A Slightly Smaller Beautiful Game

Central Pennsylvania is generally regarded as one of the best minor league sports markets in the county. We've got plenty of teams, we support them well and they tend to be pretty damn successful. But in addition to the bigger-draw minor league sports, we also have a number of under-the-radar events that are pretty sweet. This November the American Body Building Championships will be in York, and how many areas can boast a women's football team, a roller derby team and a major sprint car track? Well, if you're looking for an affordable and slightly off-beat activity this weekend, check out the Northeast Regional Futsal Championships at the York Expo Center. Trust me, if you like soccer, hockey or sports in general, you'll dig this.

Not familiar with Futsal? It’s basically a more authentic version of indoor soccer. Two teams of five — including a goalkeeper — play soccer on an unwalled field that is 27 yards long and 16 yards wide. The name and game are basically derived from a Portuguese game that literally translates to “hall soccer.” All that congestion on the field forces the game to be played very quickly and with extreme technical skill. It is wildly popular in South America, and many Brazilian soccer stars get their start playing futsal. Brazilian Alessandro Rosa Vieira — more often known as Falcao — lacked the pace and physicality to be a major soccer star. But his unbelievable technical ability and punishing left foot have made him one of the greatest futsal players of this generation. Check out this highlight film to see futsal at its most exhilarating:

Now, admittedly, you’re not likely to see skills like that on display this weekend, but this is no small potatoes tournament. The United States Futsal Federation breaks the country into six regions and this is the championship tournament for the entire northeast. Here’s another video, this one produced by the USFF, explaining the game:

The Championships run Friday to Monday, so if you have a chance, drop in for a game or two.