Vikings Futsal NZ (VFNZ) and New Zealand Futsal Assoc (NZFA) are happy to announce that the 2010 South Island Championships this year will take place in Christchurch NZ November 27th and 28th.

All Club teams in the South Island that are registered to VFNZ are eligable to play in this fantastic tournament. Each year we get more and more teams entering and this year will be no exception. South Island Championships will cater for Open Men, Open Women, 16 Boys, 14 Boys, 12 Boys, 16 Girls and 14 Girls.

Get you Club team together now and enter!

For more information have a look at the South Island Booklet. To enter a team simply fill out the nomination form and return to lauren along with payment to P.O.Box 38139 parkland or email me for an alternative option lauren@vikingsfutsal.net

For tournament by-law please click here

We got the following email the other day. At first it came across as spam, but we checked the website out and we think it would definitely be of use to at least a few of our readers. Particularly for those who need help managing their teams, even at the social level. In fact this seems perfect for those who play Futsal at that level.

Basically its a free service that can help alert all your team members (SMS or email) about when the next game is etc, and it tracks their replies so you know who is available and who isn’t.

www.teamer.co.nz (or www.teamer.net)

The email we got is reproduced in full below :

Hi there. With the indoor sports season now in full swing I’m dropping you a quick note to see how your team organising is going.

If you haven’t utilised Teamer for your indoor cricket, soccer, netball or futsal team yet please check out the website www.teamer.co.nz

Teamer is literally saving team organisers hours every week as well as completely eliminating the costs of contacting their teams.

We now have 350, 000 players using teamer in the UK and after a short time in Australia and New Zealand we now have 25 000+ players reaping the benefits of teamer.

Please feel free to set up your team and try it out.

This is what Teamer can offer you and your team;

- No charge to use (that’s old fashioned free – no catch)

- Notify players of events with unlimited free texts and emails saving you heaps on your phone bill each month.

- Player availability responses (text and email) are captured in one place on your teampage.

- One-click cancellation of an event from web/mobile to all your player’s mobiles and email. No need to send dozens of texts or make frantic calls when a game is cancelled. Simply press one button and the Teamer website auto notifies your whole squad via text and email. Too easy!

- Appoint co-organisers and share the burden

- Includes player profiles, photo gallery and team blog. All your team pages are private and secure for your team members only.

If you need help or have any questions about setting up your team simply let us know at help@teamer.net

Please feel free to pass this information on to any other team organisers who you feel would benefit from this service.

Finally, good luck for the remainder of the season.

Yours in sport,

Cheers

Patrick Maguire
Director of operations NZ
027 840 7952

Futsal is FIFA’s official indoor football game. Futsal is a great way to improve your speed, your short passing game, and maintain your fitness. A specially designed ball helps make the style of the game feel similar to the outdoor game.

There are NO CANCELLATIONS, BUT BEST OF ALL IT’S AWESOME FUN!

Teams are 5-a-side including a goalkeeper and we recommend squads of 8 (although you may register 10 players). Games are 30 minutes with rolling subs and are played on an indoor netball sized court with marked boundaries, so no bouncing off walls. The rules are largely the same as Football with variations mainly affecting the goalkeepers. Our website has a full set of rules.

Girls (12 to 17) Spring League, starts Sept. 19th – Register Now

The Spring league will be 10 games on Sundays at 5.30pm* on September 19th & 26th, October 10th, 17th & 31st, November 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th and December 5th

* time may vary

Fees are $450 per team or $5.62 per player per game, for a team of 8 players. Fees include qualified referees for all games.

Women’s Open Grade Spring League, starts Sept. 19th – Register Now

The Women’s Open Grade has no age restrictions.

The Spring league will be 10 games on Sundays at 5.00pm* on September 19th & 26th, October 10th, 17th & 31st, November 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th and December 5th

* time may vary

Fees are $450 per team or $5.62 per player per game, for a team of 8 players. Fees include qualified referees for all games.

Register teams at www.ecisc.org.nz

Anyone who wants to play but does not have a team should contact maxpeach@value.net.nz or phone Max on 524 7757 or 021 025 63242

Masters Sport is all about reliving the past having fun and socialising.

Vikings Futsal New Zealand are hosting the New Zealand Masters Futsal Championships in Christchurch New Zealand, November 12th, 13th,14th 2010

This tournament is open to everyone who meets the criteria, which is very simple……. you must be old!!!!

