Bringing a Passion for Futsal to the Carolinas
Futsal is a game to be played with “intensity and intentionality,” Technical and Academy Director Sergi Areny said in his first meeting with Charlotte Futsal families. As the Winter training session begins, Areny is already demonstrating his intention to foster intensity among his players.
Along with skill, Areny is looking also for “dedication and commitment” from academy players. There is no other way for Areny, who overlooks the organization’s coaching and methodology.
“Futsal has been a proud family tradition of mine for the past 3 generations,” said the Barcelona-born coach. “Futsal is my life and my passion.”
Areny has played futsal for 24 years. A former member of the Catalan National futsal team, Areny was eager and excited to join us in Charlotte. “Being able to live and work in the United States, and be a part of the sport you love, is an opportunity that happens once in a lifetime,” he said. “It is my burning passion to be a driving force behind the Futsal revolution.”
What does a “Futsal revolution” entail? Changing the mentality around the game. “It is not mini-soccer,” Areny said. There are different techniques and tactics to learn. “At all times you have to be active,” he said. “You cannot disconnect from the game when playing 5 vs 5.”
The small-sided game in a tight space also means you have only the one pass, he said. So far he’s observed that Charlotte Futsal’s players “have a very good technical quality.” Yet, they don’t fully understand the tactics of the game.
It’s a big difference from his experiences as Academy Director and first team Futsal coach for Sala 5 Martorell. “Those futsal players only play Futsal,” he said. “It is much easier because in Europe most players started playing Futsal at five-years-old and only practiced Futsal.”
The Goal to Grow Futsal
In the United States, Futsal still needs to grow. “The first step we are working on is to develop coaches,” Areny said. “We are also trying to change the mentality of players and families….My goal is to help Charlotte understand that futsal is totally different from soccer.”
His recent work with the Catalan U14 Youth Futsal National team is sure to translate to Charlotte Futsal’s efforts to reach the next level as a leading Futsal development program. One new initiative under Sergi is the video taping of all training sessions, which will be followed this winter with video analysis classes.
“Sergi brings a wealth of international know-how to this position,” said CLT Futsal’s Rani Ghaziri. Along with his own national playing experience Areny has twelve years coaching experience in Spain. He holds all three Futsal coaching licenses from the Catalan Futsal Federation and is a licensed Futsal School Director.
“This is an important moment in the future of the organization as we join forces to grow the image of Futsal in the United States,” Ghaziri said. “Our mission is to bring the absolute best experience to youth Futsal players in the Carolinas and together, under Sergi’s leadership, we will achieve that goal at the highest level.”
Charlotte Futsal is a comprehensive youth Futsal academy and training program officially sanctioned by the United States Youth Futsal association. The club is recognized by US Soccer and the USSF as an accredited USYF Academy. Join us today!