Leon Colt’s Indoor Futsal league is in full swing

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Leon Colt’s Indoor Futsal league is in full swing. Down a staircase in a school in Williamsburg, teams full of players from all over Queens, Brooklyn, and beyond pack the gym to play while spectators casually sit inches from the game. League founder Colt says, “It’s a fast, skillful game and helps our players stay sharp while we wait for the spring season to come around again.” With homemade taquitos and lightning-fast play, it was an incredible time.

What is futsal? Futsal is a face-paced version of indoor soccer played with a smaller, heavy ball designed not to bounce. (Otherwise, the ball would never stop bouncing on the hardcourt.) Here’s a primer video from the top futsal ball maker. Next year is the 9th ever FIFA Futsal World Cup, to be played in Lithuania. And for those looking for some entertainment, here are some highlights of the best to ever play the game: Brasil’s Falcão. If your jaw isn’t on the floor 31 seconds into that video, you better check your pulse. Falcão scores goals in real life that most could only dream of pulling off in a videogame.

Below: Dribbling past defenders and spectators alike; fast goals at sharp angles; and toying with the defense.

Thanks to Daylight Savings, it may be getting darker earlier, but that’s not keeping anyone from playing. This group of friends was kicking it by lamplight last Sunday in Flushing Meadows Park.  

Meanwhile in pro soccer

Champions League Group Stages, Round 4 of 6! Highlights include: 

• Real Madrid’s Rodrygo—the youngest athlete ever sponsored by Nike—became the second-youngest player ever to score a Champions League Hat Trick, 
• Juventus’ Douglas Costa may have scored the goal of the year, cutting past nearly every opposition player on his way to scoring the game-winner in extra time,
• and the insanity that was Chelsea v Arsenal, which ended 4-4, including two own goals (one of them bouncing off the keeper’s face), two red cards, and a game-winning goal overturned by VAR. 

Coming up:

Sunday has all the big games this week. Here’s your itinerary:

• First, pop by Field 3 in Flushing Meadows Park at 10:30 am Sunday to see the Finál of Liga Estudantíl, one of the oldest leagues in all of Queens! Come see local fútbol passion first hand. Can’t wait to photograph this one. 
• Then rush over to your nearest soccer bar to watch Man City vs. Liverpool at 11:30. With Man City’s goalie injured, will Liverpool cement their winning momentum, or will Man City shake the whole league up with an upset?
• And finally, the MLS Cup is here!! Tune in at 3pm to see if Seattle or Toronto are crowned champions. The match is being played in Seattle to a sold-out 69,000 seat stadium, and it’s going to be loud.

Weekly Face of Fútbol:

Name: Rodrigo Marín

From: Toluca, Mexico

Resides in: Corona

Coach of: Santa Barbara FC, Liga Estudantil

Been coaching for: 3 years

What could a bigger team do to help the soccer community? Support the niños and how they learn the game. There needs to be better logistics to give the best among the kids the chance to get even better and train at a higher level.

On investing in what you love: It’s not cheap, running a team. My coaching partner and I cover all the costs for the team from our own money: jerseys, league inscription, drinks for the players. You do it for el amor del fútbol though.

Send me any upcoming events you know about, and I’ll share them next time around! I’m always looking for new fields, new leagues, and new anything fútbol.

And feel free to forward this, it’s just the start.

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See you on the pitch,

Jon D