The following Divisions will be played:

Over 25yr Women (As of November 12th 2010)
Over 35yr Men (As of November 12th 2010)
Over 40yr Men (As of November 12th 2010)
Social Mixed (Women over 25yr, Men over 35yr as of November 12th 2010)

The tournament will be played at the Home of Futsal in New Zealand, QEII Park Stadium, with games commencing of Friday November 12th (evening) and Finishing Sunday afternoon November 14th. (As team entries permit)

If you are going to need accommodation for the event VFNZ Partner , The Gardens Hotel are offering a 25% discount on bookings when you mention you are going to the New Zealand Masters Futsal Championships.

The Gardens Hotel is a fantastic facility just 5 minutes from QEII Park Stadium, with a number of Bars and resturaunts on site and a mere 400m from the Palms Shopping complex with further bars and resturaunts.

To Download the required Paperwork for the New Zealand Masters Futsal Championships click on the links below

TEAM NOMINATION FORM (PDF)

TOURNAMENT BYLAWS (PDF)

MASTERS BOOKLET (PDF)

Let the Good Times Roll

Futsal comes to the Coast!. We’ll start with an introductory session at 7pm on the 20th of September and will follow with organised leagues.

When – Mondays 7pm-10pm

Where - Waikanae Memorial Hall, Pehi Kupa Street

Areas covered in the Introductory seesion will include demonstrations and introductory games.

Come along and find what the game is about and how much fun it is.

For more information contact

Brett Waite
CCF Kapiti Futsal Coordinator
M: 021 205 1626
Email Brett here

As the weather begins to improve that can only mean one thing, the new Futsal season is on it’s way.

The 2010/11 Season will be the biggest to date with many leagues already full and looking for additional time space or venues. NZ also look set to host it’s first World Futsal Championships in 2011 (see more below)

To ensure you don’t miss out below are the leagues in New Zealand you can get yourself into.

Auckland Futsal

Avondale college – Wednesday Senior Men

Panmure YMCA – Thursday Senior Men

The Gardens School, Manurewa – Sunday all junior divisions

Contact Mark Rossi on 021 800 256

Wairarapa Futsal

Clareville Stadium – Mondays – 11yr – 13yr

Clareville Stadium – Mondays – Men and Women

Clareville Stadium – Wednesdays College age groups 14-18yr

Featherston Futsal – contact Dennis Tapp

Makora College – contact Dennis Tapp

Eketahuna Futsal – contact Dennis Tapp

Contact Dennis Tapp on 027 486 2237 or wairarapa@vikingsfutsal.net

Wellington Futsal

YMCA Upper Hutt

Contact Ben Keat (04) 527 3380 or benkeat@ymca.org.nz or Dennis Tapp on 027 486 2237 or wairarapa@vikingsfutsal.net

Nelson Bays Futsal

Saxton Fields – Mondays All Age Groups

Contact John Vaughan on027 547 4436 or johnv@vikingsfutsal.net

Canterbury Futsal

Pioneer – Wednesdays – Men and Social Mixed

Contact Maria Sinclair 021 262 0992

QEII – Wednesdays – Men and Social Mixed

Contact Brenda Austin 027 416 7191

QEII – Sundays – Men (3 divs) Women (2 divs) 16yr, 14yr, 12yr, 10yr

Contact Maria Sinclair 021 262 0992

St Bedes – Tuesdays Masters over 35yr

Contact Lauren Harkers on 021 801 262 or lauren@vikingsfutsal.net

South Canterbury Futsal

SBS Events Centre

All age groups Wednesdays starting September 15th

FREE have a go day at SBS Events Centre September 12th (Sunday) 2-4pm

Contact Russell King on 021 079 1992

Otago Futsal

All Leagues at Edgar Centre

Sundays – Social Mixed, 11-15yr competitions

Contact Sam Buxton 027 204 4391

Mondays – Premier Men, Men (3 divs), Women

Contact Sam Sam Buxton 027 204 4391

Wednesday – Kiwi Futsal under 12yrs primary school

Contact Emma Johnston 027 452 1100

Thursday – Secondary School Leagues

Contact Emma Johnston 027 452 1100

Oamaru Futsal (North Otago)

Contact James Vaughan 021 454 865

Contact Sam Buxton on 027 204 4391 or sam@vikingsfutsal.net for further details

Central Otago Futsal

Queenstown Juniors – season underway

Queenstown Seniors – season underway

Wanaka Juniors – season underway

Wanaka Seniors – season underway

Cromwell – season underway

In Central Otago there are 90 teams playing under the VFNZ banner

As the Organisations continue to grow here in New Zealand its important you know who we all are (click here for the original article where plenty of pics are available also)

