10
dasher boards, reducing the cost of construction
and upkeep.
Futsal also uses a different style of ball compared to a
traditional soccer ball. "The ball is what we call a dead
ball, a ball that dies once it hits the ground. It's got
one small bounce and then it dies."
Esteban is a little skeptical about the claim that futsal
players get 210% more touches than arena soccer
players, a stat that is often repeated but difficult to
source. "Yes, you'll get more touches. I don't know the
number, but I think what's more important is that you
get more quality touches.
"In indoor soccer, you're playing off the walls; you're
playing high or long balls into the wall for players to
run onto. In futsal, the ball is being moved quickly, it's
pass-and-move." He also says that the touches come
from everyone playing offense and defense."
"Indoor soccer for the adult is still huge," says
Esteban. "It's a great workout, and it's fun with friends.
I think it has turned more into a sport that is more
fun and recreational."
For facilities interested in adding futsal, Esteban says
that the decision should be dictated by your market.
"My father started futsal in Dallas in 1999. It was a
small group. The market wasn't ready for it." Since
then, soccer in general has seen more exposure in the
U.S., from the growth of MLS to the Premier League
on TV.
"The expert on futsal needs to be spoken with before
throwing down a court," he says. "There are a lot of
futsal organizations and facilities, even in DFW, that
have failed miserably because of the experience that
person has within the league games, they just didn't
enjoy it."
He continues, "Doing it the correct way and showing
the market the correct way of doing it is probably
what's most important. If it's done like that, then
you're going to see an increase in the level of teams
and players that come season after season to play
with you because the game is being played properly,
it's being officiated properly, and it's being run
properly."
