GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The Green Bay men's soccer team is set to host the Green Bay Futsal Classic on February 23-24, 2013 at the Kress Events Center. The inaugural tournament is open to all boys' teams in the U11 - U14 age groups.

Teams will be guaranteed three 40-minute games with the possibility of a championship game, and awards will be given to the winner in each age division. All U11 and U12 games will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23, and all U13 and U14 games will take place on Sunday, Feb. 24 to make tournament travel more convenient for families.

"We are excited to provide an opportunity for Wisconsin's young soccer players to compete and experience the game of futsal," Head Coach Dan Popik said. "Futsal is an exciting, fast-paced, attacking game that is proven to help develop player's individual skills on the ball."

For more information about the tournament or to register a team, click here.

Futsal is a small-sided game played 5 v. 5 including goalkeepers. The game is played on a hardcourt surface roughly the size of a basketball court and does not require the use of dasher boards. It is played with the touchline boundaries and the ball cannot be played off walls. The official ball is a special low-bounce ball that is heavier and smaller than an official size-5 soccer ball. The heavier ball forces a player to use their skill rather than the ball's bounce to propel it.

A complete skill game, Futsal develops the overall fundamentals of soccer more effectively. It has been proven that youth players develop quicker reflexes, faster thinking and pinpoint passing. It is a superior game in terms of establishing players' touch and technique.

###

For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.

Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix , @GBPhoenixMSoc and @JustinGrones

Like Green Bay Men's Soccer and Green Bay Phoenix Athletics on Facebook.

---GreenBayPhoenix.com---