Push to affiliate more Local Futsal Centres

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Football NSW Futsal Manager Jordan Guerreiro is hoping to see more local Futsal centres affiliate with the 2021 season fast approaching as 15 centres hope, with the ease of restrictions, will allow participants to take part in participating in the wonderful sport of Futsal.

“It’s no secret that our Futsal Centres have done it tough recently going in and out of lockdown and the restrictions placed on indoor sporting facilities haven’t differed much since July last year after the first lockdown.

“Most of our Futsal Centres are just like normal business’ trying to service a product on behalf of Football NSW to their communities.

“We currently have 15 active centres across the State and are looking to have up to 20 in total by the end of this year.

“All of our Futsal Affiliates are dependent on what restrictions are in place for our facilities and how that may impact them coming out of lockdown soon.

“These are very challenging times and I would encourage all participants who are looking to get out to come and play Futsal not just because it’s a great game, but also for their physical and mental wellbeing and to support our Futsal Centres as they do provide good quality competitions.”

Having held the position as Futsal Manager for the last two years, the 26-year-old Futsal Advocate discussed why affiliating with Football NSW was essential for any Centre wishing to take that next step.

“Football NSW has the best intentions to develop Futsal and also understands that grassroots competitions and participation is the foundation of the game to create supportive structures and administration of the game.

“Football NSW offers support to Futsal centres with many different services to assist in having the best practise models through supplying assistance in key components of the game that are often overseen in the background through the competition administration.

“These include:

  • Insurance for their participants, an online registration system and a competition management system in order to run their competitions effectively.
  • Provides highly qualified Referees through the NSW Futsal Referees Association to all our Futsal centres competitions from juniors, seniors to AWD.
  • Local Media and Marketing via a yearly EDM push to our members. We also promote any new information on gala days, events and upcoming competitions. We assist in creating promotional material and distributing it through our social media platforms and websites.
  • Competitions regulations as a guide to be consistent across multiple Futsal centres. This is also in line with the Disciplinary regulations where we can provide the Futsal centre on how they can manage their way through the disciplinary process that Football NSW can assist with.
  • Government Grants and Government initiatives to assist with a common goal, or support packages to the community level sports.

“The best part on top of all these services we offer is that the affiliation with Football NSW is FREE.”

The rise of the Futsal Schools Championships has been evident as 2021 saw more participants and Schools join in on its journey into the sport, something Guerreiro was very proud to see.

“It’s been my first time facilitating the Futsal Schools Championships in 2021. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to engage not only with the players but also the schools and their teachers. This has been a great learning piece on truly understanding how great this event actually is to their regional school communities and also the impact on the students, some playing the game for the very first time. They absolutely loved it.

“2021, even though being impacted by COVID throughout the year,  saw one Regional Championship cancelled with a further two Regional Championships, Open Boys and Girls Day being delayed and then recently cancelled.

“Overall we had a stunning 12 Regional Championships go ahead at some capacity.

“We have had estimated that we had roughly 7,000 players compete throughout all the Regional Championships held this year. With the State Championships due to be held soon, pending restrictions, we are currently awaiting the governments public health orders to be uplifted in order to communicate with our schools to plan what will be a huge event for the sport.”

With strict lockdowns currently in place for all Football activities across Greater Sydney, the 15-capped Futsalroo gave his update on how Futsal has coped and how it will hopefully look following the ease of restrictions.

“So much has been happening in the space of Futsal, it has been non-stop all year round across many fronts.

“We have had our Local Futsal Affiliates running grassroots competitions during the summer of 2020 into 2021 and the Winter of 2021.

“We have re-commenced our Futsal Schools Championships which was cancelled in 2020. Schools were very happy and we received a very good response post COVID with the intake of schools in many of the regions that we currently host Championships.

“We also for the very first time, delivered the Winter Futsal League consisting of 7 of our FPL clubs involved and are looking to improve and gain more interest from the clubs and the community in future.

“This has been a good reaction after being in lockdown in the midst of COVID that hit us around March to August 2020.

“Futsal in 2020 saw the cancellation of the Futsal Premier League in conjunction with our participating clubs.

“With the Football Season again looking to be extended in order to complete their season, we are now again engaging with our FPL Clubs to understand their circumstances and readiness to participate in the 2021 FPL season when we do look at a commencement date.

“Futsal Nationals 2022 is still on the cards, we are awaiting Football Australia to announce a host state very shortly and Football NSW are looking at what opportunities we can provide leading up to the event.”

Futsal means everything to Guerreiro who has also been an avid coach, seeing the game from a different perspective as he hopes to see many more enter this journey

“I am currently coming onto 10 years of Futsal Coaching experience.

“My mission with coaching has always been not only to develop players but develop the person with solid values and behaviours reflecting those values.

“In my experience to see the enjoyment these players get from Futsal, I believe, I have yet to see in many other sports.

“Futsal for me has been about the development of an individual, allowing someone to develop themselves in a creative and competitive way through this sport.

“The environment around the Futsal community growing up in the game has a ‘family like vibe’ and you can see the game has a lot to offer to players physically and mentally.

“Futsal is a game where the players can be free to develop not only their technical ability, but also to develop their perception of the game and how to play their game at a rapid pace. Players are much more involved in the game and more attentive and focused during play. The game relies on the players creativity, hence why it is a great game to watch and coach.”

For Futsal Centres who are interested in an affiliation you can contact Jordan via email on jordang@footballnsw.com.au or you can get more information on our affiliation at https://www.localfutsal.com.au/host-a-competition/