You’ve heard of football. You’ve heard of futball. Now meet futsal.
The soccer-like game is fit onto a space the size of a basketball court—making it high-pace, high-scoring and highly technical. The goal is scoring, but Lansing City Futsal owner Jeremy Klepal’s aim is to grow the sport.
With that, a new training center is coming up for Lansing City.
“It’s just nicer to play on because it’s futsal specific," Klepal said.“You know, you can play on a basketball court. It’s not quite the same feel.”
But in the Prudden Place Center, basketball hoops are coming down. This will be futsal specific, with 6,000 square feet of flooring make cutting easier and reduce strain on joints.
The new training facility makes a big difference in terms of training, and enticing youth players to get involved in the sport, says head coach Jacob Derby.
“We try to create a top-bottom club, so all the kids coming up from the youth system look up to the pro side,” Derby said. “And having this facility to train at allows the kids to be around everyone.”
On June 23rd, Sporting Maryland will make the first trip ever for an East Coast team to the region for professional futsal. The game will take place at 7 p.m. at Aim High Sports Complex in Dimondale, MI.
