Football West have signed an agreement with Futsal WA in an effort to create suitable pathways for futsal players in Western Australia.
The affiliation brings all registered futsal players in Western Australia under one banner, with Football West working with the Supa-Liga futsal competition to deliver coaching and referee courses.
It will provide Supa-Liga players greater access to Football Australia pathways, while participants can play in both Supa-Liga and the new F-League competitions.
Futsal has increased tenfold in popularity across Australia with Football West, Football Victoria and Football Queensland announcing a surge in participation in 2023.
Football West General Manager of Football David Lewis spoke on the ways Football West will utilise the collaboration to improve player development.
“We are excited to sign this affiliation agreement with Futsal WA and this reinforces Football West’s commitment to futsal,” he said in a statement.
“We want to provide futsal players with the best opportunity to prosper and have as many men, women and junior teams involved.
“Supa-Liga is a fantastic competition, and it is great that it will now be sanctioned under Football West and Football Australia. Club development, player pathways and the coaching of referees are key areas that we are keen to develop.”
Futsal WA Director Greg Farrell expressed his excitement at what the partnership will bring to Futsal WA’s vision of a successful future through talent identification.
“We have been working with Football West for a while to ensure we establish further pathways for our players and staff. Hopefully, this collaboration gives us further opportunities to continue the positive steps that have been taken in recent years,” he said in a statement.
“After the first season in more than a decade where all of the top clubs in WA competed under a united banner, this affiliation agreement will allow further growth for coach and referee education, representative pathways, club development, and it marks a huge leap forward for the futsal community in WA.”
With futsal entering the mainstream and the National Futsal Championships on the horizon, it’s a really exciting time for the sport and for Football West who are setting up pathways to inspire elite athletes.
