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OLPH Soccer Adds Futsal To Its Practice Routine
Over the past few years, OLPH School soccer coaches, Phil Carragher and Jon Novotny, have worked to bring a greater awareness of futsal and its benefits to their soccer program. The early results are promising.
Over the past few years, OLPH School soccer coaches, Phil Carragher and Jon Novotny, have worked to bring a greater awareness of futsal and its benefits to their soccer program. Futsal is a form of indoor soccer gaining popularity and earning praise for its emphasis on quick reflexes, fast thinking, and pin-point passing.
Many players, including Ronaldo and Messi have credited the game with helping them develop their soccer skills and Coach Carragher believes that US Soccer could greatly benefit from increased exposure to futsal. “It’s faster and involves more touches, which is especially beneficial when teaching the game to young players.” Ideally, Carragher would like to see his team in the gym at least once a week during soccer season to focus on futsal.
Novotny, also a physical education teacher at OLPH, has worked with the athletic director and school administration to purchase futsal goals and equipment. This has all allowed him to add this component to PE classes and organize futsal sports camps. He notes improved confidence in one-on-one situations and faster pace of play as early dividends during this process. The OLPH soccer season will wrap up in early October and both coaches hope these new skills will lead to a successful playoff push.
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