What is US Youth Futsal?
What is US Youth Futsal? Let’s first define ‘futsal’. Futsal is a variant of traditional soccer that is played indoors on a hard court with a smaller ball. The game is fast-paced and requires quick reflexes, agility, and excellent ball control. It is a great way for young players to develop their skills and improve their overall soccer game.
Here in the northeast, futsal is growing by the year as many youth players convert from fall soccer to winter futsal. This keeps kids engaged and continuously playing a form of the sport they enjoy.
One of the biggest drivers of the sport is US Youth Futsal which actively promotes the sport across the United States.
US Youth Futsal Structure
US Youth Futsal is the largest US Soccer-affiliated futsal organization in the United States, overseeing more than 100 local leagues in 30 states.
The organization is structured into three levels: National, Regional, and Local.
National Level
At the national level, US Youth Futsal oversees the National Championships, which is considered the premier futsal event in the country.
The National Championships are held annually in February and feature teams from across the country competing for the national title in various age groups.
Regional Level
US Youth Futsal is divided into four regions: East, Midwest, South, and West. Each region is responsible for organizing regional competitions and events, including Regional Championships and Regional ID trials.
The Regional Championships are held annually in January and serve as a qualifying event for the US Youth Futsal National Championships.
Local Level
At the Local Level, US Youth Futsal oversees more than 100 local leagues in 30 states. These leagues are organized by local volunteers and operate under the guidance of US Youth Futsal. The local leagues provide opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels to participate in futsal.
US Youth Futsal Programs
US Youth Futsal offers a variety of programs designed to develop and improve futsal skills for youth players. These programs provide opportunities for players to compete at a high level while receiving top-notch training and coaching.
Futsal ID
US Youth Futsal’s Futsal ID program is designed to identify and develop elite players in a highly competitive and challenging environment.
The program consists of state trials, where top players from each identification trial are invited to participate in the National ID trials for training and matches.
The Futsal ID program has been successful in identifying and developing players who have gone on to play at the highest levels of futsal.
National Teams
The National Teams are selected via the Futsal ID program. They are comprised of the very best futsal players in the entire country and represent the United States in international competition. The National Teams compete at the highest level and provide an opportunity for players to showcase their skills on the world stage.
Futsal Academy
The newly formed US Youth Futsal Academy is designed to provide players with the opportunity to receive high-level futsal training and coaching.
The academy is open to players of all skill levels and provides a challenging and competitive environment for players to develop their skills.
The academy is led by experienced and knowledgeable coaches who are dedicated to helping players improve their game.
Futsal Leagues
The various leagues provide players with the opportunity to compete in organized futsal leagues. The leagues are open to players of all skill levels and provide a fun and competitive environment for players to improve their skills.
The leagues are organized by age group and provide players with the opportunity to play against teams from across the country.
Future of US Youth Futsal
With many soccer players seeing the benefit of futsal, US Youth Futsal will continue being the leader in promoting and developing the sport in the United States.
US Youth Futsal appointed Jorge Marin as the Executive Director to take it to the next level as a national sports league. Marin has the experience and vision to lead the organization towards its goal of expanding the fast-paced, 5-a-side-game of futsal across the USA.
The future looks bright for futsal. With Marin at the helm, the organization is expected to continue its growth and expansion. Marin’s vision for US Youth Futsal is to provide more opportunities for young players to develop their skills and compete at the highest level of futsal.
We are excited to see the growth and give more opportunities to young kids who may want to continue playing a variation of soccer during their ‘downtimes’.
