Exploring the journey and insights of a futsal coach
What comes to your mind when you think of Futsal? An energetic indoor sport? A fast-paced, intense competition? Or perhaps a training ground for future football stars? Today, we are honored to have Rafa Merino, an experienced futsal coach and co-creator of the Sunbears, with us for an interview. Coach Rafa offers a unique perspective on futsal coaching and sports technology. We hope this interview helps you better understand coaching and futsal, or other team sport coaching.
Q: Tell me about your coaching journey. How was your experience with futsal so far?
I started out coaching kids like almost everyone else. It was a way of keeping in touch with futsal after I stopped playing myself. Gradually, I continued to develop myself and with that came the challenge of coaching teams at a higher level. At the clubs, I had the opportunity to coach teams of all ages, including the girl’s team in the Spanish Primera Division (11/12 season, Esportiu Rubi FS), which gave me an insight into the different approaches to coaching different age groups. After years of coaching at the same club, I had the opportunity to sign for a team in the English league (15/16 season, Birmingham Futsal), which was a completely different but wonderful experience. I then returned to the club where I had trained and from there I took another major leap forward as an assistant coach in the Spanish Primera Division and later as a successful head coach (21/22 season, Pescados Rubén Burela FS).
Q: How do you feel futsal has changed since you started coaching?
Futsal has changed in many ways: the rules of the game, the player profile, the training methods, the new tournament system, professionalism… The magical essence that futsal used to have seems to have been lost to some extent, and I believe that coaches are partly responsible for this.
Q: Have you ever faced any significant challenges in your career? And how did you overcome these? What motivated you to carry on?
I’ve faced several significant challenges. The first one perhaps was when, in my first club, the girl’s team made history by ascending to the Spanish Primera division, and I took charge of the team that season. Another challenge was coaching in another country, which involved quickly adapting to its social and sports culture. Finally, during my time in the Spanish Men’s Primera Division, the transition from assistant coach to head coach in the best league in the world in the middle of the season was a significant challenge.
I overcame these challenges by constantly moving forward without looking back, striving every day, and remaining loyal to my values. It’s also crucial to surround yourself with good people who help you.
What kept me motivated was the desire to keep learning and gaining more experience. I knew that all of this, regardless of the sporting results, would be beneficial for me.
Q: What are your strategies for improving individual player skills in a team setting?
Communicate with players, set specific tasks, set personal goals, and video lessons to help visualise understanding.
Q: Do you use any tools or methods that help you stay on track in coaching or keeping up with your responsibilities as a coach?
Video analysis software is vital for analysing both opponents and your own team. I also use Sunbears, which provides the ability to organise and design training sessions, as well as collect data from my players for analysis..
Q: How did you find out about Sunbears? How do you feel about collaborating with the Sunbears team so far, and what keeps you continuing to use the platform?
I met the Sunbears team through the internet. It was a pleasure to work with them and they have made an outstanding contribution to the sports world. When you talk to them, you get a sense of their passion for sport and their expertise in sports training.
Q: What do you think the future of futsal will look like in five years?
I hope it will be better than it is. Futsal has a lot of potential. It’s a lot of fun, both from a watching perspective and a participation perspective. Overall, I think Futsal is underdeveloped. People need to improve the game, raise awareness and give more young people a chance to learn about it.
Q: Is there any problem you have encountered that you believe technology may be able to support or solve in the near future?
I cannot point to one specifically, but I believe it is necessary. We should pay more attention to the use and innovation of technological tools in sports programmes.
Q: What inspiring benefits do you envision our sports team software, Sunbears, will bring to the futsal community?
Organisation, discipline and management of your team, no doubt. You can optimise resources and time in organisation and coordination and devote more attention to the training itself. player individual fitness, attendance, team training schedules, venues, training objectives, etc. All of this is recorded in Sunbears, save time for team management. Also, their Playback app enables the recording of competitions to help with analysis.
Q: How would you expect an online community to provide for your team or your personal career life?
For example: If I have any questions about how to train technically or tactically, they will help me by providing ideas and programmes. I need a very professional Futsal online advisor to assist and guide me in planning or setting goals or to help me realise my style of play.
Q: Do you have any advice for young players or coaches who want to pursue the futsal business professionally?
That they train in both technical-tactical aspects and in people management. That they stay updated and never stop learning.
Thanks to coach Rafa for sharing his invaluable insights. Futsal, with its high demands for teamwork, requires scientifically organised training. It’s encouraging to see more coaches utilising technology to plan and manage their teams, enhancing the quality of their training.
If you’re a sports enthusiast or professional who believes in the transformative power of technology in sports, check out the Sunbears co-creation program. You can explore a smart online drill creation platform, comprehensive scheduling & team management system, and clear statistics and data analysis. We look forward to welcoming you on our platform and help you and your team unlock your full coaching and team performance potential!
