The FFA National Futsal Championships is back for another year but with a difference! After a successful stint in Canberra the tournament returns to Sydney for the 2015 edition with the action-packed week-long event sure to be a tremendous advert for the indoor game. For Futsal NSW to host such a tournament is a testament the quality of the bid that they submitted and they are sure to carry on the good work that Capital Football implemented in making this national championships one to remember.

Preparations have been underway since the bid was successful in order to make sure that this year’s event carries on the fine work of its predecessors. Staff from Football NSW, the local football Federation affiliated to the FFA, has been diligently undertaking the tasks necessary in order to make the 2015 FFA National Futsal Championship a roaring success. Some wonderful venues will provide the theatres in which some of Australia’s finest Futsal talent can showcase their skills with the excellent Valentine Park Sports Complex set to host Grand Final day.

Another change for 2015 sees the removal of the Open Men’s and Women’s championship with the emphasis now more focused on the youth aspect of the sport. In a communique with Federations earlier this year, the FFA advised that it had taken steps to form a National Working Group for Futsal, comprised of key Member Federation operational staff, stakeholders and CEO’s.

After discussion at the first meeting, it was suggested that the age groups provided at the annual National Futsal Championships (NFC’s) be reviewed from previous years with a particular focus on the potential to change the Open competitions for Men’s and Women to an under-23 competition. The FFA considered the request and after consultation with the Futsalroos National Team coach, Rob Varela and FFA Head of National Performance Luke Casserly, the open men’s and open women’s divisions were replaced by an under-23 version.

The players on display in the under-23 competition will no doubt be keen to catch the eye of any potential coaches from the much-vaunted F-League and from their continue their upward progression to possible Futsalroo consideration. Futsal NSW welcomes them to Sydney for the event.

The tournament is also blessed to have some of Australia’s finest officials making sure the game’s run smoothly. A core group of experienced Futsal match officials are supplemented by a large number of young and up-and-coming officials who will no doubt use the FFA National Futsal Championships in order to progress through the ranks and hopefully onto the ultimate stage of the FIFA Futsal World Cup, much as Scott Kidson did at the last event in Thailand.

Futsal is a fast and exciting sport. Played on a Basketball sized court with smaller goals it is, to the uninitiated, like Handball with your feet. It promotes technique, pace and ability over physicality and the long-ball game and had been the breeding ground for many World Class talents. Players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are Futsal graduates and learnt their formative skills with a Futsal ball going onto become global superstars with the trickery, skills and finishing honed in the small-sided game. Enjoy the week and keep an eye out for any budding superstars and remember where you saw them first!