Source: SoccerNation.com
Author: Diane Scavuzzo
San Diego’s Soccer in the Sand beach tournament championship games are played today and tournament director Chris Lemay is proud of how well all the teams are performing. The tournament has a fabulous turnout with more than 1000 participants registered to play in Coronado June 5th and 6th, 2010.
Lemay says “We are very excited to welcome more than 4,000 people to our event in Coronado. The tournament will be a lot of fun for the whole family. ESPN will be broadcasting live from Soccer in the Sand on Saturday and Calle, an event sponsor, will bring their Street Soccer Team to the Silver Strand on Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm. “Calle has also produced a new sand soccer ball for the event that players will get a chance to try out.
More than 100 teams from Southern California will be playing including: San Diego Surf, Encinitas Express, Barcelona from Temecula, FC Blades from Orange County, FC Murrieta, RSF Attack, Del Mar Sharks among others. In addition, AYSO all-star teams are participating again. The tournament’s goal is to offer great competition to all teams attending and has two flights: Surf (top flight) and Sand (slightly less competitive flight).
Soccer in the Sand will be held very close to the Loews Hotel. Special events will be taking place at Loews, which is the host hotel, including a movie night on Saturday for the kids.
The Soccer in the Sand tournament is a great opportunity for the coaches to take a break and watch parents take a turn coaching. The games should be fun and non stressful.
Lemay has some advice for parents who are coaching. “An important tip for parents who are going to be coaching: Get a stop watch and tell the kids when to go in and out. That’s all you really need to do!” says Lemay. Lemay continues “This is a great chance to be players to be creative, have fun and relax. After six minutes, just rotate the players. This soccer tournament is not strategy oriented, but about having a good time and getting touches on the ball.”
On Friday afternoon, there will be a Complimentary Soccer Clinic for all registered players. It will be a terrific opportunity to work with a qualified coach and develop your sand soccer skills. Players will receive valuable tips on how to play soccer on the sand from Lemay as well as other leading Southern California coaches including Tim Woodcock, the Director of Coaching from Orange Country’s FC Blades.
The beach soccer tournament is a significant fundraiser for the San Diego Surf Soccer Club. The funds will be used for scholarships and equipment needs as well as offsetting travel expenses among other expenses. As Lemay says “Surf is a great partner for our tournament and as a Surf coach, the San Diego event is the one I take the great pride in.”
"Good luck to all the teams! And remember to have fun!" says Lemay.
Dozens of soccer teams from across the Midwest converged upon Grand Haven State Park for the fifth annual Soccer in the Sand Tournament on Saturday.
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Posted on 12 January 2011 @ 9:20 am