About a year ago, Junction Avenue K-8 teacher Robert Bell
started an after school Futsal Club that proved wildly successful.
He was hoping for 15 students and over 100 turned out to play. He
imagined that one day, maybe four or five years into the future, he
might raise enough money to put in a real futsal court, with
fences, official goals, and a playing surface designed for the
sport.
That day came earlier this month, less than a year after the
Junction Futsal Club began. Last Friday, parents, students,
teachers, community members, School Board representatives,
administrators from the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School
District (LVJUSD), and city officials gathered for the inauguration
of the new futsal court.
Bell is thrilled with how far the Futsal Club has come in such a
short period of time. He now runs a Saturday recreational league,
Futsal for All, and Mario Gonzalez, a well-known futsal coach from
San Jose, is leading training sessions. Last year, the club played
against teams from Quarry Lane School, Ballistic United Soccer
Club, one of Gonazalez’ MACSA teams, and a visiting Australian
team.
“When I look at the new court, I don’t get caught up in the shine
of the metal fence or the cushion of the rubber surface, instead
it’s the effort behind the court and the spirit of community that
comes through most. This court represents a community deeply caring
about its kids,” said Bell.
He added that futsal provides another opportunity for kids to
connect with their school. “Junction had the highest gains in state
testing this past year within the District. I believe futsal and
other afterschool activities played a role in this. We want every
student to fall in love with their school experience,” he
said.
Futsal is a faster, smaller, and tighter version of soccer played
on a basketball-sized court with a small, heavy ball and five to
six players to a side. Bell described it as combining the skill of
soccer with the pace of basketball.
“Even our die-hard soccer kids now admit they find futsal more fun.
Why wouldn’t they? In a game of futsal every player will touch the
ball six times as often as in a soccer game. Every player will take
a shot at goal. A basketball court can be found in just about every
neighborhood park. Our outdoor court was modeled after this idea.
Futsal should be free and available to everyone,” he stated.
Bell’s first goal was to raise enough money for goals, benches,
nets, and a stained surface, about $6,000. The Junction PTA, the
Rotarian Foundation of Livermore, and Wente Vineyards were some of
the early contributors. Money collected through fees and
concessions for Futsal for All, as well as t-shirt sales have gone
towards the court.
The final piece was a $32,000 grant from StopWaste.org awarded last
spring. The City of Livermore receives funds from StopWaste.org,
generated from landfill usage fees, and distributes them to
projects that promote waste reduction, recycling, or the purchase
of recycled products. The futsal court qualified because it is made
from recycled rubber.
“This is local government at its finest,” declared Livermore
vice-mayor John Marchand, speaking at the inauguration. “It’s about
interagency cooperation, public/private partnerships, good
environmental stewardship, and leveraging limited resources for our
students. What started as a fun after school activity has become a
win-win for Livermore schools, the community, and the
environment.”
Livermore school superintendent Kelly Bowers and Marchand, whose
wife Sue teaches at Junction, cut the official ribbon on one of the
futsal goals. Bowers, after removing her high-heeled shoes to
protect the court surface, kicked in the first goal.
Futsal Club members then played several demonstration games,
followed by performances by Junction’s Ballet Folklorico and
Mariachi clubs, a barbeque dinner, and a raffle of donated soccer
and futsal equipment.
Junction’s futsal courts are not quite complete, though. Currently,
there are two courts. However, only one is fenced. The fence is
essential to the game, as the ball is played off the fence. Bell
needs to raise another $8,000 to complete the fence on the second
court and $2,500 for a second set of goals.
Casa Orozco, Tequila’s Taqueria, Contreras Market, Chavez Soccer,
Soccer Pro, Sports Chalet, Wente Restaurant, and Campo di Bocce,
Junction parents, the Junction Futsal Club, and the Junction
Mariachi Club all donated items for the inauguration.
For more information on the Junction Avenue K-8 futsal program,
contact Belia Martinez at 925.606.6392 or Robert Bell at
[email protected].
