U.S. Youth Futsal National I.D. Program Recap
The U.S. Youth Futsal National ID program, which had more than 430 players participate, was a huge success. The National ID program was created to identify and develop elite Futsal players in the most challenging and competitive environment possible. The U.S. Youth Futsal coaches and staff, as well as players and parents, were all very impressed with the experience.
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U.S. Youth Futsal Technical Director, Keith Tozer, the U.S. Youth Futsal Regional Directors and Futsal coaches evaluated players for four days as they selected the 10 field players and two goalkeepers for each of the U.S. Youth Futsal teams competing in a series of international friendlies against Colegio Ezcazu, Colegio Santa Ana and Borussia Futsal — the top Costa Rican futsal programs.
This elite group of players will visit Costa Rica from July 27 – Aug. 2 and participate in team-building adventures which may include zip lining in a rainforest and whitewater rafting.
“The National ID program in Kansas City was fabulous and it was great working with our U.S. Youth Futsal coaches from all over the country,” said Tozer. “Now we are selecting the players to represent our country on the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team that will travel to San Jose, Costa Rica later this month. Teams at the U18, U16 and U14 age groups will train and play at the official training center of the Costa Rican National Futsal Teams.”
“U.S. Youth Futsal has created the best futsal identification program in the country,” Jon Parry, U.S. Youth Futsal Executive Director. “It is very unique to have the Men’s National Futsal Team head coach involved in any youth development program. I am confident that with Keith’s technical leadership, it will soon be the best in the world!”
“This has been a fantastic opportunity for all who participated including the players, staff and coaches. Those who are selected will represent U.S. Youth Futsal leagues across our country and compete against Costa Rica’s finest young futsal stars,” said Otto Orf, U.S. Youth Futsal Regional Director.
“A lot of capable players attended the National I.D. program and they were all eager to learn,” said Sean Bowers, U.S. Youth Futsal Southwest Regional Director and founder of 619 Futsal. “Where else can you learn from professionals who played in FIFA Futsal World Cups? All of the U.S. Youth Futsal staff are dedicated to growing the game of Futsal, training coaches and developing players.”
What if you don’t make the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team this year?
“It breaks my heart that approximately 400 players did not make the teams competing in Costa Rica,” said Tozer. “These players are at such a young age, they are just at the beginning of their careers — I want to tell them to all stay positive, practice and come back next year.” Great advice from the head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Futsal team.
“As a professional and national team player for over 20 years I have participated in tryouts at the highest level, been a backup, not been chosen and even been cut from teams in many stages of my career,” said Orf. “There is great satisfaction to be had when you work hard toward a goal and finally achieve success. I can honestly say that I believe this program is building character and skills in every participant, that can be drawn upon throughout the remainder of their time playing sports and benefit them in their everyday lives.”
“Those who were not selected this time around were given the opportunity to learn from the best futsal coaches in the country and to compare their talents to the highest level of futsal players in the USA. This type of exposure has never before been available to players and now they can return home, work on their game and show off their improvements in the next Futsal ID cycle,” said Orf.
“Its amazing how much Futsal has grown in one year. There are more talented players this year than in 2014 — the program grew by more than 50% and we implemented a new evaluation system,” said Soorena Farboodmanesh, Director & Coaching Education Course Administrator for U.S. Youth Futsal.
How can you tell that Futsal is really catching on? “The fact that almost all the players are using the correct terminology for Futsal is great,” said Farboodmanesh. “Instead of calling the player in the back a defender they call the defender’s role, Fixo. It is wonderful to hear these players all talk about building a line of three or making the run to the far post.”
“U.S. Youth Futsal I.D. is unparalleled in the CONCACAF region for player and coach development,” added Jason Miller, Director of Communications and Girls Director. “Although only in its second year, the program — including regional and national identification camps — has directly and positively impacted the growth of high level youth futsal in the United States.”
“The 2015 U.S. Youth Futsal National I.D. Camp illustrated an incredible quality of futsal — embodied by both the top players and coaches from across the country,” said Miller. “Under the leadership of Keith and Soorena, the program has reached an unprecedented level — and the players who attended this year’s camp are surely the most immediate beneficiaries.”
“I enjoyed evaluating some of the top youth Futsal players in the country across various aspects of the game including ball control, decision making ability, speed of play, work rate, defensive attitude, and overall player creativity,” said Craig Canavan who will be coaching the U14 National Futsal Team in Costa Rica. “We are all very excited about the growth of the sport and the high level of play that was present at this National ID camp.”
“The US Youth Futsal National Futsal I.D. event has far exceeded my expectations,” said Derek Smith, Executive Director of Total Ginga Academy. “The players attending have displayed tremendous passion for the game of futsal. The level of play increased each day as the players learned the futsal concepts. What a bright future for the United States not only in soccer but futsal.”
“I’m honored to be apart of the U.S. Youth Futsal coaching staff under the leadership of Coach Keith Tozer,” said Smith.
“CP Athletic Development is delighted to have two players from our futsal academy involved in the US National Youth Futsal finals,” said Pete Rickards, Bermuda CP Athletic Development Academy. “Coach Tozer and his staff have again facilitated a top quality event. The level of talent here is tremendous. Futsal is exploding in the US and this will surely serve to improve the quality of young player the nation will produce!”
“I am very impressed by the growth of futsal here in the United States,'” said Bruno Victal, U.S. Youth Futsal NH Trainer. “Having grown up with futsal in Brazil, I can say that Futsal is one of the biggest reasons for Brazil’s success in soccer. The United States is catching up quickly, thanks to Coach Keith Tozer and this youth program. The coaching curriculum here at the National ID camp, and the talent level of the players, is simply excellent. Brazil and the other world futsal and soccer powers had better keep an eye on the United States!”
“The players at the US Youth Futsal National ID camp are all technical and ridiculously good and playing with them has pushed me to play at a new and higher level,” said Alyssa Huynh, Participating ID program player. “Each day of training was intense and challenging and I can take the knowledge and experience I gained at the camp to make myself a stronger player.”
“I am in the Girls 99-00 group and this was a great opportunity to play with the best girls from the nation,” said Nadya Boualany, Participating ID program player. “Competing with nearly 50 girls was challenging in many ways but, it was fun to get to know other dedicated futsal players. The coaches at this National ID program really helped me improve my skills and I have become a better player because of the training here.”
“The five day camp has been a tremendous opportunity for my son Oliver, from Denver, Colorado,” said Heidi Larraz, Parent of a participating player. “We have been pleasantly surprised at the organization of the camp on many levels. The high level of play among the players has been wonderful to watch. The respect and consideration from Keith Tozer and the entire coaching staff towards the players and their growth – it is a real indication of their dedication to developing these young Futsal players, as well as their well being throughout the demanding schedule. The level of enthusiasm from the top is contagious. The cultural diversity this game envelopes is just one more positive attribute that the game and camp has offered. We feel fortunate to have been a part of this opportunity.”
The world’s top soccer stars play Futsal, which is widely accepted as a a great tool for training elite soccer players. Next year, the the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup will be held in Columbia from September 10th to October 2nd.
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