HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-03-01, Page 15Wednesday, March 1, 2017 • Huron Expositor 15
Huron County boys compete in Ontario Futsal Cup
Six young futsal (indoor soccer)
if players from Huron County make
trip to Durham College to take
part in highly competitive two-
day provincial championship
Sheila Pritchard
Special to the Postmedia
Network
Six local I-luron FC Soccer
players travelled to Oshawa
this past weekend to partici-
pate in the Ontario Futsal
Cup. The tournament, which
attracts the best teams from
across the province, deter-
mines a provincial cham-
pion of futsal—the world -
recognized sport better
known to some as indoor
soccer.
The Huron County boys
selected to compete at the
two-day championship were
Shawn Mcllwain of Goder-
ich, Connor Pullen of Goder-
ich, and Dawson Hoggart of
Londesborough ,(U14 Divi-
sion), along with Reece
Sparling from Blyth, Masa
Ono of Blyth, and Nathan
Haas from Goderich (U16
Division). The boys, who
currently play on London
teams with LACFC (London
Athletic Canadian Futbol
Club), have all been playing
indoor fustal for two to three
years and were chosen to
compete in the Ontario Fus-
tal Cup by Huron FC Techni-
cal Director Edwin Saraccini
based on their high skill level
in the sport.
A derivative of soccer, fut-
sal is played with five -roan
teams, one of whom is the
goalie, on a basketball -style
court in a gymnasium using a
smaller, heavier, low -bounc-
ing ball. It is played in the
winter, while outdoor soccer
is played in the summer. Fut-
sal is the recognized indoor
game of FIFA (Federation
Internationale de Football
Association)—the interna-
tional governing body of
association football, futsal
and beach soccer—as the
game to play if players want
to excel in the sport of soccer.
"The game is really fun to
watch because there are
more shots, and it's really
fast," says Huron FC Club
Manager Annie Sparling.
Soccer superstars such as
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel
Messi grew up playing the
game and credit futsal with
developing their skills, says
Sparling. "Many of the great
players attribute futsal for
their success in soccer; that is
why we do futsal. We have
seen our players who play
and train using futsal in the
winter hit the field in the
summer and really take off."
Huron FC is a year-round
soccer club affiliated with
LACFC that trains all year.
Working with LACFC, the
club allows players to pro-
gress at their pace and offers
higher playing options as the
players continue to develop.
With the help and partner-
ship of LACFC, Huron FC has
players playing at provincial
levels. The Ontario Cup, the
highest level of competition
in the province, requires
those who play to be top ath-
letes that have developed
their skills to an advanced
level for their age group.
According to Sparling, the
boys have been training up
to four times a week for the
last several months, with
additional games and local
tournaments, in preparation
for the Ontario Cup.
Sparling says playing at
such a competitive level can
be demanding. "The biggest
challenge is the commit-
ment made by the family to
support the player with the
time required to train, travel
to training and games, and
understanding that playing
at higher levels one needs to
be highly disciplined, men-
tally strong, and very fit." But
the rewards, she says, are
invaluable. "[It's] the satis-
faction of seeing your hard
work pay off, through the
invitations to play at high-
level competitions and tour-
naments, advancing in your
skills."
And it is gratifying to see
local talent recognized at
regional and provincial lev-
els, says Sparling. "It's a real
honor to be invited and
rewarded for the hard work
our players have put into
their sport. We have a lot of
really talented players in our
club, and I know many of
them will go very far in their
sport."
"As a manager I am so
proud of all of them, they
have amazing attitudes and
their love of the sport ener-
gizes me, and makes my job
very rewarding."
The six Huron FC Soccer players who recently attended the Ontario Futsal Cup.
Love from you family
Photos by Justine Alkema/Pastrnedia Network
The whole Huron FC Soccer Club at their
practice on Thursday, February 23. The
club recently was sponsored for new
jerseys (see black shirts in photo) by
Westcoast Concrete owned by Kevin
Langille.
seaforthhuronexpositor.com
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Laura Eggert
March 2nd, 2017
Love and best wishes
from your family.
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