Series Futsal Victoria team managers have expressed concerns over the new rules that will be introduced into the 2016/17 Series Futsal season, starting in two weeks time.
The team managers met with Series Futsal chief Peter Parthimos recently where the stakeholders spoke about the new rules and the future direction of Victoria’s most competitive futsal league.
Last week, the Series Futsal commission outlined a raft of radical rules that will change the way the game is played, including the option to throw the ball in from the sideline, while drawn games will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
CLICK HERE for the rule changes news story from last week.
A key outcome that came out of the meeting was the need for greater consultation amongst the clubs. Some club officials expressed their disappointment over the lack of communication prior to the rule change announcement.
Team managers have agreed to host monthly meetings, and while there are still some individuals unhappy with the new rules, Parthimos says that better communication channels will keep all stakeholders on the same page.
“It was great to meet with the managers and captains of our Series Futsal teams, and while there were concerns, I was taken aback by the level of passion that they displayed,” Parthimos told SeriesFutsal.com.
“Sure, many of them were not happy about the new rules, but the one thing that stood out was the passion and feeling they have for the game and our competition.
“These guys love the game. They want to see Series Futsal grow and I believe they now can see the vision we have, which is much bigger than just a game of futsal – it’s about entertainment and engagement.
“I believe that Series Futsal will be a world-class brand, it won’t happen overnight, however our vision, determination and creativity will fast-track us into achieving this goal.
“Their main concern was that they weren’t consulted. They found out the news first online, rather than being told separately.
“I appreciate this, so we have agreed for the clubs and teams to host monthly meetings that the commission has committed to attend.”
Regarding the rule changes, the biggest issue remained around the throw-in rule, where players will be able to throw the ball in (as per the original futsal rules) or place the ball on the side and kick it in (like the current rules).
Some teams have gone as far as creating ‘gentleman’s agreements’ that will see them boycott the rules against certain teams.
While the rules will give the players the option, Parthimos feels that a gentleman’s agreement could be tested in the event of a close match.
“Some teams have said that they won’t use the throw-in, which is fine, because there’s no rule saying that must do it,” he said.
“But if teams need to go for the win towards the end of the match, it will be interesting to see what happens.
“The temptation of breaking a gentleman’s agreement to win the match could make for interesting viewing.”
The traditional end-of-season Foz Cup will be held at Thomastown this Sunday. Entry is free, with the first game between CF Brunswick and Fitzroy FC at 3pm AEST. CLICK HERE for a full run down of Sunday’s schedule.