Volleyball is the sport many people associate with the beach. It isn’t the only sport you can take to the sand. Beach soccer is a fun variation of the beautiful game that is growing in popularity.
Sand soccer originated in Brazil where the inaugural FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup was staged in 2004. It has caught on everywhere in the world, including the United States. The North American Sand Soccer Championships were first held in Virginia Beach, VA in 1994. Since that time, the event has grown to draw more than 950 teams from around the world.
PlayDriven can educate you on the particulars of this version of soccer, so you can stage your own sand soccer tournament:
Sand soccer features teams of five players. Each team has a goalkeeper and can make unlimited substitutions during the match. Games are divided into three 12 minute periods.
Game play takes place on fields measuring 25 yards by 30 yards for youth teams or 30 yards by 40 yards for adult teams. The goals for sand soccer range from 6 by 8 feet to 7 by 18 feet, depending on the age group.
Playing on sand instead of grass requires a difference in technique. Dribbling is impossible on sand, and players do not wear shoes, so emphasis is placed on ball movement through the air. Most shots are headers or lift and shoot type shots.
No offsides rules exist in sand soccer, and no tackling is permitted. This puts an emphasis on attacking soccer. Goalkeepers are also not allowed to do goal kicks. They must throw the ball back into play. Any fouls lead to a free kick on goal taken by the player who was fouled. The only exception is a handball infraction where another player can be chosen to take the penalty kick.
Sand soccer is an exciting option for staging a tournament. It allows players to develop different types of skills that might be ignored on a grass playing surface. And it also helps develop better fitness. PlayDriven has resources to help you organize your own sand soccer tournament.