Soccer player of the Year, Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring the third goal on March 8, 2011. Photo Credit: ISIPhotos - Javier Garcia

SoccerNation News: History of Futsal

As Futsal becomes more popular than ever, here is a comprehensive background on the sport. Player of the Year Lionel Messi, arguably the best soccer player in the world, is a play-maker like no other. Many soccer experts agree that his ball control, dribbling, passing abilities are a great example of the benefits of Futsal's training.

The origin of Futsal^® (Five-a-Side Soccer) can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competition in YMCAs. The game is played on basketball-sized courts, both indoors and out without the use of sidewalls.

The term FUTSAL^® is the present international name used for the game. It is derived from the Spanish or Portuguese word for "soccer"-- FUTbol or FUTebol, and the French or Spanish word for "indoor" -- SALon or SALa. The term was adopted in 1985 by present U.S. Futsal President  Alex Para, since it includes the initials "fUtSAl" (USA). He had it incorporated in the 1989 Memorandum of understanding between FIFA and  FIFUSA, nevertheless, it took FIFA seven years to adopt the name. It was first used by FIFA in Spain  at the 3^rd FIFA Futsal World Championship in 1996. The term was trademarked in the United States after U.S. Futsal changed its corporate name within the state of California.

Once Ceriani got the ball rolling, Futsal gained rapid popularity throughout South America, particularly in Brazil.  The skill developed in this game is visible in the world-famous style of player like. Pele, Maradona, Socrates, or present FIFA Player of the Year Messi. There are 9 player  from the 2010 FIFA World Cup winner Spain, who grew up playing Futsal. While Brazil, Italy and  Spain continue to be the Futsal hub of the world, the game is now played, under the auspices of FIFA, all over the world, from Europe to North and Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Asia and Oceania.

The first international competition took place in 1965, when Paraguay won the first South American Cup.  Six more South American Cups were held through 1979, with Brazil winning all of them. Brazil continued its dominance with a victory in the first Pan American Cup in 1980 and won it again the next time it was played in 1984. A U.S. team took part in the 1984 cup, but finished out of the running.

The U.S. Futsal Federation was founded in 1981 and incorporated in January, 1983. Osvaldo Garcia was it's first president. The game was originally  referred to as Minisoccer,  five-a-side soccer, Futbol Sala or Futebol de Salao, but it is it is now refereed by name, Futsal. The current Federation president is Alex J.C. Para.

The first Futsal World Championship conducted under the auspices of FIFUSA (before its members integrated into FIFA in 1989) was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1982, with Brazil finishing in first place. The Brazilians repeated as champions at the second World Championship in 1985 in Spain, but lost in the third World Championship in 1988 in Australia to Paraguay. FIFA took over direct sponsorship of the event in 1989 in Holland and 1992 in Hong Kong. Brazil won both times. The U.S. Futsal (Indoor Team), finished third in 1989 and second in 1992 at the FIFA Five-a-Side World Championship. The highest showing by any team from the United States in a FIFA tournament until the U.S. Womens team won the gold medal in China for outdoor soccer. The Third FIFA World Championship was held November 24 through December 11, 1996, in Spain and for the first time FIFA names it the FIFA Futsal World Championship. The Fourth FIFA Futsal World Championship was held in Guatemala between November 18 to December 4th, 2000. The fifth Futsal World Championship was held in Taipei in December 2004 and the sixth FIFA Futsal World Championship was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2008.

The first international Futsal match played by the U.S. Futsal National Team was in May 1984 in Nanaimo, Canada, and the United States won 6-5. The first international Futsal match in the United States was held in December, 1985, at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California. The U.S.defeated Australia, 9-5.

U.S. Futsal has conducted a National Championship each year since 1986. Futsal is establishing itself at the youth level in the U.S. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America took a strong interest after the Columbia Park Club in San Francisco asked the Federation to give a demonstration. The national organization adopted the sport, and it is now played at about 1,100 Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the U.S. The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) also plays the sport in a close working relationship with U.S. Futsal since 1988.

The U.S. Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and U.S. Futsal signed an agreement in August of 1995 and in 1999, to promote futsal in all their National State Association as their game of choice for indoor soccer under the auspices of U.S. Futsal.  Futsal has continued to evolve in America and now the US Youth Futsal organization offers futsal leagues aross the country.

Today in Futsal: 

USFF Information: 26th U.S. Futsal National Championship. The oldest and biggest Futsal event in the the United States. Held in Anaheim, California from July 14 - 17, 2011. 

US Youth Futsal Information: The Champions Cup is one of the largest futsal tournaments in the country.  Each year, over the President’s day weekend, teams from all over the country, from U8 - Adult, boys and girls, compete for the title of USYF National Champions.  This year’s tournament will take place in February 17 - 20, 2012.  Champions and Finalists for 2011.

US Youth Futsal, is the official national futsal organization affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. The goal for US Youth Futsal is to developing organized futsal opportunities for amateur players in cities across the country. With more than 1,500 teams competing in its 40 leagues located in over 25 states, including top cities like Boston, Cleveland, Kansas City, South Jersey and St. Louis, US Youth Futsal is the fastest growing futsal organization in the U.S..

Players and coaches with US Youth Futsal are registered through the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), the largest multi-sport sanctioning body in the United States. Originally called the Super F league, the US Youth Futsal also offers a national championship.  ForSoccerNation's news on US Youth Futsal click here.