Over 20,000 children taking part in FAI School’s Futsal Programme

Last month the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) School’s Futsal Programme kicked off in the Republic of Ireland and we are yet to get figures for this. However, last year 20,400 children took part in this initiative which was activated inside a three month period in both our Primary and Post Primary Schools throughout Ireland.

For this year’s competition, 128 days of futsal activity was earmarked throughout the country for 3rd and 4th class boys and girls in the FAI Primary Schools Futsal programme and over 80 competitions commenced the action nationwide in late September with Dublin the first region to kick things off.

Last season, 758 primary schools signed up to play, culminating in a total of 15,180 children taking part (43% female participation). The post-primary schools had 280 schools registered, amounting to a total of 5,220 students in action of which 49% were female.

Now in its eleventh year, this exciting initiative has reached phenomenal participation rates. This is largely attributed to the hard work of the FAI’s Development Officers promoting the programmes at grassroots level as well as our excellent relationship with local teachers who have participated in other schools activities over the last few years. Now a regular fixture in the schools’ calendar, this is set to be one of the biggest years yet for futsal. And, when Futsal Focus has the numbers for this year we will publish them across our social media.

WINNING ABILITY

Over the last ten years, there have been numerous Provincial and National winners to grace this exciting competition, including St. Joseph’s College, Galway who made three entries at the National stage. The Bish Boys were fourth in 2017 but claimed the gold medal in both 2014 and 2009, while Claregalway College Girls were runners-up in 2016.

Source of the article: Football Association of Ireland

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