So why didn't Ceriani trademark and copyright the sport? Maybe he
invented it for children to play. I think he would be rolling over
in his grave over the USFF purported trademark of a sport he
invented.

USFF has shown a complete lack of respect for the sport.

--- In futsalonline_newsgroup@yahoogroups.com, tim sheldon
<timsheldon99@...> wrote:
>
> Ceriani Was the Naismith of Indoor Soccer
>
> The origin of Futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay,
in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of
soccer for youth competion in YMCAs. He was very similar in this way
to James Naismith, who origininated the game of basketball. Futsal
is played on basketball-sized courts, both indoors and out without
the use of sidewalls.
> The term "Futsal" is the international term used for the game.
It is derived from the Spanish, "Futbol Sala" and the
Portuguese, "Futebol de Salao," both of which mean, "indoor soccer."
The game is frequently referred to as "Five-A-Side."
> Once Ceriani got the ball rolling, Futsal gained rapid
popularity throughout South America, particularly in Brazil. The
skill developed in this game is visible in the world-famous style
the Brazilians display outdoors on the full-sized field. Pele, Zico,
Socrates, Bebeto and other Brazilian superstars developed their
skill playing Futsal.
> While Brazil continues to be the Futsal hub of the world, the
game is now played, under the auspices of FIFA, all over the world,
from Europe to North and Central America and the Caribbean, South
America, Africa, and Asia and Oceania.
> The first international competition took place in 1965, when
Paraguay won the first South American Cup. Six more South American
Cups were held through 1979, with Brazil winning all of them. Brazil
continued its dominance with a victory in the first Pan American Cup
in 1980 and won it again the next time it was played in 1984. A U.S.
team took part in the 1984 cup, but finished out of the running.
> The U.S. Futsal Federation incorporated in January, 1983.
Osvaldo Garcia was the first president and national team coach. The
game originally was referred to as Minisoccer and then became known
by its official international name, Futsal. The current federation
president is Alex Para.
> The first Futsal World Championship was conducted in Sao Paulo,
Brazil, in 1982, with Brazil finishing in first place. The
Brazilians repeated as champions at the second World Championship in
1985 in Spain. FIFA took over direct sponsorship of the event in
1989 in Holland and 1992 in Hong Kong. Brazil won both times. The
U.S. Indoor Team, coached by John Kowalsky, finished third in 1989
and second in 1992. The U.S. slipped out of the running in the Third
FIFA World Futsal Championship helde held November 24 through
December 11, 1996, in Spain.
> The first international Futsal match in the U.S. was held in
December, 1985, at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, Calif. A
U.S. select team, coached by Garcia, defeated Australia, 9-5. U.S.
Futsal has conducted a national championship each year since 1985..
> Futsal is establishing itself at the youth level in the U.S. The
Boys and Girls Clubs of America took a strong interest after the
Columbia Park Club in San Francisco asked the Federation to give a
demonstration. The national organization adopted the sport, and it
is now played at about 1,100 Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the
U.S.
> The U.S. Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and American Youth
Soccer Organization (AYSO) also play the sport in affiliation with
U.S. Futsal.
>