What is Futsal
Futsal is a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played on a hard surfaced court. It is a small sided game (5v5) played on a small court (roughly basketball court sized) with a smaller (size 3-4) ball. Futsal is played with touchline boundaries. This is the game that outdoor soccer players around the globe play when they are trying to refine and maintain their control skills and touch. Futsal is played between two teams of five (or fewer) players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper.
Soccer courts are hard surfaced outdoor courts that are generally the size of a basketball or tennis court. There is usually fencing around the court to keep the ball in play and there are soccer goals. Some courts have lights. The dimensions for these soccer courts vary slightly based on the type of court being converted, but in general, they are 50 feet wide by 100 feet long. Currently, the soccer courts are not permitted and are available for use as a first come, first served basis. Below is a diagram of a combination basketball and outdoor soccer court:
Montgomery Parks is actively working to increase the number of soccer courts. In April 2019, Montgomery Parks began a countywide Soccer Court Study. This study investigated service needs and gaps, user preference for facility location and design, and the service delivery strategies for a fast-track implementation especially in Equity Focus Areas. Equity Focus Areas are parts of Montgomery County that are characterized by high concentrations of lower-income people of color, who may also speak English less than very well. Identifying communities that may not have equitable access to resources or opportunities helps direct planning efforts to better understand existing conditions and the area’s history. It also supports finding effective ways to engage the community – Equity Focus Areas. This analysis also helps Montgomery Parks prioritize funding for projects in Equity Focus Areas.
The Soccer Court Study is a multi-year collaborative process with participation and inputs from various stakeholders — different sport court users (Futsal and soccer players, and other users), agencies (like Recreation Department, and Municipalities), and citizen representatives — to identify best solutions for creating more opportunities for outdoor futsal.
Parks with Soccer Courts
Columbia Local Park
1 soccer court
Dewey Local Park
1 combination soccer court and in-line hockey court – 150 feet long x 65 feet wide
Kemp Mill Urban Park
1 combination basketball and soccer court
Ridge Road Recreational Park
1 combination soccer court and in-line hockey court – 185 long x 85 feet wide
Silver Spring Intermediate Neighborhood Park
1 soccer court
Sundown Road Local Park
1 soccer court with lights – 100 feet long x 50 feet wide
Potential Future Soccer Courts
| Park Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Fairland Recreational Park | Convert the in-line hockey rink to a soccer court |
| Johnson’s Local Park | Convert the tennis court to a soccer court with lights |
| Stewartown Local Park | Convert 1 basketball court to a soccer court with lights |
| Calverton Galway Local Park | Convert 1 tennis court to a soccer court |
| Long Branch Garland Neighborhood Park | Convert basketball court into a combination basketball and soccer court |
| Stoneybrook Local Park | Convert 1 basketball court to a soccer court |
| Strathmore Local Park | Convert tennis courts to a soccer court |
| Layhill Village Local Park | Convert 1 tennis court to a soccer court |