More than 300 Players Attend First-ever Futsal I.D. Camp

U.S. Youth Futsal National Teams to be Selected after four-day Event

OVERLAND PARK, KAN. (JULY 22, 2014) - Calling it "One small step for football, one giant leap for futsal," U.S. Men's National Futsal Team Head Coach Keith Tozer presided over U.S. Youth Futsal's first-ever national player identification camp last week, with more than 300 players from 25 states in attendance. "I was extremely impressed with the quality of all the teams from each of our five regions," said Tozer, the association's technical director. "The quality of the players, coaching staff and organization of the event was excellent. This puts U.S. Youth Futsal at the forefront of futsal in the United States. I am extremely excited about finally having U.S. youth futsal national teams." Participants were evaluated during three training sessions and four matches, all under the leadership of Tozer, Director of Goalkeeping Mark Litton and the U.S. Youth Futsal regional directors and coaching staff. "The purpose of the event - and of the Futsal I.D. program itself - is to facilitate the training and identification of the most talented youth futsal players in the country and to select the very best for U.S. Youth Futsal National Teams," Director of Futsal I.D. Soorena Farboodmanesh explained. "The National I.D. Camp follows five Regional I.D. camps and subsequent Regional training camps."

Former National Team goalkeeper Otto Orf, the Lakes Region Director and a key architect of the program, is certain Futsal I.D. will have a vital role in the near and long term. "U.S. Youth Futsal has put a program in place to identify generations of future players, to educate them, train them and lead them on a path that will afford them opportunities on youth and senior national futsal and soccer teams," Orf said. "Futsal I.D. will have a real and lasting impact on the sport of soccer in our country." Esteban Mariel, a former National Team player and current South Region Director, agreed. "It was the first National I.D. camp for futsal in United States history," Mariel said. "It marks a new era in the growth of the sport of futsal and the fundamental necessity of futsal toward lifting U.S. Soccer and player development to the next level." Central Region Director Ty Stauffer, whose son Lucas is the youngest player in U.S. Men's National Futsal Team history, was thrilled to be part of the historic event. "After discussing the idea of an identification program for several years, it was awesome to see it happen," Stauffer noted. "Players from all over the country were exposed to training led by Coach Tozer and his staff and they also had a chance to train with and build friendships with players from different regions." Darin and Melanie Dewsnup brought their 10-year-old son Jeffrey from Utah and were incredibly impressed with the experience. "Camp was extremely well organized and thought out!" the Dewsnups wrote on the U.S. Youth Futsal Facebook page. "Couldn't be more impressed with the staff and coaching! Top Notch!" About U.S. Youth Futsal United States Youth Futsal is the largest U.S. Soccer affiliated futsal organization in the country. Launched in 2004, U.S. Youth Futsal oversees more than 70 local leagues and hosts 8 Regional Championships and 1 National Championship. The U.S. Youth Futsal I.D. program includes 8 Regional I.D. Camps and 1 National I.D. Camp, from which youth national teams are selected. It is led by U.S. Youth Futsal Technical Director (and USMNFT Head Coach) Keith Tozer. The U.S. Youth Futsal Leadership Summit takes place each spring in conjunction with U.S. Men's National Futsal Team activities.