Now in its ninth year, the programme will see over 15,000 children throughout the country take part over a three-month period with 468 primary schools and 251 post-primary schools signed up.
Led by FAI Development Officers and teachers in each school, the programme is designed to increase participation levels at grassroots level while making the five-a-side game fun to play.
"The interest in Futsal has been steadily growing across Europe over the last number of years and the FAI are delighted to be able to provide a Futsal programme for school children to participate in," said Mark Scanlon, FAI National Coordinator for Schools and Third Level Football.
"We have been particularly encouraged by the amount of girls teams taking part and almost 40 per cent of the overall participants are female this year. The Primary School blitzes are all about participation and enjoyment and they give children the opportunity to represent their school, while the Post Primary Schools competition is the only national underage Futsal competition in Ireland.
"We hope that these school blitzes will help to raise the awareness of Futsal in Ireland and we can continue to grow the game in this country."
Post-Primary Schools Futsal Dates
Provincial Finals
Ulster: Tuesday, November 15, AURA Leisure Centre, Letterkenny
Connacht: Wednesday, November 16, IT Sligo
Munster: Tuesday, November 22, Waterford IT Sports Arena
Leinster: Wednesday, November 23, Gormanston College, Meath
National Final: Wednesday, December 7, Waterford IT Sports Arena
Last Year's Winners
Post-Primary Schools - Girls
Winners: Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana, Donegal (Ulster)
Runners-Up: Colaiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir, Tipperary (Munster)
Third Place: Ursuline College, Sligo (Connacht)
Fourth Place: Malahide Community School, Dublin (Leinster)
Post-Primary Schools - Boys
Winners: St Patrick's College, Cavan (Ulster)
Runners-Up: Dublin Oak Academy, Bray, Wicklow (Leinster)
Third Place: Ashton School, Cork (Munster)
Fourth Place: Colaiste Mhuire, Ballymote, Sligo (Connacht)
Futsal is an indoor version of association football. It is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, and up to seven substitutes per team. Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines - walls or boards are not used. A smaller ball with less bounce is also used. The rules of futsal create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique, as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.