Futsal league keeps Armory bustling

It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint

can do. At the Armory in Whitefish, a newly painted floor has

helped take an often quite building and give it new life.

Thanks to a cooperative effort between

the Flathead Rapids soccer club and the city of Whitefish, the

Armory gymnasium is now bustling with futsal action three days a

week. Futsal is a game similar to soccer, but played indoors and

with a smaller, more dense ball and smaller goals. The size of the

Armory makes it a near perfect arena for the growing sport.

“The city had a non-descript building

and were struggling to find people to use it,” said Rapids

president O’Brien Byrd. “We looked at the Armory and saw an

enormous opportunity.”

The Rapids presented a plan for a

futsal league, as well as a cost projection to repaint the floor.

The parks department decided the price was reasonable and soon the

gray concrete floor was resurfaced with a grippy paint and boundary

lines.

“It looks really nice in there now,”

Byrd said. “It went from a dungeon to a bright and welcoming

area.”

The improvements were paid for with

city funds. In turn, the city rents out the gym to the futsal

league. The first session was in December and January, and the

second session started Feb. 7 and goes through March 20.

Parks and Recreation director Karl

Cozad said the futsal league is a wonderful example of partnership

between the city and a private group.

“The league is fantastic on so many

levels,” he said. “It’s great to see another activity available and

a public facility utilized to its full capacity.”

Cozad said the league has also helped

draw attention to the facility for other uses.

“Parents want to take out a block of

time for parties and have futsal be a part of it,” Cozad said.

The atmosphere of the Armory during

futsal games is all about fun. League manager Sean Person has a

stereo blasting music and kids are constantly on the move. Teams of

four or five play two intense 20 minute periods where there is

almost no lull in the action. Point totals often creep into the

teens or 20s, making it nearly as fun for spectators as the players

on the pitch.

The Rapids league serves a wide range

of ages, from U12 to adults. The youngest player is 10, the oldest

is 60.

“In the soccer community, there’s a lot

of excitement and buzz,” said Byrd, who is also the Whitefish High

School boys soccer coach. “And the city is excited to have hundreds

of people using their facility.

“All of a sudden the Armory is in

vogue.”

Visit online at www.flatheadrapids.com

to learn more about the futsal league.