Our Futsal World newsletter is beginning to attract letters and reader opinions on issues related to futsal and the world of soccer in general. We think that's a very good thing and encourage you to join in (Have one? Write the editor at davidknopf48@gmail.com)Whenever possible, we try to share those letters here and encourage your response. A conversation among people who are passionate about our sport can only increase everyone's understanding and speed futsal's development.
The following letter was sent by Paul Chapman, a native of Ireland who played for the Irish Universities National team during his days at University College Dublin.
In the late 1960s, Paul began to guide a club-status University of Minnesota soccer team into local and eventually Big Ten competition. We'll let Paul tell his own story since he does it so well.
Paul's first letter has to do with YMCA soccer programs; at our request, he followed up with some biographical information we found very interesting. Paul has a grandson who's a U8 player involved in futsal as well as outdoor soccer.
David,
I have noticed that YMCAs appear to consider soccer development part of their territory but offer very poor development.
I think many parents who are first generation soccer Moms and Dads think they are offering their kids an opportunity to learn at the YMCA but this is not true based on what I have seen.
It would be a shame if the YMCAs did not get the message since otherwise they will waste many talented youngsters whether we like it or not.
As a suggestion, why not have U.S. Soccer offer some sort of accreditation to YMCAs that offers programs that are endorsed by the US Soccer Federation?
Wouldn't it be better to at least have them offering futsal in starting out young players? At least then, the cream of the YMCA crop will presumably spin off to US Soccer development programs before they get left behind.
Regards,
-- Paul Chapman
(Editor's note: The irony, of course, is that it was in a YMCA gym in Uruguay in 1930 that futsal was invented. Now here's Paul's second letter with a story he says is being told here for the first time!)
David, sorry for the delay in my response.
If you don't mind a little U.S. soccer history that has never been recorded, in
the late 1960s as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, I
appeared before the University of Minnesota Assembly Committee on
Intercollegiate Athletics in an effort to establish a varsity soccer program
there.
I was unsuccessful in attaining that status, but I eventually got our team into a local amateur league. The U of M staged another first in those days when the university team played the first International game in Minnesota against a touring University team from Uruguay.
The team was finally admitted into Big Ten competition even though we were still non-varsity, and in 1979 the U of M soccer team (still without varsity status) beat the University of Wisconsin varsity squad to reach the Big Ten final.
Our opponent was the Indiana
varsity squad in what was then labeled the Big Ten Classic Championship. Unfortunately, Jerry Yeagley was a better coach than I was and the Hoosiers
swept the day.
Even today, when U of M soccer is in the experienced hands of Alan Merrick, it has not attained true varsity status. Some old guys like myself may recall that Alan was a star player for the Minnesota Kicks in the NASL days. Around then, when I was doing in-stadium commentaries of Kicks games, I remember Alan having the dubious honor of trying to contain Pele and he did himself credit.
For my part, my delight has been to pass on my love of the game to my grandson, who shows great promise as he is just turning eight. He learned to kick a ball before he could walk. Now, I try not to miss any of his games with the Edina Soccer Club U8s.
One other comment! I am a big believer in the FIFA video soccer game as a way to improve spatial awareness of young players. I have seen this in my grandson, who has been beating me consistently since he was 5 and he has carried that awareness over into his real game. Spatial awareness is a very difficult thing to develop in young players and we should take advantage of soccer video games as a training tool in this regard.
Keep up the good work,
Paul Chapman
David, sorry for the delay in my response.
 |
| Back in the day: A newspaper article on Paul's efforts. |
I was unsuccessful in attaining that status, but I eventually got our team into a local amateur league. The U of M staged another first in those days when the university team played the first International game in Minnesota against a touring University team from Uruguay.
The team was finally admitted into Big Ten competition even though we were still non-varsity, and in 1979 the U of M soccer team (still without varsity status) beat the University of Wisconsin varsity squad to reach the Big Ten final.
 |
| Alan Merrick, left, of the Minnesota Kicks, runs side by side with Pele. |
Even today, when U of M soccer is in the experienced hands of Alan Merrick, it has not attained true varsity status. Some old guys like myself may recall that Alan was a star player for the Minnesota Kicks in the NASL days. Around then, when I was doing in-stadium commentaries of Kicks games, I remember Alan having the dubious honor of trying to contain Pele and he did himself credit.
For my part, my delight has been to pass on my love of the game to my grandson, who shows great promise as he is just turning eight. He learned to kick a ball before he could walk. Now, I try not to miss any of his games with the Edina Soccer Club U8s.
One other comment! I am a big believer in the FIFA video soccer game as a way to improve spatial awareness of young players. I have seen this in my grandson, who has been beating me consistently since he was 5 and he has carried that awareness over into his real game. Spatial awareness is a very difficult thing to develop in young players and we should take advantage of soccer video games as a training tool in this regard.
Keep up the good work,
Paul Chapman
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