The National Soccer Coaches Association of America and U.S. Futsal, the only national Futsal governing body directly affiliated with U.S Soccer and U.S Youth Soccer, have partnered to create the first ever NSCAA Diploma for Futsal.

Origin of Futsal

• The origin of futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay

• In 1930, Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competition in the YMCAs

• The game is often played on Basketball sized courts, both indoor and out without the use of sidewalls

• Futsal became immensely popular throughout South America, especially Brazil

• Brazilian legends such as Pele, Zico, and Ronaldinho are examples of how futsal shaped their playing style

  • Brazil's style of play is often attributed to their love for Futsal

• Futsal is now global, as it is being played under the auspices of FIFA, from Europe to North and Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Oceania

• Paraguay won the first ever international futsal competition, the South American Cup, in 1965.

• Six more South American Cups were held through 1979, with Brazil winning all of them

• Brazil continued to dominant as they went onto win the inaugural Pan American Cup in 1980, and won it again the next time it was played in 1984

• The U.S took part in the 1984 cup, but finished out of the running

Brazilian futsal Superstar Falcao showcasing his talent, as he attempts a rainbow over a Croatian defender in an international Futsal Match

History of U.S Futsal

• U.S Futsal was founded in 1981 and incorporated in January, 1983

• The current U.S Futsal president is Alex J.C. Para

  • The first U.S Futsal president was Osvaldo Garcia

• The first international futsal match played by the U.S Futsal National Team was in May 1984 in Canada

  • The U.S won 6-5

• The first international futsal match in the United States was held in December, 1985 at Sonoma State University, California

  • The U.S select team, defeated Australia, 9-5

• The U.S Futsal (Indoor Team) finished third in 1989 and second in 1992 at the FIFA Five-a-Side World Championship

  • This was the highest showing by any team from the united states in a FIFA tournament until the U.S Womens team won the gold medal in China for outdoor soccer

Youth Futsal in the U.S

• Futsal is establishing itself at the youth level in the U.S

• The Boys and Girls Club of America took a strong interest after viewing a demonstration done by the Columbia Park Club in San Francisco

• Since adopting the sport, futsal is now played at roughly 1,000 Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the U.S

• The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) also plays the sport and has been working closely with U.S Futsal since 1988

• The U.S Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and U.S Futsal signed an agreement in August 1995 and in 1999, to promote futsal in all their National State Association's as their game of choice for indoor soccer under the auspices of U.S Futsal