Paul Wadsworth – New Zealand Futsal Association CEO
James Vaughan – Vikings Futsal NZ CEO
Rebecca Banfield – Tours, Tournaments and National teams
Denise Frayle – Accounts
Mark Rossi – Auckland Regional Development Officer
Dennis Tapp – Wairarapa Regional Development Officer
Robyn Tapp – Wairarapa Co ordinator
Ben Keat – Wellington Co ordinator and KiwiSport Facilitator
John Vaughan – Nelson Bays Co ordinator and Kiwi Sport Futsal facilitator
Lauren Harkerss – Canterbury Regional Development Officer
Chris Sinclair – Canterbury Schools Development Officer
Maria Sinclair – QEII Sunday and Pioneer Wednesday Co ordinator
Brenda Austin – QEII and Cowles Wednesday Co ordinator
Russell King – South Canterbury Co ordinator
Sam Buxton – Dunedin Co ordinator
Emma Johnston – KiwiSport Futsal Facilitator
Michelle Hurdle – Cromwell Co ordinator
Bev Ceci – Wanaka Junior Co ordinator
Ben Elms – Wanaka Senior Co ordinator
Phil Markham – Queenstown Junior Co ordinator
Scott McDonald – Queenstown Senior Co ordinator

Are YOU the Region’s #1 Futsal team? Have you got what it takes to be the Champions?

VENUE: National Hockey Stadium (Newtown, Wellington)

DATE: 23rd October 2010

DIVISIONS: Open men’s, Open women’s, Mixed Juniors 13-15 and Mixed Juniors 10-12

COST: $100 – $150 per team (depending on division entered)

PRIZE GIVING: After the tournament (venue to be communicated)

“Register now to make sure you don’t miss out on a chance to have a great day out with your mates!!” (limited spaces available)

Great prizes and awards available for all teams;

• Trophies, medals and interesting prizes for winning teams

• Interesting Raffle prizes to be drawn at the end of the Tournament.

• The CHAMPS will have to play up to 7 games on the day.

If you think you got what it takes to be the CHAMPS, then grab some mates and put together a team and come join us for a great day out playing the game we all love to play.

For all the details check out the Tournament Handbook and Register online at www.futsal.net.nz

Click here for the official Flyer (DOC)

Click here for the tournament Handbook (DOC)

Hawke’s Bay United soccer coach Matt Chandler has returned from Fiji with a shopping list for this summer.

Chandler, who returned from Suva at the weekend after coaching the New Zealand team at the OFC Futsal Championship last week, told SportToday two New Zealand futsal players, Marvin Eakins and Brazilian Lucas Silva, were on his list for the summer league.

“I’m also keen on two boys from the Solomons and a Fijian boy too,” said Chandler, who described the Suva tournament as fantastic and where he always intended to talent scout for the Bay franchise.

The players will undergo trials for a week before the franchise offers any contracts.

“Lucas has a good left-footed boot and Marvin is the captain of the futsal team,” he said, happy the Brazilian was a Kiwi and wouldn’t put any pressure on the overseas team quota of four signings.

Chandler said he was still in the recruiting process, having spoken to Napier City Rovers player and former All White striker Jarrod Smith, as well as a few Central League players from Auckland.

“We’ll still have a nucleus of players from last season who are fit and raring to go.”

It is understood New Zealand Football is restructuring the New Zealand Football Championship which will be renamed the National League and played under a new format.

Chandler said the Bay franchise had a quota for five academy players in the squad and two of them would always have to be on the team card for each game.

The National Youth league, he said, would enable some of them to keep match fit because, this season, two over-age players could also play.

“Someone like Shaun Peta, who is only a year older than the Youth League age, can play and that’s quite beneficial for the coach too.”

Chandler was aware of Central League side Wairarapa United’s run in with the Immigration Department regarding import players.

“We want to try to get our players to stay here,” he said, after Wairarapa coach Phil Keinzley discovered he could have a different import each year, not one for several amid claims of new rules.

“We don’t want them to be one-year wonders but become residents of Hawke’s Bay.”

Chandler said bar “a few small changes”, his staff for the summer would stay when he negotiates his contract by the end of this week.

