27 Youth teams from across Devon have joined a new Devon FA Futsal Development League in Exmouth. The league has been set up with funding from The FA's Futsal Fund, via the Football Foundation.

Futsal is an indoor 5-a-side football game played with a dampened ball, which is much heavier than a standard modern-day football. The game is great for working on close control and working in tight areas. 

The league has been set up to to help with player and coach development, with Devon FA providing managers with advice online and via WhatsApp groups, as well as mentors helping managers on the day with advice and tactical ideas to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Futsal.

Exmouth's league sees a mix of 3-a-side and 5-a-side games. The 3-a-side games are great for allowing players to practice 'sole of the foot' control techniques, and England DNA principles of 'hiding and revealing' the ball.

Our FA Coach Mentor Team attend the events, and Jon Dawe, lead mentor for Futsal, provides in-possession and out-of-possession ideas for coaches at events. This helps coaches build an idea of how they want their team to play when they are on the ball, and how to set up and defend when they don't have it.

Devon FA's Senior Football Development Officer had this to say about the new league: “These events see a new approach mixing 3-a-side with traditional futsal matches, and our Coach Mentoring team directly giving managers ideas both before and during events.  It’s a new approach looking to both help coaches and provide the best environment possible for player development over results.”