An inside look at Portland’s Rose City Futsal

 

The fast and skill-based alternative form of soccer, “futsal,” which originated in Latin America, has a unique dwelling place in the heart of northeast Portland.

Right off Interstate 84 near Northeast 49 Avenue, the award-winning facility Rose City Futsal is home to a culture that “lives and breathes the sport,” as Soccer Stars Program Director Sarah Plymale describes it.

In what used to be an old warehouse, Rose City Futsal came onto the Portland scene in September 2013 by nine families who adored the game.

Along with traditional soccer, the game of futsal is becoming increasingly popular north of the border.

“It’s been insane, seeing the popularity of this place and futsal in general,” Plymale said. “It’s a new concept in America and it’s really taking off in Portland.”

She noted that Portland has a reputation for being soccer-friendly and that futsal is a great option when the weather is too poor to play outside, especially during winter.

Not only is futsal an indoor haven from Portland rains, but Plymale and desk manager Gresham Prehn agree that the quick pace and more frequent scoring appeals especially to the fast culture of Americans who are bored by the “slowness” of soccer.

“I think in 15 years we could have large arenas and it could be one of the biggest sports in America and have its own identity, separate to soccer,” Prehn said.

“(Soccer) players in Spain and other countries are developing younger,” than in the U.S. partly because they play futsal to keep improving year-round, he said.

Plymale agreed: “They (youth American soccer players) get disorientated,” sometimes on large, outdoor pitches. “This is scaled down to their size and because of that, it benefits their development. They get more touches on the ball.”

There are many factors that make futsal a training tool for younger players. The ball itself is denser than an average soccer ball.  Though it is heavier, it responds to force more easily. The ball glides more smoothly than a typical ball. In futsal, the ball should not go up in the air very often. Futsal, according to Plymale, is about ball control and technical skills, such as dribbling and passing. This, plus playing 5 vs. 5 instead of the usual 11 vs. 11, produces more skill and confidence in students, she explained.

Plymale hears a lot from coaches and parents of younger soccer players. “They’ll call us and say, ‘The best players on our outdoor team also play futsal so we’d like to sign our child up to play futsal.”

Futsal is the ingenious adaption of soccer to be played on a smaller, hard surface. Juan Carlos Ceriani Gravier, a teacher in Uruguay who developed the game in the 1930s after soccer caught fire there when Uruguay won the World Cup in 1930. Basketball wasn’t very popular, so futsal was played on basketball courts, with smaller-than-usual goals.

Futsal has energy to it that many people enjoy. Josh Visan, a student at MHCC, has played futsal one time at Rose City Futsal and other times with other Rose City Futsal members.

“Futsal is special to me because it gives me a chance to work on a faster paced, more precise game,” Visan said. “Close-quarter passes and dribbling skills are necessary to play well indoors, as well as outdoors. Honestly, that’s the weakest part of my game, so I really enjoy playing futsal because of the challenge,” he said.

“I love to play while there’s music in the background, too,” Visan said.

Rose City Futsal’s formal programs become less active in the summer, but offer more open play when more classes and matches are taken outside to the fields.

Nonetheless, Rose City Futsal has seen thousands of people of all ages come to play the game on its three courts – two turf mini-courts, and one that is a standard 107 feet by 55 feet and has a hard rubber surface.

Being the hub of several soccer/futsal related activities, RCF offers everything from futsal itself, to shopping at the Far Post soccer supply store, to grabbing some beer and grub at Clive’s Public House up the stairs.

RCF even hosts viewing parties for the World Cup events and some of the Portland Timbers matches. RCF will host the women’s World Cup viewing party this summer.

There are three educational programs in the futsal program: Soccer Stars, for training 3-to-6-year-olds; Youth Academy for children ages 6-14; and adult classes, for ages 14 and up. Currently, there are 550 youths involved in training.

Also, Rose City Futsal will be sending four teams to the Northwest Regionals of the U.S. Federation of Futsal.

For more information on Rose City Futsal’s program, visit: rosecityfutsal.com/