Futsal has become much more popular in today’s collegiate sports.
Lethbridge College hosted Futsal Identification camps on Monday to scout out potential talent to join the Kodiaks for the upcoming season.
The preparation for the upcoming Futsal season kicked into gear with this past Monday with Lethbridge College hosting identification camps in search of undiscovered potential talent. This is the first time the Kodiaks’ program has held an ID camp for Futsal, with the camps being a more common occurrence for indoor and outdoor soccer.
There will be two new teams added to the futsal league this year pending league approval. The league currently has nine teams in the league. Prairie College in Three Hills and Portage College located in Lac La Biche are the teams expected to join the ACAC Futsal league.
Kodiaks’ Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Futsal Head Coach Sean Carey says in futsal there is a lot more shooting, so he teaches his players to shoot first, then follow the ball. Carey says the key in futsal is to get into open areas when the ball is not on your feet.
“The movement off the ball is key as well. There Is a lot of little intricate stuff that you just bring up and learn with the team.”
Second-year Kodiaks futsal player Jasmin Salmon says the main difference between futsal and soccer for her is the technical foot skills that are developed over time.
“It’s a lot more technical with our feet. In soccer, if you have got the speed, you are pretty set out there. With futsal, there is a lot more ball control, little bit quicker passes and movement.”
Salmon says it is a little bit harder of an adjustment for her because she prefers to run, but for some of her teammates, this is where they shine.
“The progress we have seen in foot skills through futsal translates to the outdoor soccer well. It makes a huge, huge difference. The confidence the girls and boys have with the ball on the feet is tenfold.”
Sean Carey says the futsal ID camps have not gained much traction yet. A combination of a good personality and skills are what he is looking for from players. Both teams have nearly set rosters, but Carey is always looking for talent.
The ACAC Futsal Championships will be held at Lakeland College in 2020.