Futsal Feature: Joshi Lizama

Joshi has been an ASA participant for more eight years, beginning in the youth programs and now playing with the women’s futsal program and coaching across several programs. Thank you to Joshi for sharing her experiences, thoughts, and background.

What is your soccer background? When did you start playing?

I started playing soccer when I was 8 years old, I played for two different clubs (Annandale and BRYC) before sticking with ASA. I was in the 2004 age group, my first ever ASA coach was Will Hannah. He was easily one of the best coaches I've ever had. He really knew how to get the best out of you and was incredibly knowledgeable in the sport. I’ve now been involved with ASA for almost eight years. I love the community and enjoy coaching the younger generations.

When did you get involved with ASA Futsal?

I first got involved with ASA futsal in 2018 with the 2004 girls Academy Futsal team. My coach was Peja, another awesome coach who made futsal easy to learn and play. My team was very close-knit, so I feel as though our chemistry was strong on and off the court which is why I enjoyed playing with them, it made competing delightful.

Joshi competes at the USFF National Tournament in Las Vegas.

Were you new to futsal or had you played before?

I played two seasons of futsal with my prior club (BRYC). My first time playing I immediately knew I wanted to stick with it, I found it fascinating how creative you can get with the game.

What has your futsal experience been like?

My futsal experience has been incredible, I’ve grown to see the people I’ve played with as family and people I can count on. My journey with the 2004 girls will always be the highlight of my time in ASA’s youth futsal program. Our last year as a group together in 2022, we won Regionals in New Jersey which was always our goal when attending this event; to be able to have done it on our last ride together will always mean so much to us. Recently the ASA women's futsal team attended Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada. I was grateful and honored to be a part of the team. It was such an amazing experience and my first time playing at that level, it made me realize how much more I have to learn in the game. The environment was thrilling, every single game going on around was very tense and close in score, overall I was appreciative for the experience and hope to continue to play at that level throughout this season!

The 2004/2005 ASA Academy Futsal team in 2022.

Has futsal and the ASA program impacted your life in ways off the court?

Yes, of course. All of the women on the team have been incredibly supportive on and off the court. I see them as role models, as well as all the coaching staff. I’m glad to have an environment that constantly pushes me to become a better player and teammate.