” Polhill said.
Fusion introduced the game to its players last year, and this year, Fusion’s Futsal program garnered the interest of the Brownsburg Community Recreation Center. As a result, the league will be held there in January.
“The kids were very receptive to it last year and I wanted to get a league going,” Polhill said. “Brownsburg was interested and came on board with Fusion.”
While the game uses a different ball and field size than traditional soccer, Polhill saw a positive transition when Fusion players went back to the regulation soccer fields last year following the winter.
“It’s very conducive to the game,” he said. “We find it very rewarding. After playing with a heavier ball on a hard surface, when they go on the grass, they can do a lot more with it.”
Futsal is very popular in Brazil, and Fusion has been working to implement player development programs mirroring those used in that country, making Futsal very compatible with this goal.
The leagues aren’t limited to Fusion members, and are available to six co-ed age groups: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-17, and 18 and older.
Games will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Sundays, beginning Jan. 6 and running through March 9. Cost is $25 per player. For more information or to register, contact Justin Armstrong by e-mailing to jarmstrong@brownsburgparks.com or Polhill by e-mailing to roypolhill@aol.com. The deadline to register is Dec. 21. Registration is open to individuals or teams.
todd.taylor@flyergroup.com
