The exciting, small-sided version of the beautiful game is growing at a rapid rate, and we are looking forward to another successful year of the competition.

Futsal is a five-a-side game, normally played on a flat indoor pitch with hockey sized goals and a size 4 ball with a reduced bounce.

It is played to touchlines and all players are free to enter the penalty area and play the ball over head-height.

Games are 20 minutes per half, played to a stopping clock (similar to basketball) with time-outs permitted.

Futsal places a large emphasis on technical skill and ability in situations of high pressure and is subsequently an excellent breeding ground for football competencies that can be transitioned into the traditional formats of the game.

Many of the top world class footballers played Futsal in their youth and credit the game as a brilliant footballing development tool.

The 2019-20 Cheshire FA Youth Futsal Cup will run from Saturday 16 November – Sunday 24 November and will be take place at Cardinal Newman High School in Warrington.

The competition is open to male and female teams. Both boys and girls will be divided into U10s, U12s, U14s and U16s age brackets, and one winner from each age group will progress through to the regional finals for a chance to play at the national finals.

Ryan Cotterill, Cheshire FA Football Development Officer, said: “The FA Youth Futsal Cup is really the pinnacle of Youth Futsal provision nationally.

“The local qualifying competition gives teams in Cheshire the opportunity to compete with other teams in the County before representing Cheshire FA on a Regional and National stage.

“In the 2018/19 season, we had 2 teams (Ashville Youth U10’s and Cammell Laird 1907 U12’s) from Cheshire who actually went on to win the National finals at St George’s Park.”

The entry cost per team is £40 and all sides will be guaranteed a minimum of one hours’ futsal playing time.

Team registration form