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style game and go to the outdoor game, I would argue
that they're not looking for walls; they are probably
looking for options.
"That's one of the neat benefits that I think arena
soccer gives them: gives them options to understand,
recognize a threat, and recognize an opportunity." Jan
says that using the wall, while not replicating outdoor
soccer physically, teaches players to use the options
available to them to make a play, such as sending
the ball to the wall, moving to the other side of the
defender, and getting the ball back.
"When I get that ball back," he says, "something
happens in my brain. I get that endorphin rush; I've
been immediately rewarded for that behavior I've
chosen."
Jan thinks players should not specifically seek out one
form of the game over the other but play the game
that's available. "If you have the availability of it, use it.
If you don't have anything else, use it. If you have the
opportunity to use both, why wouldn't you? Why would
you use only one solely at the expense of using the
other? That doesn't make any sense."
In fact, he thinks arena soccer and futsal can be used
together to provide variation for athletes, just as they
might play non-soccer sports, too. "Each has a benefit
to some degree. Is one better or worse than the
other? Not necessarily.
"They're different modalities of training to avoid
training risks - repetitive injuries and things like that.
It's something that's different and changes the player's
mindset. It allows them to take a break from the
repetitive use of muscles and ligaments.
Jan thinks arena soccer will continue to be popular
with rec players. "We have a lot of lifestyle players
that play softball on Monday, they go to the pub and
throw darts on a Tuesday, and on Wednesday they
come and play with their company in the arena soccer
game.
"It keeps them involved and engaged," he says. "The
fitness level is great - it's not a big stressor on the
