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FUTURES Visit Futsal Social Project in Barcelona
Futsal and Barcelona might make you think of FC Barcelona’s professional futsal team, soccer team legends who began in the sport such as Messi or the club’s renowned style of play. However, futsal has another role in the city as the FUTURES talents from the United States discovered.
Alongside their intensive high-level futsal programme and tourist activities, they paid a visit to the futsal club A.E. Babar. This is a social project within the city’s most deprived areas for young people, both boys and girls.
The project targets those at risk of social exclusion and taking the wrong path to support them through futsal across three pillars: sport, education and community. The objectives of their work include developing personal and social skills, teaching values such as teamwork and respect and promoting integration among the community.
United Futsal has long been offering support to this well-established project which is approaching its 40th anniversary. This does not only consist of financial help, but also providing opportunities such as giving the possibility to participate in United Futsal’s events in the United States for those who have shown a positive attitude and work ethic.
The FUTURES participants got to see another side of futsal whilst supporting one of Babar’s young teams in a fixture at their new outdoor futsal court that has a cover and was built with raised funds so the players can play all year around. The visit contributed to achieving the FUTURES programme objective of developing the person as well as the player.
The partnership with the club is something United Futsal President Rob Andrews views as hugely important and he hopes to see similar initiatives with futsal in the US. “It is great to see the glitz and glamour of a FC Barcelona pro futsal match and their incredible Stadium Camp Nou, but I also want to make sure that everyone sees there is another side of futsal that we can apply in the USA to have a positive social impact as well as having these amazing, high-level experiences.”
*ABOUT DOUG REED*
Doug Reed is a professional futsal player from England whose passion for the game has taken him across the world to report on top stories and provide insights from someone inside. Visit his website at www.dougreedfutsal.com or follow him on social media via @DougReedFutsal.
