Futsal Builds Confidence and Ability

My son, like me, started playing soccer at a very young age. He's been playing for several premier leagues for the last 9 years. I coached a couple of seasons when the league needed it, my Dad did it too. We've spent a LOT of time in the living room and backyard passing & juggling the ball. Even my 2 dogs play with the balls that roll around the apartment. Because he likes it, I decided to find better training. A few seasons ago, we discovered futsal. He loves playing and it has improved his soccer skills. He currently plays for HOS Futsal.

To help "define" it, visit this LINK but I'll summarize:

The origin of Futsal (Five-a-Side Soccer) can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competition in YMCAs.  The game is played on basketball-sized courts, both indoors and out without the use of sidewalls.

The rules of futsal are a little different than "traditional" soccer, but the point is that it trains new players on the TECHNIQUE and SKILLS of foot skills. Pele played futsal for a few years before he started playing soccer. Plus, they might actually enjoy the very active way the game is played. It is very fast paced and can "turn on the corner," but it is very enjoyable to watch.

I'm so inspired by watching him play, that I am switching over from reffing roller derby to become a futsal ref.

SPAM® Anniversary

I was remiss in my duties last year by not writing an entry to celebrate the 75th anniversary of SPAM®, but did write one about finding it in single serving slices (click HERE). I'm not going to go into a complete history of it, you can go to SPAM.com or Wikipedia and read it. It was introduced by Hormel in 1937 to assist in feeding the WWII soldiers in the field, and according to Wikipedia gets its name by shortening the words SPiced hAM.

Was grocery shopping the other day with my son when we noticed the special logo on the SPAM® can. He asked me to buy 2. So why am I buying 2? He replied, "in 50 years I can put one can online in an auction, maybe it will be worth money and the other one is because I want to open one when it reaches the expiration date (11/2015) and see what it looks like." Amazing how the mind of a 13 year old can work some times. So, we got them. Will probably be the only items in my pantry that I'll never get to use.

A person would have to pretty much be in a coma to have grown up on Earth without knowing about SPAM®. Okay, maybe you've never eaten it, but at least you know about it. I was a little surprised to learn how many different versions there are (14), they make one with bacon in it, there are packages of single slices, and there is even one made with 100% lean TURKEY instead of pork. Learn something new every day.

I grew up eating it occasionally (grandfather, friends houses, Boy Scout camping trips, etc). As an adult, I've used it to make my MREs a little more filling when fishing, kept a can or 2 in the office for a last minute lunch, or just because it was the last remaining can of food in my pantry. I've used it in eggs in a skillet and it was good. I'm not going to bore you with a lot more drivel, I just wanted to celebrate the anniversary for something that supported soldiers that needed it and others all around the globe that still want it and honor it more than most of us in the U.S. do.

Making a Hawaiian Steak for dinner...slice of SPAM®, slice of pineapple, touch of honey, in a folded fajita... YUM