For Greater Cincinnati parents, late August means early bedtimes, even earlier alarm clocks and, of course, endless car rides to and from soccer practice and games. But a new take on soccer is catching fire in the late summer heat – Ginga – and Ginga Futsal on Reading Road in Paddock Hills leads the Ginga explosion in the Tri-State.
According to Ginga Futsal coaching directors Jon Caldwell and Derek Smith, the best players that have ever played the game played futsal or street soccer as a child. Futsal creates the right environment for player development by requiring each player to possess quick thinking, skillful ball control, and the proper technique for striking or passing.
The word “Ginga” comes from Brazil. It is related to music or rhythm, specifically the “Braailian Samba”. Ginga basically strips soccer to its core. A weighted futsal ball, as opposed to an inflated soccer ball, stays on the ground, allowing better for control of the ball better and the eventual mastery of critical soccer foot skills. It also demands perfect technique when striking a ball.
Brazilians and many other countries play on the street, sand, or soccer fields, wherever they can, using different balls to create fun challenges of ball control, skill, and technique.
The Ginga Roots program hosts players ages 6-9 to play in the Ginga Roots League. The Total Ginga Academy has u10-u18 teams. TGA teams participate in the Ginga Premier League (GPL) locally, and the best Ginga Futsal players compete in US Youth Futsal regionals and nationals.
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For general questions regarding Ginga programs please contact [email protected]
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