Futsal referee briefing today, boot camp tomorrow

Organizers of the NMIFA 2008 Women’s Futsal Fall League are putting the finishing touches on the preparation for the inaugural event which will kick off next week at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium.

Today, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association Referee Committee will be holding a preseason referee briefing and training for the futsal league.

The training session will start at 6:30pm at the NMIFA Office located on the third floor of the TSL Plaza in Garapan.

NMIFA director of referees Catherine Anderson said the training is open to experienced referees interested in learning the rules of futsal.

Futsal is an indoor football game with teams having five players each on the court. It demands quick reflexes, fast thinking, and accurate ball control. Games are played in a basketball-style court, with no walls and a low-bouncing ball, requiring players to use their skill rather than the ball’s bounce to propel it.

After the referee training session, league organizers will be holding the last futsal boot camp tomorrow at the Navy Hill Field.

The boot camp aims to prepare new and returning players for the futsal league. Members of the CNMI Women’s National Team will facilitate the boot camp and will be assigned to various stations. In each station, participants will be taught of the futsal rules and the basic skills in the sport, which include passing, dribbling, and defending.

The boot camp will conclude with a scrimmage among participants and members of the CNMI Women’s National Team.

The boot camp will run from 10am to 12nn.

The league will open shop on Oct. 11 with games to take place in the morning at the NMC Gymnasium. The complete schedule will be announced after lineups are finalized.

League organizers are looking to have six teams batting for the inaugural league title with each squad consisting of five to 10 players.

Interested individuals have until tomorrow to register. Entrance fee is $20 per player. The league will play until Dec. 16.

“New and inexperienced players are most welcome. The woman’s soccer league is an excellent way to meet new people, get in shape and have fun,” said Laura Williams of the NMIFA Women’s Committee.

To register in the league, contact Williams at 483-9453 or 323-9453 or via email at laurawilliams7@gmail.com. For the referee clinic, contact Anderson at 288-84-33.