For Immediate Release: Northeast Regional FUTSAL Tournament

Once again Massachusetts is host to the largest futsal tournament in the US with over 150 teams!!!

On January 18, 19, and 20 2014 the Northeast Regional Futsal tournament will be held at University Sports Complex in Hanover (645 Washington St, Hanover, MA 02339).

Matches will start at 8:00 am and finish by 9:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. 
Monday will be the finals.

Check here for updates!!

In the mean time to see some amazing futsal action, take a look below.

2013 Northeast Regional Futsal Championships

It's that time again, Futsal Championship time!

Last year I attended and wrote about the 2012 Northeast Regional Futsal Championships, which I likened to finding buried treasure in my backyard.

Well folks, we have that opportunity again.

The 2013 Futsal Regional Tournament will be from January 19th to the 21st at 675 Canton Street, Norwood MA 02062.

It promises to have something for everyone. Great Futsal, great officiating, and just a ton of fun. There will be  (50) or so Futsal referees from Massachusetts, (2) FIFA FUTSAL referees and the (as in the only one) FIFA FUTSAL Referee Instructor. A rare take for all.

All 204 games will be played in a single facility from 7:00am to 10:00pm on 19th and 20th . Semi finals and the Finals are Monday the 22nd from 7:00am to 4:00pm.

Come take a look, it promises to be an excellent tournament. Look here, for more information.

Follow Up on the BFA

Politics, money and polemics shame country

Bangkok was designated in 2010 to host the top-flight competition, beating strong candidates China, Iran, Azerbaijan and Czech Republic. The BMA had promised to build a new stadium in Nong Chok District, east of the centre of the capital city.

However, things turned sour for the BMA and the project was only on paper for a long period of time. Critics blasted the poor selection of the construction site, deemed to far away from downtown. Many obstacles, including a change of government in 2011, budget cuts, delay in releasing money and massive flooding contributed to construction shortcomings. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of The Nation.

Kicking Back Comments: I am still wondering what FIFA will do if faced with similar challenges in Brazil.

That flushing sound you just heard ...

... was $40M going down the drain for Thailand.

Fifa pulls plug on Futsal Arena

Fifa has decided not to use the Bangkok Futsal Arena (BFA) to host the 2012 Futsal World Cup competition, including the final match, due to safety concerns.

"Although further significant progress has been made, including the installation of a pitch, the key criteria laid out following the committee meeting on Oct 31 have not been sufficiently met," Fifa Futsal Committee said in a statement posted on the world football governing body's website yesterday.

"The safety of spectators, teams and all other visitors to the stadium are of paramount importance. Fifa and the local organising committee therefore concluded that such a fundamental issue, as well as the functionality of core services and facilities, cannot be compromised." ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of The Bangkok Post.

Kicking Back Comments: Substitute the word Thailand for Brazil, World Cup 2012 for World Cup 2014, futsal for football ... and what do we have?

A prediction on what will happen in Brail?

It will never happen ... but unless something changes, the situation will potentially exist based purely on the media reports.

Massachusetts Futsal Takes Spain

After trip to Spain for a futsal coaches' clinic, Massachusetts Futsal director of officials Soorena Farboodmanesh is inspired to raise level of the game here

When Soorena Farboodmanesh works with referees in Massachusetts Futsal Association, his perspective on how the game is played is influenced by a recent trip to Spain.

Farboodmanesh, MFA’s director of officials and the reigning Massachusetts State Referee Committee Referee Administrator of the Year, was among a group of United States Youth Futsal representatives who attended a coaches’ clinic in Spain in September. The group visited a professional training facility and attended Spanish Futsal Super Cup games. But Farboodmanesh and the others were first exposed the game’s subtleties during clinic lectures by the technical staff of Liga Nacional Futbol Sala. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of US Youth Futsal.

Kicking Back Comments: While at times neglected, Mr. Faboodmaneshs' efforts are considerable, and certainly noteworthy as some of the very best in futsal today.

Not Running A Hospital Strikes Again ...

... with more cunning insight about youth soccer, and its inevitable collision with parenting. Paul Levy again shares his experiences with us about the two, through the lens of a soccer referee.

You can see the whole story here from Not Running a Hospital.

Please follow him at:
http://www.runningahospital.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/paulflevy
http://www.facebook.com/pflevy

2012 Northeast Regional Futsal Championships - Finals Today!!

Today was one of those times that goofing around in my backyard I found buried treasure.

It came in the form of the 2012 Regional Futsal Tournament going on in Brookline (MA) that was going on over the last couple of days. Similar to the outdoor Youth Regionals we all know, love, and have talked about here, this is the futsal equivalent, and the finals to see who is going to the National tournament held February 18 - 20 in Overland Park, KS. Check out the promo from US Youth Futsal below.



I was truly fascinated by the refereeing of the game as I had the pleasure to watch FIFA referees Shane Butler and Jason Krnac work a match first thing Sunday morning. Both have represented the US for CONCACAF appointments and Jason represented the US as a referee at the 2008 Futsal World Cup in Brasil.

I had the opportunity to speak at length with both referees and found them both to be tremendous referees as well as truly interesting people. I would not be surprised to see an interview here with one or both detailing their experience with The Game.

Jason Krnac at 2012 Northeast Regional Futsal Championships

It was a fantastic experience for me, so much so that I have begun a series of stories about futsal, how to become a referee (I think I am on the hook for that one now), some of the differences in how US Soccer administers these referees as compared to outdoor referees (this was fascinating to me), and what I belive are some distinct advantages to being both a futsal and outdoor referee.

So if you are in the Boston area, come on down to the Park School at 171 Goddard Avenue in Brookline, MA starting at 8:00 AM on the 16th, check out some great referees, great play, and catch the bug like I did today.

General and schedule information can be found here, on the Massachusetts Futsal Association site, or at Twitter @FutsalMA.

Are you ready for some futsal?

For any who are unfamiliar, futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller playing surface and mainly played indoors. Its name is derived from the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón (colloquially fútbol sala), which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football". During the sport's second world championships held in Madrid in 1985, the name fútbol de salón was used. Since then, all other names have been officially and internationally changed to futsal. (From Wikipedia)


If you are looking to take in a match ... now is the time to act!

On January 14th through the 17th 2011the Northeast Regional Futsal Championships are being held in Massachusetts. This is the only US Soccer sanctioned futsal tournament in New England and will have teams of all ages and even include FIFA fustal referee Jason Krnac who will be officiating.

So if you have some time, stop on out as the competition will be tremendous and the winner heads to the National Futsal Championships in February 2011.

Take a look here for full details. See you out there!