“Is it different to enjoy a game of soccer on a field than to play it on the beach?” That is a good question. “You bet it’s different,” he answered.

Beach soccer, as the name implies, is a game played on the beach, usually in the spring or summer. Although soccer on the beach has been played in an unorganized fashion for years, it was given its official name and rules only recently, specifically in 1992. Since that time beach soccer has managed to become a rather popular game and I believe that if you definitely want to educate yourself about soccer you should begin to play soccer on the beach in the sand.

Playing soccer in the sand is thought by many to be the best place for a newbie. Learning on a soft sandy beach can correct some usual errors for a beginner, because the soccer ball often doesn’t roll well on the sand. Actually, the element of sand doesn’t only facilitate the efforts of new players, but it can actually be thought of as a large barrier even for the long time players that want to demonstrate their proficiencies. In addition, the smaller field – measuring 28 x 37 meters if you can find an official beach soccer complex- is by far smaller than a normal grass pitch and therefore scoring is easier, even for athletes who want to give it a go for the first time.

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A great advantage of beach soccer is the fact that the athlete doesn’t have to have any unique equipment to join in. An adequate size soccer ball and the sand of the beach are just what you need to start learning the nature of this unique game’s play. Even when no organized facility on the beach exists, those interested in enjoying a game of beach soccer need only two canes to symbolize the area of a goalpost. Sticks or maybe a pile of clothes are preferable in comparison to especially huge blocks of rocks, which are a hazard for stubbed toes, because footwear is not permitted in this game.

My son’s soccer coach has his team out in the sand during the summer off-season building up their leg muscles and their basic skills on the sand. They start out running on the soft sand, head to the harder sand near the ocean’s edge and then back to the soft areas. The fact that they are not wearing shoes acts as an incentive to learn to kick the ball using the insides of their feet, not their toes.

The team does some skill drills and then they enjoy a short game of five-on-five to get them motivated and happy to be at practice. By the time the fall playing season rolls around they will all be in the best shape of their lives.

When practice is over the boys head, on the run, for the ocean to cool off and play in the waves. They go to practice in their swimsuits so there is no delay getting into the cold water. Soccer at the beach is a great way for kids and adults to play and build up their stamina, strength and endurance. It is after all, much easier to play on a grass field right?

Go Red Bulls!

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