Creating a grassroots futsal legacy for Thailand

With Thailand set to host the FIFA Futsal World Cup in November, the world football governing body has begun the creating of a legacy for the event through its 'Grassroots' program.

With its mission to get as many people as possible involved in the game, instilling human values, and above all, bringing enjoyment to all, simply by letting them take part, more than 600 children from across Bangkok came together at the culmination of a three-day seminar.

Under the tutelage of FIFA Development's Marco Schüepp and FIFA Instructors Sam Schweingruber and Vai-Chung Tsang, boys and girls aged six to 12 years took part in a day-long futsal festival. The organisation of the day was undertaken by Thai coaches, putting into practice what they had learnt during the previous 48 hours.

Held in the Thai capital's Huamark Indoor Stadium - one of the four FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 venues the event ran across five pitches. Two of the pitches were made of a special matting in the distinctive Futsal colours of red and blue, provided by FIFA. These will be utilised in the North-Eastern province of Korat for a similar event next month, and then handed over to the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) to utilise for other grassroots events in the future.

Schweingruber has been based in Cambodia for the last nine years, stating "I went travelling and never came back."

He told FIFA.com "in Asia there's an unbelievable amount of football on TV and people love the game, but in Cambodia there were no youth leagues or anyone helping the kids to play, or develop their skills."

Schweingruber consequently searched for funding, and subsequently set up his own Non Governmental Organisation, rescuing young Cambodian women from human trafficking. Three years ago he became a FIFA Instructor, helping to educate similar-minded individuals around the world.

Hong Kong-based Tsang is a futsal expert who delivers Level 1 and Level 2 coaching courses for the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA in Asia.

Tsang welcomed the Bangkok festival as a pilot, the first FIFA Grassroots program to use futsal at its core, stating "futsal is very popular here, but like many countries, there is nothing between the elite national team, and the kids playing in parks or on wasteground. Working with the Thai FA we gave the coaches some mentoring, and then they have delivered today's festival. It's not about trying to spot talented young players, but about mixing children of all abilities.

"You get to meet new people, make new friends, and learn new skills too. If you suddenly play in a team with younger players or less technical players, you have to be patient. In this way we help build some leaders, who the other children listen and learn from."

While countries like Spain, Japan and Korea Republic were named by Tsang as 'model countries' in terms of Futsal structures, not every model can be cut and pasted, adding "different countries have different traditions, cultures and existing structures.

"Our role is to modify what we know can work, to best suit the organisational capabilities of each respective member association. Of course, if an FA decides to hold such events on a regular basis, suddenly they will be able to start identifying the more talented, technical players who can potentially be earmarked for some specialist coaching.

"For now we hope to have passed on some ideas and a template. Next, the association has to motivate themselves to use the course, and the one next month as a catalyst. Sam and I would both love to come back to Thailand in 12 months and see what progress has been made. We think the FAT want to make this the start of something, and that would be a tangible legacy of what has happened here today."

Meanwhile, the Official Draw for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 has taken place.

The 24 participating teams were drawn in six groups of four, with the top two from each group going through to the Round of 16 along with the four best third-placed teams.

Groups are:

Group A: Thailand, Costa Rica, Ukraine, Paraguay

Group B: Spain, Iran, Panama, Morocco

Group C: Brazil, Japan, Libya, Portugal

Group D: Argentina, Mexico, Italy, Australia

Group E: Egypt, Serbia, Czech Republic, Kuwait

Group F: Russia, Solomon Islands, Guatemala, Colombia

The tournament begins on 1st November with the final being held in Bangkok on 18th November.

Ticketing information for the event is at www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup/organisation/ticketing/index.html

19th July 2012 - FUTSAL GROWS ACROSS THE GLOBE IN ADVANCE OF THAILAND WORLD CUP