Goooooooooal!

Two months ago I was invited to join my friend Ingrid's futsal team. I did not play soccer growing up, and did not know about futsal, which is a form of indoor soccer (but is a bit more true to the outdoor game, with no playing off the walls). Ingrid's co-ed team needed more women, and they invited me for my athleticism despite my lack of soccer knowledge. When I logged on the website to learn the rules, however, I was horrified to read the banner: "Futsal -- Faster, Skilled Play." Ingrid, I said, I have no skills, much less fast ones! From portlandfutsal.com:

"What exactly is Futsal? The game was invented in Montevideo, Uruguay back in 1930 to provide the World Cup winning Uruguayans a way to get even better and more creative on the ball. The word Futsal comes from shortening the Spanish phrase “Futbol de Salon” which literally translates to indoor soccer. You play 5 v 5, with four field players and a goalie.

Futsal is the only FIFA-sanctioned indoor soccer game in the world, and every single Brazilian swears by it and grows up playing it, then taking those well-honed skills into their outdoor games. Ronaldo attributed his winning goal against Turkey in World Cup 2002 to a technique he learned in futsal. He told FIFA.COM after the game that “it was a difficult move because my way was blocked. Nobody expected me to shoot it because I had to use the point of my toe and you don’t see many players try it. But it swerved through the defenders and went in. It was instinctive and I owe it all to playing a lot of futsal when I was younger.” Most of Latin America plays it; Argentina calls it Cinco, Mexico calls it Rapido."

My first game was a disaster, but I have gradually improved over the season. Last night, in our last game of the spring season, I finally scored my first assist! I was so excited. But it only got better from there. I also went on to score 3 goals! I hadn't scored any goals, or any assists, all season. The only downside is that it was the last game--where was this earlier?? But, it looks like we will be able to field a team for the summer session, so maybe I can keep it up!