MARYSVILLE — Futsal, Brazilian-style 5-on-5 soccer with four fielders and a keeper on each side, is here to help Marysville’s kids have fun while learning an exciting new sport — all at no cost.

Fuerza Football Club serves King and Snohomish counties and identifies Marysville as its hub, but opens its programs to kids from surrounding areas as far as Stanwood. No one who wants to join the program will be turned away. Courses are taught by a coaching staff licensed in Brazilian style of play and training.

“The programs are free so that the underserved youth, the ones who really need it, can participate,” Fuerza FC Director of Education Tony Carillo said.

Kids who enroll in the courses need no equipment other than the Fuerza FC shirts provided.

Fuerza FC has rented the Marysville Boys & Girls Club for eight months and filled up right away as soon as the Marysville Youth Soccer Association, in addition to sponsorship from Seattle-based realtor Mary Hatch Homes, got involved. A second sponsor is expected as soon as February.

“It’s been a big goal of mine for a while — some kids play, then they drop off,” said Carillo, who invested his own dollars into the club, of how kids play youth soccer but cannot afford to join state or regional clubs. “The kids are there. We just have to reach out to them.”

Futsal is safer than indoor soccer because it discourages physical play in lieu of creative ball-handling and passing skills. There are no walls to run into as there are in indoor soccer, where balls that careen off the walls remain in play. It’s played at a faster pace on a smaller field and requires more hustle of the four fielders in perpetual back-and-forth action.

The club avoids the formation of teams, seeking instead to give kids valuable new skills that they can show off to their friends and family — and word of mouth is exactly how Fuerza FC finds new kids to join the fun.

Parents are welcomed to learn the Brazilian methods and style of play as well.

Fuerza provides three levels of training: Soccer School, an introductory course for kids six to 10 years of age; Academy Teams for kids ages 11-17 and organized according to skill to compete in state and regional leagues; and High Performance, started this year, for players 18 years and above to compete on state, regional or semi-pro teams.

To become a part of Fuerza FC visit fuerzafc.com, e-mail bfutnw@gmail.com or call 425-530-2849 or 425-216-9110.