Futsal is the only version of 5-a-side football recognised by FIFA. It is a faster, more skilful version of the game we play in this country, with adapted rules to encourage fair play and improve technique.

The main difference is the ball, which is smaller and heavier than the regular size 5 ball used in the UK. This makes it easier to control and the added weight tends to keep the ball on the ground. It also has 30% less bounce than a normal football, which again helps to get the ball under control quickly.

The goals are also higher and narrower than the goals that we normally use in England.

All of the improvements have made futsal more like a small sided version of the 11-a-side game.

Futsal around the world

Teams such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Everton, Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid use futsal as part of their youth training set-up, as well as hundreds of other professional clubs across the world.

We might be seeing a lot more of Futsal in 2012, as it is being considered as one of the new sports added for the London Olympics!

Futsal in Essex

Colchester Futsal Club first started in 2005 after I returned from coaching football in the United States for Major League Soccer.

It originally started as a kick-about between friends, since then the club has taken its development of futsal in the Colchester area forward by starting one of the country's first fully fledged futsal academies.

The Academy has been operating for nearly two years now, coaching over 150 children per week in the ways of futsal, with a number of the children going on to academies within professional football clubs.

Colchester Futsal Club's major problem is the lack of local competition, as the nearest qualifying league for the national finals is in Hertfordshire.

They have therefore been in negotiations with the Essex County FA with a view of starting a local league for people based in North Essex.

With this league in place it will give local people a chance to experience the exciting new game of futsal, with the potential for the league winners to take it further by competing in the national championships.

The club has been looking for local 5-a-side teams to try futsal and register their interest in playing the only internationally recognised version of small sided football.

We are also on the look-out for a talented goalkeeper as our current number one is off to University in Wales. Local children who wish to try the game that has produced players such as Ronaldinho, Robinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and many more can register for a place within one of our clubs by visiting the website.

Futsal in the UK

Futsal in the UK is still in its infancy, with only an estimated 7,000 people playing the game regularly. This, however, has not stopped this diehard group of players progressing into international tournaments, such as the UEFA Futsal Cup and the formation of the first national futsal team, coached by Graeme Dell.

After failing to qualify for the up coming UEFA European championships, the FA have decided to really get behind promoting futsal.

It has always been our aim at the Colchester club to unearth local talent and we are pleased the FA are backing the promotion of futsal in England. We hope we can give talented local players the platform to show what they can do with a view competing on a national and international basis.

Evening Star - May 2007
John Mills has started a Futsal team in Colchester but faces a race against time in his bid to lauch the league. Mills must recuit 8 teams before the sports governing body will provide the nessasary go ahead. At the moment only 3 teams have signed up and the the deadline is just 4 weeks away. Mills, 23, said " We'd love to hear from other teams in the region but if we dont have enough people to create the league hopefully we will be able to join another league such as Harlow. "we would like to hear from players over the age of 16 who want to give it a go. We must get as many people as possible in futsal if the game is to take off in a big way". Mills is certainly doing his bit as far as the younger generation is concerned with a thriving Academy set up aimed at taking the game to schools. He said "We have secured funding from the lottery and the sports partnership and are gradually working our way around 38 local schools". Mills has no doubts that the game will grow, especially as it bears a far greater resemblence to "Proper" football than the other indoor guises of the great game. He added:"i must have come across something like 150 people who have played standard 5 a side and then tried futsal, and i can categorically state that once they have tried futsal they have never gone back. "Futsal invariably improves players" first touch and it puts you in more of the type of one - to - one situations you expect to come across in 11 a side football. Tactically it is very similar to Basketball. "One of the biggest differences is that you dont use the walls of the gym or sports centre, or wherever you are playing. "All over the world they have done research that shows futsal is safer because of the no walls rule. In any case, it is unrealistic as well as dangerous to use walls. Anyone who fancies giving futsal a try, or wants to enter a team in the proposed league can contact 01206 549779.

BBC Radio Essex - 4th of May 2007
After our 2nd place success at the Perth Youth Futsal Tournament, BBC Essex's Local Radio presenter John Haynes mentioned the boys tournaments success on his breakfast show. The Under 10's also one the fair play award.

Harwich and Manningtree standard - August 2006
The Academy UK is looking for young footballers aged between 6 and 11 to join our exciting new futsal teams! Futsal is an exhilarating five-a-side version of football. It is played in over 100 countries by more than 12 million people - and now the UK is catching on. Futsal is a non-contact game played with a specially designed ball that has 30% less bounce than a conventional ball, which makes it ideal for boys and girls. The whole idea of futsal is to improve your skills on the ball. Great players like Pele, Zico, Figo and Ronaldinho learnt many of their skills from futsal - and if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us! The game in England is growing fast, and the launch of England's first ever international team is sure to make it even more popular.  The European football governing body, Uefa, and the World’s football governing body FIFA endorse Futsal. The Academy UK is affiliated to the Essex County FA and is currently the only Futsal league available to primary school children in Essex. We currently have 2 Junior leagues running; Dovercourt (Mondays 4.30 – 6.00) and Brightlingsea (Wednesdays 5.30 – 7.00) At every session children are given 45 minutes of technique based coaching by FA qualified, First Aid Trained and Criminal Records Bureau Checked coaches before the league fixtures take place. We invite everyone to try futsal and are offering a FREE trial session for everyone who registers for a place online www.theacademyuk.org, we do however insist on registering first as we pride ourselves on having one of the best coach to child ratio’s around with on average 10 children per coach at every session. So if you would like the chance to take part in this exciting new league contact us now! Via the website www.theacademyuk.org or telephone 01206549779 the league restarts the week of 11th of September.

Evening Gazette (Colchester) - April 2006
The Academy UK is holding two charity 5-aside tournaments on Wednesday 19^th April at Brightlingsea Sports Centre with all proceeds going and to Cancer Research UK.  The first tournament is for players aged between 6 and 11 and starts at 5:30pm and finishes at 6.30pm. The second tournament is for players aged 12 to 16 and starts at 6.30pm! Make your own team or just come along and we’ll find you one! (teams are advised to wear the same colours where possible, however training bibs are available) There is no minimum charge for playing and all donations are greatly appreciated. The tournament is open to EVERYONE of the appropriate age! Special thanks to Brightlingsea Sports Centre for offering their facilities!

SGR Colchester - October 2005
The Launch of the club was annouced on Local Radio station SGR Colchester on their hourly news programme. Head Coach John was also interviewed by the news team as to the clubs aims and objectives as well as the differences bewtween futsal and football.