More youngsters in Sussex will soon be given the chance to try out Futsal for the first time thanks to funding from The FA.

In June, The FA made £300,000 available to County Football Associations, FA-affiliated clubs, youth and adult football leagues who wished to develop either one or two new Futsal leagues, as they ramped up efforts to encourage more people to play the sport in England.

The scheme, which is delivered by the Football Foundation, awarded grants of £1,500 to applicants per league created, with money being used towards associated costs of facility hire, equipment, referees and FA-affiliated courses.

Futsal is the UEFA and FIFA recognised format of five-a-side football, but it differs from the version that we know in this country. It is played on a firm indoor pitch, with Hockey sized goals. It is played to lines rather than walls or boards and the ball differs in being slightly smaller and with a reduced bounce. 

Taken together, these differences lead to a game that is fast, skilful and tactical. For these reasons Futsal is being adopted as a game in its own right as well as useful development experience for young footballers.

Paul Ofei-Kwatia, Football Development Officer said: “This grant from the FA & Football Foundation will allow us to offer even more opportunities for young players in schools and clubs in Sussex to play Futsal!”

We will be working with the partners listed below in a series of competitions and further leagues will be created throughout the County over the next two years.

West Sussex West School Sports Partnership are one of our FA Girls Football Schools Partnerships and will be working with primary and secondary schools in their area

Orchards Junior School in Worthing continue their strong commitment to girls’ football and will be working with the Worthing Schools Sports Association to create opportunities for primary schools in Worthing and surrounding areas.

Lancing Manor Impulse Leisure will be supporting us in delivering competitions for the Sussex County Women and Girls Football League and other youth clubs in Sussex.

Furthermore, we have partnered with Kings School in Hove to deliver competitions for Brighton Schools with support from the Brighton FA Girls Football Schools Partnership.

SC Pass and Move Football Club in Hastings will also be launching a series of competitions for Primary Schools alongside the Hastings and Rother School Games partnership.

We are excited to be partnering with these organisations to increase Futsal participation in Sussex and are actively seeking new partners in Sussex to expand provision in the county and ensure Futsal is widely available for all.

For more information on Futsal, please contact:

Development
T: 01903 766855
E: Development@SussexFA.com