Exercise doesn’t always have to be walking on a treadmill while staring at the wall. You can actually get involved in local sports! Sports like futsal!
What is futsal? Futsal is five-per-side game played on a flat (sometimes indoor) court with hockey sized goals and a heavier ball for reduced bounce. Games are about 20 minutes per half with time-outs allotted.
As the nafutsal.org page states, “Futsal is the way the world plays indoor soccer. It is played on all the continents of the world in over 100 countries by more than 12 million players.”
It doesn’t mean you have to have played soccer your whole life to get involved. Because I sure haven’t. And, I have slowly gotten the hang of the game and the rules.
The teams and staff for NAFUTSAL are extremely friendly and helpful as I was beginning to learn the ways of the game. The team below is Manchesthair United. This is the team we played with this summer season.
Darrell Schmidt, President of NAFUTSAL, says, “I have always described futsal most concisely as a fast paced, high scoring, intense and very exciting sport.”
A huge benefit to NAFUTSAL is that it has allowed me one night per week to get great exercise. Indoor soccer is all about quick movement and controlling the ball since you’re on a smaller court (compared to an outdoor field). These short sprints that take place during a game are considered HIIT (high intensity interval training). This is one of the most beneficial types of exercise that we could do.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, HIIT training can improve:
- aerobic and anaerobic fitness
- blood pressure
- cardiovascular health
- insulin sensitivity
- cholesterol profiles
- abdominal fat and body weight while maintaining muscle mass
You want to consult a physician if you live a sedentary lifestyle before considering HIIT exercise. Establishing appropriate exercise form and muscle strength are important to have before beginning any type of HIIT to avoid potential injury.
Futsal incorporates a lot of sprinting which has also been proven to induce significant fat loss while allowing muscle building to occur. Especially with the right recovery fuel and time. This stronger muscle will allow you to run faster, harder and further than before.
“I envision futsal growing in the Huntsville area until it is played all year round by adults and played routinely in the winters and summers by youth, which fits nicely between their fall and spring soccer seasons, ” Darrell says. “Plans are already in the making for futsal tournaments to be held here in the not too distant future, some even to draw teams from other states.”
If you want to find other ways to stay active, I would highly recommend getting involved in the local sports around town. If you are in north AL region, contact the local NAFUTSAL group to get started in the next season.
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