Keith Tozer is the Futsal Man in the USA.. Tower kicked off the Midwest Futsal Association (MFA) and Wisconsin Futsal League (WFL) last week and spoke with Diane Scavuzzo about the impact of Futsal in the USA. As the USA Futsal Men’s National Team Head Coach, FIFA Futsal Instructor, and Technical Director of U.S. Youth Futsal, Tozer is partnering with the MFA and will be leading the charge to transform the Midwest into a mecca for Futsal.
The News on Futsal in the USA – an interview with Keith Tozer
Diane Scavuzzo: How have you seen the sport grow in the USA?
Keith Tozer: Futsal has grown tremendously. I have been involved in all forms of soccer for most of my adult life but I’ve never seen a sport grow so fast as I have seen Futsal grow in the last two years.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who are some of the best Futsal players in our country?
Keith Tozer: Kraig Chiles is one of the best players – he is a pure striker with both feet. He plays for the San Diego Sockers as well.
Diane Scavuzzo: Why do you think that’s all helps improve technique?
Keith Tozer: Futsal speeds up the learning process. It seems to be common sense – if you are at soccer training for an hour and a half, how many touches are you getting on the ball?
When you’re playing Futsal – you can have 80 or 100 quality touches on the ball. And these are quality touches with thought process, not just shooting a long ball, but directional balls. Players just have to get better.
It has been great to work with so many young players were so thirsty for the game and pick up knowledge so quickly. Players at the ID camp get better so fast. It’s very impressive.
Diane Scavuzzo: How does Futsal improve soccer skills?
Keith Tozer: Because Futsal has no predetermined positions, it allows youth players to learn how to both attack and defend on the field. Being able to develop both attacking and defensive mentalities is an asset for any player. In addition, it enables youth players to make a smoother transition to outdoor soccer, as they are already comfortable on the ball in all situations. Another advantage is that Futsal allows coaches to truly learn their players’ strengths. This enables them to employ different styles of play by exploiting their greater tactical knowledge of the players on their team, often allowing them to outwit the opposition.
Futsal constantly places players in situations where they must play under pressure in confined spaces, placing considerable demand on technique, tactical awareness and fitness, speed and agility. Because Futsal is played with a ball with 30% less bounce, players are forced to work on their technique and control skills in order to move the ball around on the ground. With this extra focus, players can execute complex skills in pressure situations without having to think about it. This also helps them to make early decisions before receiving the ball. In Futsal there is an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you look for in a player for the US team?
Keith Tozer: We look for speed and quickness, along with very good technical ability and intelligence. Because of the nature of Futsal, we also look for a player’s willingness to defend and the willingness to learn.
Diane Scavuzzo: How long have you been involved in Futsal?
Keith Tozer: A long time, since I was the captain of the 1968 team that played in Budapest.
Diane Scavuzzo: Is the connection between soccer and Futsal increasing?
Keith Tozer: Yes, most outdoor soccer people look at all of us in Futsal like we are part of the family.
Diane Scavuzzo: The world a Futsal has become confusing and crowded with new acronyms and organizations – is there a real difference between these organizations?
Keith Tozer: Futsal is a sport as well as a business. And different organizations can be confusing for people. USFF and USYF both run Futsal leagues and USA Futsal holds tournaments.
As the national team coach, I would like to see everything under one body. What is most important, is the growth of Futsal. I am here to help anyone in the country who wants to grow Futsal.
Futsal allows players to improve their skills in a fun, safe environment. It facilitates far greater and more efficient skill development than any other variation of soccer. It is largely a non-contact sport played without walls, boards or turf and officiated by professional, licensed and experienced Futsal referees.
The MFA is a company specifically promoting the sport of Futsal throughout the Mid-West. In 2015, the MFA will be hosting adult and youth Futsal leagues, Futsal tournaments, Futsal education and coaching seminars, and Futsal exhibition games.
The WFL will be kicking off its youth league in February and will run thru March, and will play at University School Milwaukee (USM) in River Hills, Wisconsin. The league will consist of both boys and girls from U8-U18. Registration fees for each team will be $650 and include eight (8) matches (discounts provided for multiple club teams).
Joining Tozer to make up the MFA are Hewerton Moreira, Director of Operations; Allison Philips, Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing, and James Moran, Director of Public Relations and Social Media.
Moreira grew up in Brazil playing Futsal and played professionally for Santos. Moreira is currently playing for the Chicago Mustangs, and is the President of the BraSa Futsal Academy. Philips previously worked for the Milwaukee Wave and is the President of Edge Promotions. Moran grew up in England and is the Founder and Executive Director of the Milwaukee Soccer Development Group (MSDG).
All players will be registered under U.S. Youth Futsal for a calendar year at an additional fee of $10, which covers registration fees and secondary insurance. To register or for more information.
