Sean Bowers – Former US Team Captain – on Futsal
Futsal is recognized as the best option for player development – Futsal is FIFA’s official indoor game of soccer – There are only a few days left to sign up for US YOUTH FUTSAL Spring Leagues around the country and 619 FUTSAL Spring League in San Diego, don’t miss out on the action. Not sure if Futsal is for you? Just read Sean Bowers’ The Deal on Futsal:
Bowers Fact File: Former Captain of the U.S. National Futsal Team, Sean Bowers was selected in the inaugural MLS Super Draft in 1996 – 26th pick in the first round. Bowers is a phenomenal former professional defender who made a real impact on the soccer field and on the Futsal court. While Bowers played four seasons with the Kansas City Wizards (now called Sporting Kansas City) in Major League Soccer, he spent most of his career playing indoor soccer, earning the 1992 NPSL Rookie of the Year, four-time Defender of the Year and a six-time first team All Star in four different indoor leagues. Now he is a coach at San Diego Miramar College as well as with the XOLOS Academy and is the founder of 619 Futsal in San Diego, CA.
Why is so passionate about Futsal and how valuable it is for player development and why did he launch USYF’s 619 Futsal in San Diego, CA? We asked and he answered…
Diane Scavuzzo: What ignited your passion for Futsal /soccer and how old were you?
Sean Bowers: It was in 1996 that I was called up to the US National Futsal Team and to be honest, I had no idea what futsal was at that time. The US Futsal National Team was taking a trip to Brazil to prepare for the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Cup being held in Spain. I had just finished my 1st year playing soccer in the MLS playing for the KC Wizards when I received the call up.
Diane Scavuzzo: Please tell me your most memorable experience as a player
Sean Bowers: It would have to be playing in 2 FIFA Futsal World Cups and representing our country. In 1996, we went to Spain and 2004, we went to Taiwan. Both were very unique experiences that I still treasure to this day.
Diane Scavuzzo: And, as a coach…
Sean Bowers: I think my most memorable experience as a coach is my current endeavor at San Diego Miramar College. Since the inception of the soccer program in 2007, we have amassed a record of 126-35-10 with 5 straight conference titles 2010-2014 and 3 straight “Elite 8” playoff appearances. But the most satisfying experience of coaching at the community college level is helping guide these student-athletes to a 4-year school through both academics and athletics.
Diane Scavuzzo: Please tell me, what are the three goals you want to achieve?
Sean Bowers:
1. For 619 Futsal to provide a safe, fun and learning experience to the youth soccer players in Southern California.
2. To provide opportunity to all our youth to play at the highest level possible in futsal in the United States (ID Camp)
3. To give back to our youth the experiences I have had and to teach a sport (Futsal) that is new and exciting and can better each player for the outdoor game.
Diane Scavuzzo: What excites you the most?
Sean Bowers: “Developing Players” is why we are so passionate about what we do at 619 Futsal.
We created this league to provide a place, no matter what age, for all of the southern California youth soccer players to have an environment to grow as players. Our league at 619 Futsal allows all of these soccer players to play in an environment conducive to learning and developing each and every game.
Diane Scavuzzo: Soccer’s popularity is growing in the USA and there has been an increase in kids playing the sport. Is Futsal also growing?
Sean Bowers: Futsal is growing tremendously day-by-day. I was just at the NSCAA convention in Philly and I sat in a room with over 100 coaches in a lecture about futsal. There is not enough information out there in the soccer world about futsal and the benefits of training in a futsal environment. Many coaches are hesitant to add futsal to their training regimen because they do not know enough about it. Futsal is a very good tool for all of our youth to be playing as much as they can. Ball touches, moving off the ball, connection of passes, preparation of your shots, and quick decisions are just a few things that futsal can help train a player for the outdoor game.
Diane Scavuzzo: How specifically does Futsal help an elite soccer player develop?
Sean Bowers: I saw a statistic recently – A player touches the ball 600% more in a futsal game than in an outdoor game….600%!! This is incredible as touches on the ball is one of the most important elements of a youth soccer player’s development. Other elements of futsal that significantly benefits players would be playing in a small space, 1v1 attacking and defending, movement off the ball, preparation of receiving and passing of the ball, quick decisions and improving the technical side of each player’s game.
Diane Scavuzzo: Is Futsal only for elite players?
Sean Bowers: Futsal is for every single player out there. Futsal is such a fun sport it doesn’t not matter if you are an ECNL, Academy or Recreational player. At 619 Futsal the environment that we have created sets the tone for all ages and all levels to have a great experience. In our league, we do not award trophies or medals to first place teams as our focus is on the development of each player.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is the USYF Futsal ID Camp?
Sean Bowers: The U.S. Youth Futsal I.D. C is designed to identify and develop elite players in the most challenging and competitive environment possible.
Selected players are invited to attend the futsal camp in their region. Participants receive multiple training sessions and training matches under the leadership of U.S. Men’s National Futsal Team head coach Keith Tozer and U.S. Youth Futsal regional staff coaches. Top players from each Futsal I.D. Camp are invited to participate in the U.S. Youth Futsal National I.D. Camp, where teams in each age group represent their region during multiple days of training plus matches against the other regions. The best of the best are selected for the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team.
Last year USYF and 619 Futsal introduced what is called the “Futsal ID Camp”. This program was created to help jump start a youth futsal program in the United States to start identifying players at the youth level to form Regional and National teams at certain ages (12, 14, 16). Youth programs in Futsal are very prevalent in most countries that have world-class outdoor soccer teams (Spain, Brazil, Italy and even England). Last year was our first year in providing this program and it was very successful.
We had our first Futsal ID Camp here in San Diego with over 90 players attending. From those 90 players we made 6 Regional teams boys and girls in age divisions of u12, u14, and u16. These teams were taken to Kansas City, Kansas where players from all across the United States were represented in a 4 day National Camp. Each player was evaluated and from that camp, USYF National futsal teams were created.
The year was capped off with those national teams traveling to Toronto for international friendlies against Canadian youth national futsal teams. We had 7 players from our San Diego Futsal ID Camp that were selected to the USYF National Team and traveled to Toronto. I would like to recognize those players who proudly represented our region.
USYF National Futsal Team Members:
Boys under 16: Joel Bustamante, Alex Vivar and Alec Bakkeby.
Girls Under 16: Amber Huff and Mikayla Kappes.
Girls Under 14: Amber McCorkle and Mackenzie Simpson.
Diane Scavuzzo: How does a player sign up for the futsal ID Camp and will it be held?
Sean Bowers: Futsal I.D. is available to boys and girls born 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004
Coaches recommend qualified players – players may not sign themselves up. Players may only attend the Futsal I.D. Camp in their region (Regional map here). The Southwest Region Futsal I.D. camp will be hosted by 619 Futsal and held April 10-12, 2015 in San Diego.
