World Deaf Futsal Championships Begin in Sweden

Sweden will host the World Deaf Futsal Championships in Orebro reports Yahoo Sports (18/11/11).

Sixteen men's teams and 11 women's teams will compete from Nov. 18 to Nov. 26 for the right to be called the best futsal nation in the world where all of the players are hearing impaired.

Sweden and Brazil are favorites to win as both countries have men's and women's teams in the mix. Futsal has world cup competitions on a regular basis, but this special competition is hosted by the Swedish Deaf Sports Federation.

Futsal is a cross between basketball and soccer. The rules are very similar to outdoor soccer except the game is played on an indoor or outdoor basketball court. There are only five players to a side including one goalkeeper on each end. The ball is smaller than a regulation soccer ball as are the goals.

There are no boards on the side. When the ball goes out of bounds there is a "kick in" instead of a throw in. There is no offside rule and no slide tackles on the hard surface. Goalies cannot throw the ball over the halfway line to start a play.

There are two 20-minute halves and the action is fast and furious. The ball quickly moves up and down the court much like basketball. Because the ball travels out of bounds frequently, the game has many more stops than regulation soccer.

FIFA governs international rules of futsal and will host the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand. The history of the game is as colorful as South American soccer. When Uruguay hosted the 1930 World Cup, it started a tradition of countries gathering together to play soccer every four years. Local gym teachers wanted a mini version of the game kids could play indoors, so they invented futsal.

Brazilian teams dominate the men's game as they won the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup as hosts. It was their sixth futsal title overall which is one more than Brazil owns in regulation association football. Falcao was the legendary player at the 2008 version. Simply watching Brazil's 12-1 demolition of Japan in 2008 is a thing of wonder. The ball stops very quickly on the floor surface as opposing players fly by trying to block shots that don't happen. In the very same tournament, Brazil beat the Solomon Islands 21-0. There are no mercy rules at that level.

Futsal is fast-paced. Like soccer, it can be played indoors or outside, all you need is a basketball court and some fancy footwork.