Instructors united in promoting futsal

Capitalising on the momentum of five thrilling days of futsal at Arene du Sud in Paita, which saw Malaysia become the second Asian Football Confederation nation to win the title, the OFC Futsal Instructor Course got underway at the Centre International de Sejour et d’Expertise (CISE), in Noumea on Monday 18 August.
OFC Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Officer Paul Toohey led the course with the added expertise of Brazil-native and OFC futsal mentor Juliano Schmeling.
Toohey says the course was an opportunity to bring together potential instructors – those who have the ability to “coach the coaches” at grassroots and youth level, with representatives from countries that have well-developed histories in futsal, including Solomon Islands, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and New Zealand.
“In some cases the participants are the development officers already working in the game, or coaches and players of national teams. All are passionate futsal people with great knowledge who we hope have the capacity and commitment to deliver the OFC Level 1 curriculum in their own member associations.”
With just ten participants, it was a small group and Toohey says he was somewhat surprised the group didn’t know each other better given the size of the futsal community in the region.
“We were really happy with the opportunity to bring together key people in futsal for the very first time,” he says.
“I had assumed everyone knew each other well because many of us had been at various OFC tournaments together over the years, but actually for most it was the first time they were able to spend some time together and share their experiences in developing and coaching futsal.
“Each Member Association also presented their own futsal development programme and we saw some outstanding projects right across the board. I think what that did was unify the group, because in developing futsal we face similar challenges every day – lack of facilities, lack of equipment, or even just the perception that futsal is some kind of afterthought – football’s ‘little brother’, so to speak.”
Toohey says a strong theme that emerged during the week was the importance of being an ambassador for futsal.
“One thing we came away with was a resolve to be advocates for futsal, to be confident about the qualities of this game and to try and to close the gap between the futsal and football communities in our own countries.
“Sometimes with futsal you have to fight for credibility but that’s ok, because the answers are usually out on the pitch. Because it is a small-sided game, futsal can help produce technically good football players just as much as it produces futsal specialists. And – perhaps more importantly – kids want to play futsal, whether coaches, teachers or administrators want them to or not. Our job is to give them that opportunity.”
Toohey says one of the main factors behind the decision to hold the course is the commitment the five represented Member Associations have made to futsal over a long period of time, with broad programmes in grassroots through to elite level.
“There is most certainly a growing interest in futsal across the region. As with football, we need to anticipate the future and coach education has a vital role to play in player development. The game has evolved almost organically in some of our member associations. In Solomon Islands for example, anywhere there is a little square of concrete, you have futsal.
“To complement this growth, we need to provide potential coaches with the tools to enhance their understanding of the game, and particularly to help develop those players who want to learn more about futsal and want to participate in regional, national and international competition.
“So the main objective of the course was to introduce the revised OFC Futsal Coaching Level 1 content and give the instructors the tools to go back to their own Member Associations to deliver courses while at the same time encouraging coaches to preserve the natural football or futsal environments young players create for themselves,” he explains.
“Keeping in mind that each country is culturally different, one of the things we concentrated on in the course is how the instructors can adapt the content to suit their own participants, while at the same time retaining all the elements that we require for it to be a genuine OFC Futsal Coaching Level 1 Course.”
Having the course follow on from the OFC Futsal Championship Invitational was a good decision, Toohey believes, with everyone riding high after an excellent tournament.
“I think there is a genuine feeling around that the level of futsal had improved from last year,” he says.
“I would say that the energy from the tournament was there with us for the following week, the only downside was that for some of those who coached during the tournament, it was probably a bit tiring by the end – but we didn’t overdo it.”
With the course a good mixture of theory of practical elements, the other benefit of the timing meant that examples were still fresh in the participants’ minds from the previous week’s activities.
Another positive for the course was the involvement of players who are taking the step into instructing.
2014 OFC Futsal Championship Invitational Golden Ball joint-winner Smith Tino took part, as did Vanuatu captain Ben Hungai.
“It was great because in the practical exercises, when we were working with children, we were able to throw the likes of Ben or Smith in amongst the kids and straight away they were able to see the quality of these guys,” Toohey explains.
“But also I think we’re starting to build the idea that there is a pathway in futsal and Smith is a really good example of this. As a small boy, he saw futsal on the television – the Festival des Iles – he fell in love with the game and played every day on a small patch of rock in his village.
“Now he is a national team player, preparing for a trial in Spain, and dreaming of going to the World Cup. But also, he is now someone who can go back to Tahiti and inspire a whole new generation of coaches and kids through his work as an instructor.
“That scenario is perfect for us.”
The OFC Futsal Instructor Course was held at CISE in Noumea from 18-21 August, with delegates attending from New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tahiti.