Futsal On-Line

MISL Should Join the Rest of the World and Use Side and End Lines

Commentary from Tim Sheldon

RICHMOND, Va. (7-11-08) - I'll say it again: the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) should switch to the World Indoor Game, and in some ways it already has.

The MISL plays six-a-side indoor soccer with dasher boards for its league games, but it also plays Futsal regularly in international competition. Virtually the entire roster of most U.S. Futsal selections is comprised of MISL players.

Futsal is the unchallenged World Indoor Game. Several years ago, there was some brief discussion about using dasher boards in international competition, but the idea was summarily dropped. 

The MISL could easily drop the dasher boards and adopt the side and end lines used by the rest of the world.We realize MISL is a business, and if they're succeeding with a certain set of rules they would not want to tamper with it. But we feel that by adopting the univerally accepted international rules MISL would retain the best of what they have now and get even better.

(Photo: Action with walls in the MISL. The boards are not necessary in indoor soccer.)

In the transitional stage, MISL would not necessarily have the call their game Futsal if that created marketing problems, and, for similar reasons, they could continue to use the turf and six players. But it would be a major step forward if the league dropped the anachronistic dasher boards and joined the rest of the world with side and end lines.

The world indoor game is Futsal.

It was developed by Juan Carlos Ceriani in Uruguay in 1930 for use in YMCAs and became very popular in Brazil and other South American Countries. All of the great Brazilian stars, including Ronaldo, grew up playing Futsal. Ronaldo has called the game his "first love" and has said that it is the key to his success on the outdoor field. Futsal is now played all over the world, and UEFA, in particular, has made great strides developing the sport. Asia is producing excellent national teams, and Oceania just completed an impressive FIFA Futsal qualifying tournament.

The indoor wall game was developed by U.S. marketers who thought erroneously that the walls would add speed and excitement to the game. The walls actually slow down the game, deprive it of its natural focus and beauty and hinder the spectators' view of the action. Basically, the MISL game is pseudo dynamic.

Coverage of the MISL is often filled with Futsal news, because MISL players are being chosen for the U.S. Team. A league feature, a league highlight, is that it plays Futsal, the world indoor game, in international competitions. The next step is for them to make it their league game, as well.

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Tim Sheldon is former associate editor of Soccer America Magazine and has served as soccer correspondent for the San Francisco Examiner and United Press International.

Futsal On-Line