The pack contains two Futsal goals, 10 Futsal balls, 24 bibs, 20 floor markers and a ball carrier, which will allow the college to offer a Futsal club as part of the enrichment programme. It will also support cross-department competitions to improve student engagement and enable HRC to offer Futsal qualifications. The starter packs are designed to adapt existing sports halls, playgrounds and other hard surface facilities to make them Futsal-ready. The packs came courtesy of a £300,000 Futsal scheme, which is funded by The FA and delivered by the Football Foundation.
Futsal is a five-a-side game, normally played on a flat indoor pitch with hockey-sized goals and a size four ball with a reduced bounce. The exciting, fast-paced game is played across the world and is officially recognised by both UEFA and FIFA. Regarded as an important and growing game, it is hoped that the provision of equipment and courses will lead to the development of more Futsal players, leagues, competitions and facilities across the country. The nature of the game places a large emphasis on technical skill and ability in situations of high pressure, and is subsequently an excellent breeding ground for football competencies that can be translated into the 11-a-side format of the game.
As well as delivering the Futsal scheme, the Football Foundation delivers Grow the Game and also the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund on behalf of the Premier League, The FA and the Government, through Sport England. Since 2000, the Foundation has supported over 15,000 grassroots projects worth more than £1.4bn.
Michael Skubala, England Futsal Head Coach, said: “A big well done to Hertford Regional College for securing a Futsal starter pack – they have a bright future ahead of them now! We want to get more people playing the sport for the love of it and who knows; perhaps we’ll see some future international players unearthed as a result. Futsal is growing all the time and The FA, with the help of the Football Foundation, is dedicated to increasing its importance and popularity further for all.”
Thomas Dickie the Curriculum Area Manager for Uniformed Public Services and Sport at HRC, said: “We are delighted to have been given the Futsal equipment as it gives us the opportunity to offer our students something new. Futsal has such a buzz around it at the moment, so we can’t wait to get more students playing and gaining qualifications in it. We would like to thank The FA and Football Foundation for the original investment.
