It has been busy at the International Futsal Academy for the last few days!

On Wednesday, we organised a seminar on recovery for our players and staff. Loughborough University’s Sven Hoekstra, PhD student in Health and Wellbeing, and Svenja Wachsmuth, PhD student in Sports Psychology, spoke to us about recovery strategies both from physiological and psychological points of view.

Straight from the seminar, a great opportunity to apply the newly learned knowledge: fitness testing. The boys went through our standard battery of tests, to compare with the September and the December data. Thursday morning took us to Loughborough College, where players had a body composition assessment, to complete the picture and create training plans for the next few months.

Our Performance Sport Science & Coaching Assistant Michael Koopowitz had a different session ready for the boys today…

Still a Loughborough student and centrally contracted as England Blind goalkeeper, Dylan Malpas starts at home, in loughborough, his journey as goalkeeper coach. Last season he won the BUCS Championship with the Students Club and now aims to help the IFA and Super League goalkeepers step-up their game.

Full name: Dylan Malpas (Dyls)

Position: Goalkeeper Coach

Place and date of birth: Birmingham (easy to spot with that dodgy accent), 4/9/1995

Favourite sport (besides futsal, of course): Blind football (obviously)

A quote: Tough times don’t last but tough people do

A song: By the Way– Red Hot Chilli Peppers

A movie: Coach Carter

How did you first get involved in futsal: I got told it would suit my style of goalkeeping, so after being put in contact with Michael Skubala, I decided to make the change from Football to Futsal.

Best futsal memory: Winning BUCS Gold in 2016 alongside playing in the UEFA Cup and being called up to the national side at various age ranges.

Your futsal dream: To create a coaching legacy in the goalkeeping department that will change the way coaches look at the role of the Futsal Goalkeeper in the UK.

Loughborough Academy and Nottingham Trent went head to head in the second National League 2 fixture of the season. In the unusual setting of the Radmoor Centre, at Loughborough College, Loughborough Academy earning a well deserved 7-4 win.Nathan Riches opened the scoring after three minutes with a well worked team goal, quickly doubled by Ollie Brant in the sixth minute.

Former Grimsby Town and England U19s Liam Hulse countered to make it 3-0 in the twelfth minute adding to his hat trick against Tranmere Rovers. Trent responded within short succession to take the score to 3-2. However the persistence of  Loughborough Academy paid off:  a long range effort from Jordan Astell took the score to 4-2 just before half time.

In the second half, Loughborough Academy continued to dominate. Nathan Riches doubled his tally following great team play and possession. Within one minute, Loughborough Academy captain, Steven Dovey extended the lead to 6-2. As the game drew to a close both teams scored with Ollie Burton claiming his third for the season before a late consolation from  Trent.

Captain Steven Dovey summarised:

“It was another good performance individually and collectively from a group of lads as talented as I’ve ever played with. The court did not suit our style of play but the team worked hard from players 1-12 in the squad, playing some great stuff. Following our first two games I’m left feeling very optimistic for the season and really believe with our squad we are one of the teams to beat despite being young and having not trained together for long. On the whole it has been a great start but we are focused on being even better for the rest of the season”.

Cambridge 1 – 4 Lboro highlights from Loughborough Futsal on Vimeo.