Futsal in Paradise: a California Coach in Kauai
KAUAI, Hawaii (5-1-10) – If soccer is the
world’s most popular sport, then futsal is the distillation of the most basic
elements for playing the game well. The intensity of a small-sided game makes it an ideal
way to master both the skills and strategies necessary for 
becoming a strong
player. As a high school teacher and girls soccer coach, I have seen that setting up small
futsal-style games has been an invaluable teaching tool for developing both the technical
and physical condition of my players. Especially for a team with a wide range of skill
level, playing futsal gives my girls the maximum number of purposeful touches on the ball
and valuable experience that they can take to the big field on game day.
(Anna Edgarton)
I was first introduced to futsal when I met Jorge Bordt three years ago in Berkeley, California. Although he is a tennis pro by profession, like most of the world and his native Argentina, soccer is his passion. As he took ownership of the Kiahuna Swim & Tennis Club in Kauai, it came as no surprise that he converted two of the tennis courts to futsal courts so that he could share this mild obsession with the community. Since he opened the club, I have been eagerly planning my own pilgrimage to what is surely the futsal capital of the Islands.
As I have myself benefited from Jorge’s coaching in the past
three years, I was gratified to see him extend such quality instruction to every player
that sets foot on the court. Jorge welcomes everyone to his afternoon practices: young,
old, male, female, tourist, local, club-owner, pastry chef - Jorge requires only humility
and the willingness to work hard. 
That is not to say that his practices are easy, because although all are welcome, the level of play is “a kick in the rear”. Futsal by its very nature is an intense sport, and Jorge keeps the game moving, pausing only to take advantage of the teaching moments that come up in natural play. Rather than lecturing players on how to play, he has a Socratic approach to instruction that requires players to understand the fundamentals of the game and explain the decisions that become second-nature for those who understand how to play well. This coaching style has crafted many great players, and everyone, myself included, walks off the court a better player than when they stepped on.
(Futsal at the Kiahuna Club on Kauai.)
Set amid the lush mountains of the “Garden Island” and what is surely one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Jorge has turned the Kiahuna Club into so much more than a few courts and a pool: it has become a kind of haven for futsal aficionados, both those who have professional ambitions and those who just want to play. After spending a week on this beautiful island filled with the beach in the morning and futsal in the afternoon, I returned to California personally refreshed and athletically enthused for a sport that has, thanks to Jorge, also become my passion.
--------
Anna Edgerton teaches English Language Development in Richmond, Calif.. She also coaches Cross-Country and Varsity Girls Soccer and was recently named the East Bay Interscholastic Officials Association (EBISOA) Coach of the Year. Next year she will be studying journalism at Columbia University in New York City. She also maintains a blog at http://annaedge4.blogspot.com.