Clean sweep for Army at futsal

The atmosphere on the court was electric from the opening whistle.

Shoes squeaked, bodies crashed and kicks cracked like gunshots as teams went head to head during the ADF Futsal Federation Championships at Randwick Barracks, from June 21 to 24.

It marked the return of Defence futsal after more than a decade, with the last competition held in 2015.

The four-day tournament concluded with Army claiming both women’s and men’s titles.

Play rarely slowed, with rapid passes, half-court shots and relentless transitions forcing spectators to track the ball from one attacking end to the other.

Most valuable player, Spr Mitchell Young, played a key role in Army’s ability to control the tempo and break the final game open, combining patience with quick decision making under pressure.

Spr Young said Army focused on sitting back early to read Air Force’s approach before capitalising on errors and committing forward when opportunities emerged.

“We sat in, read their play and hit them on the counter. We capitalised on their errors,” he said.

“When we got those half-chances, we’d over-commit and take a gamble.”

Women’s most valuable player, defender LACW Sarah Birrer, said the speed of futsal demanded constant awareness and defensive discipline.

With play shifting end to end in seconds, even small lapses were immediately punished.

“If you’re not really on the player, one shot is pretty much always going to get on goal,” LACW Birrer said.

Outdoor competitions resume in August with the NSW Cup, followed by the national championships in October.