Welcome to Toronto

The United States Youth Futsal National Teams arrived in Toronto Saturday with little fanfare but enormous excitement. Fifty-three of the best futsal players from across the country met their teammates and started to bond in advance of international matches scheduled for Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday with top Canadian teams.

The outstanding efforts of coordinator Soorena Farboodmanesh made for a very smooth start to the trip -- arrivals, the welcome meeting and the kit distribution went swimmingly.

If the first few hours were any indication, it will indeed be an incredible futsal experience for everyone. I am proud to be a part of U.S. Youth Futsal and honored to be serving as coach of the U16 girls team.

This long-awaited competition is a wonderful opportunity to develop individually and collectively, and show the world that the U.S. Youth Futsal National Teams play with tremendous quality, intensity and class. 

Over the next few days this space will be filled by the players, who will share their observations from this historic event.

~ Jason Miller, Director of Communications, U.S. Youth Futsal

Youth National Team schedule & rosters announced

OVERLAND PARK, KAN. (Dec. 24, 2014) - The final rosters and schedule have been announced for this week's U.S. Youth Futsal National Team trip to Toronto. "It is an historical event in our country's futsal history," said U.S. Youth Futsal Technical Director Keith Tozer. "I am looking forward to some great international futsal!" The first-ever youth national futsal teams will compete against top Canadian clubs in a three match series at the brand new, $205 million dollar Toronto Pan American Sports Centre, a legacy project of the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Games. "We are excited to bring this great event to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, which we look to make one of the preeminent venues for the game on the continent," said Rafa Torre, Director of Sport and Recreation for TPASC.    The U.S. Youth Futsal teams were selected after a year-long sequence of regional and national identification camps, which led to the first-ever boys and girls youth national futsal teams.   "We are very pleased to welcome our neighbors from the south for what will be a fantastic event at a phenomenal venue," said Kris Fernandes, Futsal Canada's Director of Operations. "We will see some excellent young futsallers from across North America showcasing their skills on the court." Leading the United States' delegation are Tozer, Director of Goalkeeping Mark Litton and youth national team coaches Craig Canavan, Fabio Caresia, Soorena Farboodmanesh, Jason Miller, Otto Orf and Ty Stauffer.  "We have been waiting a very long time for this to happen and are making history for futsal in North America," said Tozer, who also serves as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Futsal Team. "I cannot tell you how excited I am for this historic trip to Canada!" U14 (2000-01) Boys Match Schedule  12/29, 12 pm 12/30, 3 pm 12/31, 11:30 am  U14 (2000-01) Girls Match Schedule  12/29, 3 pm  12/30, 12 pm  12/31, 10 am  U16 (1998-99) Boys Match Schedule  12/29, 1:30 pm  12/30, 4:30 pm  12/31, 2:30 pm  U16 (1998-99) Girls Match Schedule  12/29, 4:30 pm  12/30, 1:30 pm  12/31, 1 pm  U14 (2000-01) Boys Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): David Merola (Overland Park, Kan.), Alex Wood (Westford, Mass.) OUTFIELD PLAYERS (12): Bryce Blevins (Plainfield, Ill.), Joel Bustamante (Chula Vista, Calif.), Eric Calvillo (Manassas, Va.), Nathaniel Cardoza (South Easton, Mass.), Trent Dreyer (Lewisville, Texas), Jonathan Ferreira (Ashland, Mass.), Johan Gomez (Keller, Texas), Jonah Moore (Washington), Byron Peng (Coppell, Texas), Luke Rafanan (Overland Park, Kan.), Max Rugova (Overland Park, Kan.), Alexander Vivar (San Diego, Calif.) U14 (2000-01) Girls Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): Shelby Helton (Owensboro, Ky.), Bobbi Sandifer (Owensboro, Ky.) OUTFIELD PLAYERS (11): Tiffany Bernot (Old Westbury, N.Y.), Renae Blevins (Plainfield, Ill.), Gabriella DelPico (Brockton, Mass.), Natalie Hinchcliffe (Owensboro, Ky.), Felicia Knox (Shawnee, Kan.), Jessica Magerman (Bellingham, Mass.), Amber McCorkle (San Diego, Calif.), Vida Raietparvar (Denton, Texas), Mackenzie Simpson (San Diego, Calif.), Abby Smith (Flower Mound, Texas), Annie Stauffer (Owensboro, Ky.) U16 (1998-99) Boys Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): Colton Purcell (Frisco, Texas), Steven Tekesky (Raymore, Mo.) OUTFIELD PLAYERS (12): Alec Bakkeby (San Diego), Fernando Borges (Olathe, Kan.), Alex Kaddah (Blue Springs, Mo.), John Leisman (Kansas City, Mo.), Andrew McLeod (Overland Park, Kan.), Duncan Mergen (Long Valley, N.J.), Stephen Milhoan (Medina, Ohio), Graham Miller (Owensboro, Ky.), Nathan Peterjohn (North Royalton, Ohio), Christopher Pinkham (Concord, N.H.), Tucker Sparks (Plano, Texas), Paul Whitener (Kansas City, Mo.) U16 (1998-99) Girls Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): Kiara Grimes (West Sayville, N.Y.), Amber Huff (Boulevard, Calif.) OUTFIELD PLAYERS (10): Riley Christensen (Waukesha, Wis.), Mikayla Kappes (San Diego, Calif.), Tziarra King (Sicklerville, N.J.), Raleigh Loughman (Coppell, Texas), Candace Metcalfe (Freeport, Fla.), Lauryn Oishi (Honolulu), Madallyn Peveler (Owensboro, Ky.), Ellie Pope (Concord, N.H.), Auburn Suttles (Chandler, Ind.), Francesca Venezia (Wantagh, N.Y.)

