NOVEMBER’S FUTSAL CPD EVENT IN BIRMINGHAM A GREAT SUCCESS
The first of our Futsal CPD events for 2015/16 took place at Birmingham International @Futsal Arena, and was a great success for all involved. Coaches travelled from as far afield as Dublin to take part in the event, with Peter Sturgess leading discussions as well as delivering presentations and practical sessions.
Peter Sturgess is the current England Futsal manager - the first ever manager to lead the Three Lions to FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification - and is also Head of Development for 5-11 year olds at The FA. Click here to view a photo album from the event on Facebook.
CHRISTMAS CRACKERS JUNIOR FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS RETURN FOR 2015
For years, our Christmas Crackers tournaments have been legendary at our core @Futsal arenas. They invite local junior football clubs from across the age groups to enter teams, with free Christmas goody bags for every player as well as - most importantly - festive Futsal fun.
This year sees the Christmas Crackers tournaments expand, with an event specifically targeting schools and academies at the start of December, and a separate events for football clubs closer to Christmas day. Schools, academies and clubs are all welcome to enter more than one team, and the tournament is available for both boys and girls teams.
NATIONWIDE FUTSAL EDUCATION OPEN DAYS IN NOVEMBER
Will you be aged 16-18 in September next year? Are you interested in having a career in sport? How about competing in an officially sanctioned national Futsal games programme? @Futsal Group have partnered with a range of Colleges, Academies and Football Clubs nationwide to deliver our pioneering Futsal BTEC study and games programmes.
If you’re trying to decide what to do after you’ve left school, or if you’ve found yourself sitting in the wrong post-16 classroom and fancy a change in direction, then our Futsal Academy programmes are for you! Click on the relevant event for further information, including the address of the location.
Halesowen Town FC - Thursday 5th November, 1900-2100
Birmingham International @Futsal Arena - Thursday 19th November, 1700-1900
Leeds International @Futsal Arena - Thursday 19th November, 1700-1900
Reading FC (Swindon @Futsal Arena) - Thursday 19th November, 1700-1900
Isle of Wight College - Saturday 21st November, 1000-1400
FREE TICKETS FOR PICS’ SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS
As if the Futsal BTEC study programme, the chance to compete in the Futsal National Development League and the offer of free training kits and tracksuits weren’t enough, Rushall Olympic are now offering free tickets for tomorrow’s opening fixture for any applicants to the new Education & Futsal Academy. The highly anticipated Evo-Stik Northern Premier Premier Division fixture against Ramsbottom United kicks-off at Dales Lane at 3pm.
For more information on this fantastic offer, and for contact details relating to applications and tickets, click here to visit the Pics’ official website. Here’s hoping for a fantastic result for Rushall Olympic, and for some fantastic GCSE results on Thursday for any potential scholars!
STUDENT OPEN DAYS AT HALESOWEN & KIDDERMINSTER
Potential scholars will have the opportunity to meet staff and learn more about the study programmes on offer at Halesowen Town and Kidderminster Harriers next week. Both clubs have chosen to introduce Futsal to their education programmes, and are looking for the next generation of scholars to spearhead their link between educations and development.
Halesowen Town’s newly-launched Yeltz Academy is an 11-a-side programme, with Futsal included as a newly added enrichment. Scholars will represent the Yeltz in both formats of the game, which includes a place in the Futsal National Development League.
Kidderminster Harriers’ programme is Futsal specific, but also includes occasional 11-a-side fixtures whilst the scholars compete in the Futsal National Development League. Chairman Rod Brown recently spoke with enthusiasm about their involvement in the Futsal NDL programme and how beneficial the Academy has been in the overall development of the club.
RUSHALL OLYMPIC JOIN OUR NDL PROGRAMME
A new era of football-based education is on its way to Walsall, as Rushall Olympic FC join our nationwide Futsal NDL education programme. Students aged 16-19 will have the opportunity to study towards a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport, whilst developing the technical skills to harness their potential on the pitch.Â
John Allen, Chairman at Rushall Olympic, commented: “We’re delighted to introduce Futsal to the club and can’t wait to see the scholars progress both on the pitch and in the classroom. The programme that @Futsal Group have created is of great excitement to us here at Dales Lane and I know I’m not alone in thinking that Futsal has a crucial role in the future of our domestic game. That’s why we’re using Futsal alongside our 11-a-side programme, and I believe that this is a superb opportunity for any potential scholars out there. We look forward to welcoming them on board!”
The football club’s partnership with @Futsal Group sees them join the Futsal National Development League (NDL) programme, which involves a range of professional and semi-professional clubs nationwide. Participating clubs establish a Scholarship scheme or Academy to deliver the sport and work-skills study programme, as well as competing in the national games programme. The chance to study towards a national qualification with the added enrichment of playing for a professional or semi-professional football club makes for a truly unique opportunity for the scholars that sign up to the programme.
GIRLS FUTSAL CHALLENGE CUP DRAWS RECORD NUMBERS
A record number of teams flocked to Birmingham International @Futsal Arena on 7th June to compete in the 2015 Girls Futsal Challenge Cup. The event, organised by Kinja FC, was a landmark for the development and growth of girls Futsal in the UK.
In a calendar year that’s seen the phenomenal success of Sport England‘s #ThisGirlCan campaign and - as I type this - the England women’s football team flying high in the World Cup in Canada, the future of female football looks brighter than ever.
NHS COMMUNITY FUTSAL PROJECT IN BIRMINGHAM
We were very pleased to read this short article by Robert Hipkiss from the NHS Reaside Clinic in Birmingham. It was great to see how our arena - and consequently the game of Futsal - could play a role in maintaining a community football group. We wish Robert all the best with the project in the future.
THE OFFICIAL COLLEGE & ACADEMY FUTSAL PROGRAMME GOES NATIONAL
@Futsal Group, in collaboration with AoC Sport and the ECFA, is delighted to announce the official launch of the National Colleges & Academies (NCA) Futsal Programme from September 2015. This follows a successful pilot season based in the south west of England, and the programme is now due to expand to include Colleges and Academies across the UK.
Lauren O’Sullivan, the National Football Development Manager from AoC Sport/ECFA, commented: “Over the course of the pilot season it’s been clear to see that the Futsal programme will be popular with teams up and down the country, and we’re really excited to see the NCA Futsal programme go national. AoC Sport is delighted to be working with the UK market-leading operator in @Futsal Group, and we look forward to seeing the game of Futsal continue to develop.”
ECFA TEAM NINETEEN ROADSHOW COMES TO BIRMINGHAM
Aiming to encourage students from across the county to be active and enjoy football, ECFA’s Team Nineteen roadshow at Birmingham @Futsal Arena was a fantastic event for all and saw 16 teams playing competitive Futsal . Delivered in partnership with Birmingham County FA as well as The Football Association, AoC Sport and @Futsal Group, the event was organised by young leaders from colleges across Birmingham as well as College & Community Football Coordinators Michael Thurlow, Matt Dandy and Cristina Torkildsen.
The roadshow also introduced the Team Nineteen initiative to the 16 participating post-16 providers, none of which are currently involved in the programme. Born in November 2011, Team Nineteen’s aim is clear: to address the drop off in football participation for 16-19 year olds, through student led (and most importantly, fun) football leagues. Since the launch of ‘Version 2′ in September 2014, funding has also been available to support Team Nineteen projects.