.jpg)
Colorado Rapids Director Participates in FUTURES Programme
Colorado Rapids were the first MLS club to incorporate futsal into their youth programme and their Elite Futsal Director was part of the FUTURES Coaching Team. He spoke to United Futsal about his experience.
Whilst futsal might be something new at Colorado Rapids, it is certainly not new to their Elite Futsal Director Rommy Ferreira. He grew up with the game in his home country of Brazil and played professional futsal both at home and across Europe.
There it offers both professional career opportunities and it is a critical element in developing some of the world’s greatest soccer players. He is now responsible for replicating this model in the MLS club where they have two futsal programmes, one for soccer players and one where players exclusively practise futsal.
He was one of the United Futsal’s US Coaching Directors who worked alongside the professional futsal coaches in Barcelona as well as being provided with a complementary coach education programme. It included classes from the Futsal Manager of Brazilian giant Corinthians and coaches working at the very top of the sport. He is looking forward to bringing back all the knowledge he gained over the week to Colorado.
“The experience of the coaching education is really, really good. Especially because we have the experience to sit down and get insights into how a top club like Corinthians work and speak with a Spanish 1st Division Head Coach. I’m very impressed with the Corinthians methodology and that is something I will think about bringing back to Colorado.”
The development of coaches that the FUTURES Programme provides is something he believes is matched from a players’ perspective. “It gives the players an advantage as they are exposed to a different practice environment, 100% futsal professionals involved such as Corinthians and Barcelona coaches including former legendary players like Paco Sedano.
“That is not our reality in the US. The good thing about this is it exposes kids to the professional environment. Many kids will have 90 minutes of futsal per week and here they have 3 hours a day over a week.”
As well as the technical benefits, he sees the programme as developing the person through the exposure to a different culture. As someone well-versed in youth development he also highlights that just by participating in the programme, it sends a strong message about the players’ mentality and ambitions.
“If I saw a player had done this programme then I’d be happy to see it. It is part of their self-development. And this includes the families who are investing in the development for the kids. It shows me the kids want to be more than the average soccer player.”
With futsal on the rise across the US, it is clear that we are going to see future elite futsal and soccer players taking the game to the next level with pioneering programmes like FUTURES and the one Ferreira is overseeing at The Rapids playing a key role.
*ABOUT DOUG REED*
Doug Reed is a professional futsal player from England whose passion for the game has taken him across the world to report on top stories, and provide insights from someone inside. Visit his website at www.dougreedfutsal.com or follow him on social media via @DougReedFutsal.
