Futsal. The Street Footballer's Exit Rail

Why would anyone want to leave Street Football, and why would it be for Futsal? As a traveller who embarked on that exact quest, let me break it down for you.

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Professionalism

Part of what makes Street Football so great is it's focus on creativity, no coaches, no concrete limits or rules, but to the initiated who have been around the sport for long enough knows, these traits are just as much Street Football's downfall. Futsal on the other hand, while it does show glimpses of some creativity at the highest level, it is more seen as a rigid sport, with set rules, court sizes, roster sizes, federations, tactics, and so on. It seems an almost complete 180 degree flip from the urban game, but the reality is that they are much more similar than you know. Both sports at the elite level require technical skill on a hard surface, with most of the time the exact same ball, a futsal ball. The true defining factor is professionalism. Futsal figured out a very long time ago how to turn from some guys playing on the concrete into a collections of global federations which sometimes can work together, sometimes also not (....FIFA I'm looking at you), but these federations have lead to professional and grassroot clubs, with entire league systems, and national competitions, Futsal figured out how to professionalise and play in sold out stadiums across the world. Now let's look at Street Football. I'm not saying Street Football can't achieve what Futsal has, but it's generations behind, and you know what the harshest part of the puzzle is? Futsal was first to the opportunity, so in order to achieve small sided football supremacy, not only does Street Football need to sort itself out, it also needs to be better than a sport who have been through it all and figured it out.

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So Why Jump Ship to Futsal?

It's the opportunity. The crazy part is that it's also the scope of the opportunity in comparison to Street Football. Not just night and day, but another universe. How I see it, Street Football is for passion, in knowing that this is most likely a very costly ride with no set path, which you know and are okay with not leading to any financial gains. While Futsal is for business, a grander plan, and a path which you can learn to navigate along the way, because in Futsal the path exists, it doesn't require social media stardom to be an icon in the sport or to reach the pinnacle, the path to professionalsim in Street Football is non existent, vague at its best.

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Will This Change?

Yes. It is right now. You now have two large communities forming very much like Futsal Federations. One being ISFA, the other being Ronaldinho Global Street League. Both of these leagues/federations are having world finals within a month of each other, where a path is slowly being formed. I'll be honest, it's still a mess. I have no idea how ISFA plans to continue to grow the sport, BUT I'm excited to see their plans, and Ronaldinho Global Street League, well I guess we'll find out very soon. I'll be in China in less than 48 hours for it's global event and I'll be sure to let you know what's next.

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I'll Get to The Point

Futsal is the path for Street Footballers who had enough of Street Football as a sport lacking any traction or growth, this path was perfect to transition over to due to the technical abilities being shared. Personally I moved for this exact reason. In Australia which I see as the far away final frontier of the world Street Football, this country is extremely hard to put together a high standard Street Football community. Sure you can get a group a low ability footballer, throw them on the Street Court once or twice a week and call it Street Football, but where's the growth. Eventually I was able to grow from a community in small 3v3 soccer warehouse (which since shutdown) to Nike/Adidas Street Football Major Events, which lead to being introduced to Futsal change-makers in Australia, and in turn competeing in an Australian National League Circuit, and even competing in Professional Tournaments overseas. Street Football can't provide that, but Futsal can.

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I feel that higher ability players tend to slowly gravitate over to competitive Futsal, which takes them away from Street Football. That was the story of Sydney Street Crew, and it also seems to be the story of LDN Movements to an even greater extent.

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This is exciting for Street Football however , as if these athletes (like myself) return, they bring the professioanlsim learnt from Futsal back to the Streets to improve the game for the better of everyone.

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I will state this article did come from the mindest of someone who always had the ambition to level up and compete at the highest level, Futsal allowed that. However I am aware that a majority chunk of the population of Street Football are happy with where they are at and who they are with. Both approaches are right, I just can't write from the second mindset as I don't understand it fully.