What: The 8th annual "Sun Surf & Beach" Sand Soccer Tournament at Clearwater Beach.
When: July 24-26. Games run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. each day. Finals begin around noon on Sunday.
Where: Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort. Games are played on the beach south of Pier 60.
Entry Fee: $250 per team. (Registration is already closed)
Admission: Free to the public.
Categories: Ages 8-10, 11-12, 13-14, 12-14 female, 15-18, over-15 female, adult open, and adult corporate open (co-ed).
Now in its eighth year, the "Sun Surf & Beach" Sand Soccer Tournament is the brainchild of Peter Mellor, who played professionally with English First Division club Manchester City, and who now serves as Goalkeeper Coordinator for the United States Soccer Federation. Mellor is on the road most of the year promoting soccer in the Unites States. In fact, he was traveling with U.S. under-17 national team at the Junior CONCACAF tournament in Jamaica the past two weeks and was unavailable for comment.
When the tournament began in 1991, it had 32 teams. This year, it has nearly 100 teams from Georgia, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Kansas, as well as Florida. It features several age divisions and has drawn celebrity players such as U.S. women's team star Michelle Akers and former Tampa Bay Rowdies and U.S. national team player Perry Van Der Beck.
According to Seminole High School coach Rick Masi, who coordinates the referees for the event: ""It just keeps getting bigger and better every year. It's the most organized tourney that I have seen in my 23 years of soccer.''
Sand soccer is played with five-a-side on a small pitch. The teams play two 15-minute halves with a five minute halftime. Adults play according to standard rules using a regulation ball and goal. Youth play according to youth club rules and use a smaller ball and goal.
Masi said that sand is the great equalizer. ""You don't have to be the most skilled to play this game, but believe me, you'd better be in shape,'' he said.
Players typically play barefoot, but according to tournament coordinator Sandy Beverly, they may regret it by the second day. ""I don't think they realize how hot the sand gets,'' she said. ""Most of the coaches wrap their players feet to keep them from getting blisters.''
""The atmosphere is fantastic, and the scenery is even better,'' Masi said. ""I remember one year I was officiating in a life guard chair (that's how you do it), and a ball was kicked out of bounds. The players were very slow at getting it. I stood up in the chair to discover two woman sun bathing topless.''