Every winter the Kickers see the cold, rain and snow covered fields outside as their time to go indoors and play futsal. Using a network of gymnasiums around New York City, the MKFC players put in as much training time as they do during the outdoor season, but with the cleats off and futsal shoes on.
Futsal condenses the outdoor game of soccer into an ultra-fast, technical 5v5 game on a hard surface, usually played indoors. There is a small net (with a keeper) and limited space to outrun your opponents. The game forces players to depend on strong individual skill, creativity, quick passing and teamwork to be successful.
The MKFC futsal program has provided great dividends over the past four years in the skill development of our MKFC players. Not only have several of the teams achieved championship results, the resulting skill development has translated into providing a higher quality of play for the club’s outdoor game. It is clear futsal has really helped the MKFC boys develop a beautiful style of play that is a signature of the club - technically sound, possession soccer.
This year the club has expanded the futsal program and invited Guilherme "Val" Pessoa Guimarães Santos—a futsal training specialist from Brazil—to work with the teams, alongside our MKFC staff coaches.
Val is an old friend of the club as many of our players have trained under him during previous club visits to Brazil’s national team training center at Granja Comary (CBF) where Val is a futsal trainer. Val played professionally for Serie A futsal team, Minas Tenis Clube. At Cruzeiro Esporte Clube and Clube Atlético Mineiro in Brazil he has coached players of all ages, up through the professional level. He was recently hired by the Chinese Football Association to coach the Chinese Men’s National Futsal Team in the 2008 Futsal World Cup.
Starting this past December, for one month Val has attended weekly practices of each team and the Academy. He introduced new futsal drills and exercises, watched the teams play matches, and demonstrated the subtleties of the game, which have increased our player’s ability to play and understand futsal.
After working with all of the teams over the winter, Val came away very impressed with the passion the boys showed for the game. “Here it is easy because they are so focused, the kids really concentrate, they want to learn and they listen to everything you say, this is a big difference. They understand teamwork and cooperation.” Val also really enjoyed working with the academy age boys. “I am sure if we took these boys to play the same age in brazil they would do very well. They could probably beat a lot of very good teams with good kids.”
Val’s extensive experience will help our teams progress in the short term, and in the long term his approach to training will be passed along to the coaches and stay as part of our program into the future. As his visit to New York is about to wrap up, Val is already looking forward to returning to the Kickers. “Everyday I would just walk and walk to see everything, the people are so nice here. New York is definitely a place I would like to come back to every year!”
Every MKFC team from U9 – U 14 will participate in the upcoming USFF Northeast Regional Futsal Championships being held in New York City on the 14-16th of February. The excitement surrounding the players is almost indescribable as they look forward to putting their skills to the test in this very challenging and respected competition.
If you will be any where near the New York City area during this time, come and check it out. This will definitely be a place to see some exciting high-level play.
For more info on the tournament click here.
Be sure to check back late February to find out how we did!
