Bayside Pirates Futsal Club is committed to the development of the World Game being played indoors in the form of Futsal. Our club provides a safe and professional environment for children and adults to play in. We want all players to enjoy the game and have fun!

The club is affiliated to Football Federation Victoria, through which we can provide a development pathway for the potentially elite Futsal player.

Zoran Mrdjan and Mark Georgeson are FFV Futsal Coaches and Mark is a member of the FFV Futsal Standing Committee. Contact numbers are listed below:

President, Mark Georgeson. For all enquiries contact Mark on 0413 527 501.
Director of Coaching, Zoran Mrdjan. For all Academy enquiries contact Zoran on 0406 155 622.
Club Administrator, Lucienne Georgeson. Match Appeals can be lodged via email to markg60@optusnet.com.au.

What is Futsal?

The following is an abbreviated description from the FFV’s website;

“Futsal is the only form of ‘indoor soccer’ or ‘five-a-side’ that is officially approved by FIFA and Football Federation Australia. It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the world, is played in over 100 countries and boasts millions of players around the world. The name "Futsal" comes from the merging of the Spanish/Portuguese words for football (Futbol or Futebol) and the French or Spanish word for "Indoor" (Salon or Sala). Following changes at international level between FIFA (Federation Internationale Football Association) and FIFUSA (Federation of Internationale De Futbol Sala) the sport became united with the outdoor version of the game, in 1989.

The game of Futsal is played on a firm, flat surface on a court ranging in size from that of a standard basketball court to the full FIFA International size of 42 x 25 metres. The special feature of the game is the unique properties of the ball, which has a low rebound. The game develops close individual ball skills as the court is small and players are forced into limited space & option scenarios.

Games are usually fast-paced, with players receiving more touches and are constantly placed in demanding decision making, limited space situations that they would face on a greatly reduced scale playing 11-a side outdoor soccer. Because the sport is a great skill developer, demanding quick reflexes, fast thinking, and pinpoint passing, it is an exciting game for children as well as adults.

The game in Australia had its foundations in Sydney at the Revesby YMCA in 1972. Dawn Gilligan introduced the game to Australia, frustrated after yet another wet outdoor soccer season. Since then the game has slowly taken off and there is now around 30,000 registered Futsal players around Australia.

In 2004, FIFA declared that all National Associations take responsibility for Futsal in their countries. The FFA has therefore formed a National Futsal Commission to be responsible for all Futsal activities in Australia.

Playing Futsal allows you to touch the ball nearly twelve times more than playing football. The game places considerable demand on technique, movement, tactical awareness and fitness. Futsal is a great skill developer which demands quick reflexes, fast thinking, and pinpoint passing. The speed of play is such that you are forced to make quicker technical and tactical decisions.

Although FIFA acknowledges the importance of Futsal as a game in its own right, it has resisted the temptation to diverge too far from the principles of 11-a-side football, designing the rules to ensure continuity with the classic outdoor game.