National Team Takeover: Keith Tozer

U.S. Men's National Futsal Team
Head Coach Keith Tozer (l) and
Assistant Coach Vava Marques

My futsal journey started in 1986 when I had the honor of representing the United States in Budapest, Hungary with the U.S. Men's National FutsalTeam in one of the first international futsal tournaments. Since then I have been the head coach of the U.S. for 17 years coaching in five CONCACAF Championships, two World Cups and the 2007 Pan American games. In addition to my coaching duties I am also very proud to be the Technical Director of U.S. Youth Futsal as well as serving as a FIFA Futsal Instructor.

This past summer has been nothing but amazing for so many reasons regarding U.S. Men's National Futsal Team matches, U.S. Youth Futsal Youth National Teams, U.S. Soccer Futsal coaching education, player identification and so much more.

After playing five matches in Argentina, the national team has played a total of 10 matches in the past three months! This has been such a great opportunity to identify players, gain valuable game experience and tactical analysis as well as building team chemistry. In the past, we sometimes didn't play 10 games in three years! U.S. Soccer is now very much committed toward qualifying in the 2016 CONCACAF Championships.

We had great U.S. Youth Futsal I.D. camps this past year throughout our original five regions, culminating with the National I.D. Camp in Kansas City where we had all regions represented and subsequently selected the first-ever U.S. Youth Futsal National Teams. The talent level was fantastic -- in fact we selected John Leisman from to the full men's national team for our trip to Argentina and John did quite well scoring his first goal at the senior level! The U.S. Youth Futsal coaching staff has been created with some of the best former national team players like Sean Bowers, Jon Parry and Otto Orf. The future looks bright for our youth players direct path to the full men's national team. I firmly believe that we are not far away from creating a full women's national futsal team to create the same path for girls.



We have conducted two U.S. Youth Futsal coaching courses last year in Boston and Dallas. Just recently I presented a futsal module for the first time in U.S. soccer history during the outdoor "B" license course and now we will offer U.S. Youth Futsal Coaching Certification courses in all the regions starting in Boston in October.

Last Sunday in Brasilia, Brazil, the Argentina and Brazil Men's National Futsal Teams contested the first-ever international futsal match played in a outdoor stadium and drew more than 55,000 spectators. Brazil won 4-1 but most importantly it showed how much the game of futsal has grown world wide in just the past 10 years.

As you can see there has been so much growth within the game of futsal regarding coaching education, player development and identification, creating youth national teams, regional coaching staffs, national coaching certification courses that the   future is very bright for the game of futsal! VIVA LA FUTSAL! 

National Team Takeover: Brian Harris

H

Brian Harris

ello from Argentina! My name is Brian Harris and I'm a fixo for the U.S. Men's National Futsal team. I play for the Missouri Comets in the MASL (Major Arena Soccer League) and I'm a defender.

Our final full day started with breakfast and afterward we had a great walk through for our game that night. Danny Waltman challenged me to a whipping childhood cancer challenge which consisted of taking a pie to the face. In Argentina they have a different kind of cream. The video is coming.

That night we played a local pro team that was a quality side. After he game we were invited to the Governor's house for a nice dinner. 

The overall trip was an amazing experience. We played four games against the fifth-ranked team in the world and there was vast improvement for each individual and most importantly, the team. I look forward to the day that we are able to train and play futsal on a regular basis -- especially given how fast we picked up on things and improved.