It blew him away to find out at the weekend that the Solomon Islands Government had declared a two-day public holiday after the national futsal team won the championship in Suva undefeated.

Fiji finished runners-up and New Zealand was third on goal difference.

“”About 3000 people watched the tournament at the national gymnasium and Fiji were offered $10,000 to win,” Chandler said.

NZFA caught up with recently appointed NZ Womens Team Manager Rachel Wilson. Rachel is certainly a personality within the sport and has an infectious attitude to Futsal and life in general.

How long have you been playing?

Wilson: Just over 5 years, or since the first season of Womans futsal in Dunedin

What excites you as a player with Futsal?

Wilson: That everyone is involved in the game, even as a keeper in a winning team you can press up and be involved, or there will be a counter attack and you need to be alert. It is great for young kids in that regard, you get many more touches of the ball playing futsal than outdoor.

What was your greatest playing moment as a member of the NZ Womens Side?

Wilson: Being absolutely exhausted in Aussie in 50 degree heat and somehow finding the will to stick an arm out and block a shot. The knowledge that I cared enough to pick myself up and keep going throwing myself around wasn’t my most glamorous moment, but it taught me a lot about myself.

You have played for Otago and New Zealand in Futsal what has been you greatest Futsal moment?

Wilson: Greatest Futsal moment has to be as Coach to the Otago U16 side when they kept the Canterbury U19 to one goal in the second half at the NPC this year. The girls played with so much heart and stuck to the plan, and deserved to feel 10 feet tall as they walked off.

Females are now flocking to Futsal what do you think has been the biggest drawcard to them?

Wilson: That the oppourtinities and coaching available is generally equivalent to the Men, often Woman’s sport seems to be on the back burner or an add on to the men’s games. It helps that futsal is played inside, so it isn’t as cold, and the pitch condition aren’t a factor. Shorter games mean that it is easier to manage around other commitments, and it is being seen as a viable options rather than traditional womans sports like netball for social teams looking for fitness and fun rather than competition. Also, we are a nice bunch :-)

You have recently been named New Zealand Womens Team manager, what will you bring to the role and the team?

Wilson: As manager of the side I hope to help everyone see the best in themselves and their performances, and asist making sure that everyone is feeling 100% at kick off. I hope to do this by helping to deal with the little things that crop up so that the players can focus on the big picture. And I’m extremely proud to be involved with the team.

How do you think the women will go at the Vikings World Championships in Kuala Lumpur?

Wilson: I am sure that we will give our all so that we can walk tall after each game regardless of the result. We have shown in the past we are capable of competing and winning against Australia and the Phillipines, and many of the squad have tour experience after travelling to China last year so understand how to perform in foriegn conditions, so we have a reason to believe we can and will do well.

The Otago women are a young side with huge potential how do you see the the next 12 months shaping up?

Wilson: Getting beaten by the team you coach is always a mixed feeling, but it is great to see many of the younger Woman come through and compete with the senior sides. We have several girls heading to tournaments in Australia in school sides and NZ age group sides in the next 6 months, and hopefully as people realise that futsal is a option to gain national and international experience we will be able to draw more talent in. This mixed with a few ‘oldies’ means we are developing a more balanced team, and hopefully we can be a bit closer to the Canterbury Woman in the senior NPC next year, and maintain and grow the player base.

Who have been your biggest influences in Futsal?

Wilson: Beckie Laurie got me started in the first place, and I am so grateful for her comment ‘ stay in goal, your good at it’, which from Becky is high praise :-) Noran Abaza has been tremendous with her support and friendship as she pelted shots at me in the name of improvement. I have enormous respect for Bex, Mel and Bosch, both on and off the court. And Paul Wadsworth is a big reason as to why I still spend weekends getting nailed in striker friendly drills, as he has given me the oppourtinity to do things I never would have considered otherwise.

What do you think the Future holds for Female Futsal in Otago and New Zealand?

Wilson: I think more people are recognising futsal as a sport in its own right, rather than just complimenting soccer, and this will see the game take off. More and more young woman from Dunedin and around the country are getting oppourtunities to attend tournaments and develop their skills and learn valuable life skills, and meet people from different cities and countries. I have meet and become friends with people from all over NZ, Australia and the Phillipines through futsal, and I think it a very important part of any sport is breaking down cultural barriers and having a fun time together.

Also, attending the kids NPC at Easter was an amazing show case of the talent and passion rising through the age group ranks. I look forward to the younsters relegating me to the coaches bench and watching the sport grow.