With the U12s and U14s continuing their futsal development in Batley in the fantastic West Riding Girls Futsal league, we once again reduced the hours at training at St Peters.

Recently, we’ve been delighted to see more girls getting involved in futsal through the FA Wildcats programme. A huge welcome to all our new players, and a special shoutout to Ava, Grace, and Lila —you’ve been little superstars over the past two weeks!

Today’s session focused on receiving from the goalkeeper and looking to play forward. The court was divided into three zones, and whenever the goalkeeper had possession, three players had to drop into the defensive zone before they could distribute. If the goalkeeper received a back pass in this same area, three players had to drop back again, reinforcing quick positional recovery. With the goalkeeper only having four seconds on the ball, the players had to react quickly, make decisions under pressure, and work together to transition into attacking play.

The response from the players was fantastic. Without even realising it, they put in an incredible amount of effort to recover quickly and position themselves correctly, cementing strong futsal habits along the way. The intensity and commitment throughout the session were outstanding.

A special mention to the second-hour group, who played some of the best futsal we have seen from them all season. Their movement, decision-making, and teamwork were a joy to watch and coach. Well done to everyone!

Players of the Week:

First Hour – Iris W
One of our pocket rockets, who has truly found her voice! It’s been fantastic to witness her growth and development, both on and off the court. She’s gaining confidence with every game, and it’s clear that her understanding of the futsal basics is really starting to shine through – keep going Iris!

Second Hour – Connie W
After making her debut in the West Riding Girls Futsal League, it’s clear to see just how much Connie has improved since the start of the year. She’s been listening carefully to the coaches’ feedback and is now applying those lessons with confidence during training sessions. Her hard work and dedication are paying off, and it’s fantastic to watch her progress. Fab performance, Connie

Third Hour – Amie S
Amie is one of the few players in the club who thrives on getting high up the court and beyond the opposition’s defenders, consistently causing problems for the opposing team. If she continues on this path, she’ll be a serious contender for the ladies’ team. Keep up the fantastic work, Amie!

Final Thoughts Of A Coach…

Over the last few months, I have had the absolute privilege of watching the England Men’s senior side compete in their European Qualifiers. With each home game, the crowds have grown — louder, more passionate — and the team’s performances have improved.

Which brings me to the question: what is happening with futsal in this country?

We hear stories of the women’s national team having to self-fund their way to qualifiers, and now a similar situation seems to be unfolding for the men’s team. There’s been plenty of discussion online about the governance of the sport and the FA’s involvement — or lack thereof.

So, let me share my personal perspective: someone must want to grow this game. Surely!

I’ve lost count of how many parents have told me how much they enjoy watching futsal, how their kids love playing it, and how can they get more involved. In our area, we’re fortunate to have a dedicated core of people fighting to grow the game—John in Leeds, Junior and Derek in York, and, of course, ourselves. But we need help. More importantly, we need financial backing.

Just last week, my wife and I sat down and imagined what we could do if someone invested half a million pounds in our club. Would we sign players? Build a venue? Buy a minibus? Train four times a week? Bring in technical support, match analysis, physios, nutritionists? The possibilities are endless. And while half a million pounds might sound like a fortune, consider this: many non-league football clubs operate on similar budgets, despite having players who may never even reach international level. Meanwhile, at our small local futsal club, we have three young women in the England U19 development squad—with absolutely no funding. Don’t let this talent go to waste, please!

If the FA isn’t going to take responsibility, then please, someone, recognise the incredible potential of this sport and invest in it. We’re ready. We’re passionate. And until that support arrives, we will continue to do everything we can.

Coach Chris