Also, that says so much for the coaching staff as they do an awesome job preparing us for each training and each game. It has been a great journey and was nice to end with a win.

National Team Takeover: Nick Romansky

After more than 22 years of traveling on domestic and international trips as a team doctor with both the men's and women's U.S. National Soccer Teams, yet again this trip to Argentina provided me with additional life and professional experiences to take home.

LIFE is a collection of experiences. Coach Tozer has sacrificed his personal life and dedicated his 17+ years of his professional life to the futsal movement. Coach VaVa Marques and coach Mark Litton consistently teach and explain futsal to young and experienced players in the United States.

Nick Romansky, Team Doctor

The coaches have been an international liaison and represent the USA as a country and as the U.S. Futsal Men's National Team on personal and professional levels interacting with The Federation of Argentina Futbol, politicians, coaches, citizens and fans of Argentina.

For me, this exposure and experience to Argentina makes me a better treating clinician to my private patients and other amateur / professional athletes of other sports I take care of.

The "Gold Rush" of Futsal is coming of age in the USA. JOIN IT. WATCH IT GROW.

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Nick Romansky is the team doctor. He is from Pennsylvania.

National Team Takeover: Nic Jaimes

Nic Jaimes

Hello! My name is Nic Jaimes and I am 17 years old from Overland Park, Kansas. Like my teammate John Leisman, I also play for the Sporting Kansas City Academy, but as a forward or defender. In futsal, my position is ala.

This past weekend the team took a bus ride from Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata. The bus ride was about six hours long but felt shorter than usual due to everyone playing cards, chatting, and blasting music. The hotel we stayed at in Mar del Plata was on the beach giving the team an amazing view and something to do with our time off. The days started with a team breakfast at around 9 am. After that we had a few hours of time off until lunch at 1 pm, so most of the team decided to take a walk on the boardwalk. After lunch we would go over game film for an hour, rest for an hour or so, then take off for our match.

We had two matches against Argentina while in Mar del Plata. We lost both but played our hearts out and improved greatly since our first game with the use of game film and team training sessions. Also, hanging out with the team on our time off has made our team chemistry skyrocket.

Being invited to Argentina to play has been a great honor and a huge improvement to my game. These games have taught me to make quick one- or two-touch passes, turn and face up with the ball as fast as possible, and take people on when the chance presents itself. We, as a team, are up against some of the best futsal players in the world and being able to contend with them and give them a strong battle in every match is something to be proud of. Tomorrow is our last game and I am hoping we can come out with a win!


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Nic Jaimes is on his first trip with the U.S. Men's National Futsal Team.

National Team Takeover: Mark Litton

Mark Litton

My name is Mark Litton and I am the goalkeeper coach for the U.S. Men's National Futsal Team. I have the honor and priviledge of working with two of the best futsal goalkeepers our program has ever produced -- Danny Waltman and Jeff Richey.

After a quiet day off yesterday, today was a very long day as we traveled this morning from Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata to play Argentina for our 3rd and 4th games.  The 6-hour bus ride was a wonderful bonding experience for the players and staff as they played cards, sang songs, and just enjoyed each others' company.

This is my first trip to Argentina, so it was nice to experience the landscape and sites along the way.  I am from Wisconsin, and the landscape is very similar, including the miles and miles of cows everywhere!  We arrived in Mar del Plata around 5pm local time, which gave us enough time to check into our hotel rooms, grab a quick pre-game meal, and then load up the bus to head to the arena 20 minutes away.  The arena in Mar del Plata is very nice.  Much larger than the Villa La Nata Sporting Club arena in Buenos Aires that we played our first two games in.

We came out with the same fire and intensity to start the game that we have become known for.   Each of our games against Argentina has given us the opportunity to learn more about our opponents, and learn more about ourselves, and the areas that we need to continue improving.

Today's game saw several areas of improvement over the last two games, but we are still falling short against one of the best teams in the world.  Tonight's contest ended with a 5-1 loss to Argentina.  They are so organized and experienced, and every player executes.  Even though we have lost our first three games, this has been invaluable experience for our futsal program and players, as we are preparing for the 2016 CONCACAF qualifying tournament and hopefully -- if we qualify -- the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup that will be held in Bogata, Columbia.

Tomorrow we play Argentina in our fourth and final game.  In preparation, we will have a light morning training session with the team, then the coaching staff will watch game film tomorrow afternoon.  But for now, our long day is finally winding down.  The players are off to bed, and the coaching staff is soon to follow.  Thank you to everyone following this blog and supporting our U.S. National Futsal Team!  Go USA!

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Mark Litton is the goalkeeper coach of the U.S. Men's National Futsal Team.