Plenty Sport : EZINE ISSUE 13 - INDOOR FOOTBALL | Page 3

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ISSUE № 13, June 2015

For the love of the game..and its variations !
rules. Even by design, indoor can occur on
ceramic or synthetic surfaces.
At this point, FIFA the international body
that oversees international association football competitions, does not sanction the synthetic turf version of indoor soccer, having
developed its own code of indoor football ,which they refer to as futsal. The term
FUTSAL is the international term used for
Football on the world stage now has many
variants, which all developed either out of
convenience, constraints in weather and even
limitations of appropriate facilities. Some of
these variants include mere scrimmages, indoor soccer, futsal, beach soccer and even
small goal as it is called in Trinidad and Tobago.
Specific to North America, indoor soccer was
initially developed as a way to play football
during the winter months. Further variations
even include play surrounded by walls which
implies the need for many differing

the game. It is derived from the Spanish or
Portuguese word for "soccer" futbol and the

the 1930’s. BY FIFA standards though,

French or Spanish word for "indoor" Salon

world cups in Futsal have been occurring

or SaLa. Futsal and indoor on the whole is

since 1989 with Brazil leading the way in

the fastest-growing variant of football in the

victories.

world. In both cases the number of substitu-

In terms of Trinidad and Tobago, Futsal is

tions is unlimited and the ball is usually

administered by the Futsal Association of

smaller than a regular football and has lesser

Trinidad and Tobago under the umbrella of

bounce. The smaller size of the pitch usually

the TTFA. Although not yet having qualified

means more goals, more speed, greater time

for the World Finals in this version, the main

on the ball as opposed to the larger outdoor

focus currently is to establish a functional

field and by implication the need to be more

futsal league in T&T. The expectation is to

skillful. The indoor versions by description

grow significantly the interest by the football

can claim to date back as far as Uraguay in

playing population for Futsal on the islands.