NWT Soccer to launch new futsal league in November

A new indoor futsal league will launch in Yellowknife this November, providing a weekly league open to anyone aged three to 19.

Players aged up to six get one session per week, with two sessions per week for older athletes. Registration fees range from $75 to $180 for the full season.

In a news release, NWT Soccer said its futsal league would be scheduled to avoid clashes with existing club and league sessions or NWT School Sport events.

“It’s inside, on a gym floor, and it’s played with a smaller ball,” explained Austin Sleno, who has played futsal twice for Team NT at the Arctic Winter Games – where futsal replaced indoor soccer in 2016.

“Everyone is involved, it’s more of a possession-based game with quick plays,” said Sleno. “It’s like floor hockey for soccer.

“When you think of hockey, it’s possession in their end, and with futsal it’s the same thing. You keep possession and look for ways to penetrate and get a goal.”

The league, which will feature certified coaches and officials, begins on Monday, November 5 and will run until March.

If you’d like to join as a coach, futsal coaching sessions in Yellowknife (October 18) and Behchokǫ̀ (October 19) will be run by Kyt Selaidopoulos – head coach of Canada’s national men’s futsal team.

To join as a referee, you can attend an entry-level referee course on October 11-14 in Yellowknife.

Registration for the league opens in early September.

Stay tuned for Wheeler and Ollie going head-to-head as futsal coaches, with two teams of the territory’s top players, later this year!