Futsal is soccer's 5-a-side version of the big game and it is used by many clubs to hone the skills of the players, particularly young players. The ball is smaller and heavier than a normal football so the game is generally played on the ground and ball skills are key. With fewer players and small pitches, all members of a team get regular touches.
Aussie Rules does need a smaller game that can be played either indoors or on a smaller pitch, but the game needs to focus on the skills of kicking, handballing and positioning. Whilst tackling is a skill, it means that games can only be played on a grassed surface and the physicality might put some people off playing it recreationally. It also prevents there being mixed teams. (9's has the advantage here). The only contact that should be allowed is like in basketball where you try and block your opponents pass rather than grab them and using your body to position for marking or taking possession.
The point of a game like this should be to build the basic skills in young players and to keep regular footballers in good touch and a bit of fitness. It's concerning that the AFL seem to want to market it and sell it to TV as a first step. It would have been nice for them to licence the game to the general public, similar to the way they market Auskick, and then see how it goes. (I doubt that the rules or the configuration of the field are so amazing that the AFL has spent enormous amounts of money getting it off the ground).
Lastly, with the new women's league, it is also a shame that the rules (tackling) seem to make it impractical to have mixed teams which would have been a good way to get more women interested in the game. There may not be enough interest by women to be able to make full teams otherwise, but we'll see.
Aussie Rules does need a smaller game that can be played either indoors or on a smaller pitch, but the game needs to focus on the skills of kicking, handballing and positioning. Whilst tackling is a skill, it means that games can only be played on a grassed surface and the physicality might put some people off playing it recreationally. It also prevents there being mixed teams. (9's has the advantage here). The only contact that should be allowed is like in basketball where you try and block your opponents pass rather than grab them and using your body to position for marking or taking possession.
The point of a game like this should be to build the basic skills in young players and to keep regular footballers in good touch and a bit of fitness. It's concerning that the AFL seem to want to market it and sell it to TV as a first step. It would have been nice for them to licence the game to the general public, similar to the way they market Auskick, and then see how it goes. (I doubt that the rules or the configuration of the field are so amazing that the AFL has spent enormous amounts of money getting it off the ground).
Lastly, with the new women's league, it is also a shame that the rules (tackling) seem to make it impractical to have mixed teams which would have been a good way to get more women interested in the game. There may not be enough interest by women to be able to make full teams otherwise, but we'll see.
