Soccer News: Soccer in the Sand Hits the Beaches of Coronado
One of the most wonderful youth soccer sand tournaments in the country, Chris Lemay’s Soccer in the Sand is celebrating nine years of great fun playing soccer on the beach. Here is a recap of this year’s tournament.
The ninth annual Soccer in the Sand (SITS) San Diego Tournament took place Memorial Day Weekend at Coronado Cays along the beautiful Silver Strand of Coronado.
San Diego’s Soccer in the Sand is just one in the 2013 Nationwide Beach Soccer Series, beginning in Outer Banks, North Carolina, on May 16 and continuing through the summer. Other locations in the series include Seaside, Oregon (June 13-14), Detroit, Michigan (July 25-26), and Rochester, New York (August 8-9). The series will close out in Charleston, South Carolina.
“Soccer in the Sand was a great success, this marked the 9th year in San Diego. This year alone Soccer in the Sand will hold events at 10 different locations across the US but none are as beautiful as the Silver Strand State Beach on Coronado Island,” said Chris Lemay founder of Soccer in the Sand.
2015 Champions and Finalists:
Boys U7/8 Surf
Champion: Surf U8 Boys, Finalist: San Diego Surf Academy Martinez BU9
Boys U9/10 Surf
Champion: Irvine Slammers, Finalist: Fallbrook Villa
Boys U9 Sand
Champion: Irvine Slammers B0, Finalist: San Diego Surf Academy
Boys U10 Surf
Champion: Surf San Diego Surf Sand Slayers, Finalist: San Diego Surf Academy – Huerta
Boys U11 Surf
Champion: Irvine Slammers FC Clash of Clans, Finalist: Surf Soccer Surf Sand Boys
Boys U12/13 Surf
Champion: Soccer of Oceanside Barcelona BFC, Finalist: Surf Maciel
Boys U14 Surf
Champion: Socal Legacy BFC, Finalist: Express
Boys U18/19 Surf
Champion: Vista Storm 96-97, Finalist: Connor and the Lads
Girls U7/8 Surf
Champion: San Diego Surf Academy Select, Finalist: Irvine Slammers FC Pretty in Cleats
Girls U8/9 Surf
Champion: San Diego Surf Academy (Leacock), Finalist: Irvine Slammers Beach Ballers
Girls U9 Surf
Champion: Irvine Slammers Soccer Sisters Pink, Finalist: Irvine Slammers Soccer Sisters Blue
Girls U10 Surf
Champion: Chicks with Kicks Blue, Finalist: Chicks with Kicks Green
Girls U10 Sand
Champion: Sand Diego Surf SC Surf Academy, Finalist: Surf GU 10 Academy Select
Girls U11 Surf
Champion: Rebels U11 Gold, Finalist: San Diego Surf Soccer T-Spoons
Girls U11 Sand
Champion: Sand Sisters, Finalist: San Diego Surf Academy Velloso – Team 2
Girls U12 Surf
Champion: OC Fire, Finalist: Phoenix
Girls U12 Sand
Champion: OVC White, Finalist: Yuma Legends
Girls U13 Surf
Champion: Rocker Chicks, Finalist: Justice Squad
Girls U13 Sand
Champion: SD Surf Joga Bonito, Finalist: Irvine Slammers GU13 Niccole Team 2
Girls U14 Surf
Champion: Irvine Slammers FC Salteens 1, Finalist: Irvine Slammers FC Salteens 2
Girls U15 Surf
Champion: El Cajon Matrix No Fear, Finalist: San Diego Surf SC Surf Girls
“Beach soccer is cool and everyone enjoys it,” said Lemay. “It is great for the highest-level players as it places them in an environment where they have to have good technical skills and think outside of the box. Some of the best players have developed playing on the beach and on the streets around the world. Free play enables great creativity. In our country, youth soccer is usually two practices a week with a coach.”
“Playing soccer on the beach enhances skill development,” Lemay continued. “It is important to play in different environments, not always on a manicured field. Playing soccer on the beach allows kids to think for themselves. The players with greater technical abilities always perform better. You have to be able to receive and play the ball in the sand, which is not easy.”
Lemay is an accomplished coach on the regular pitch as well. Currently a coach at San Diego Surf, he has led several girls’ teams to Cal South State Cup Championship finals, bringing back a total of seven trophies overall. Lemay is excited to welcome clubs from around Southern California and from as far away as Arizona for the tournament. Lemay recently won Coach of the Year at Surf and is well known for his leadership and player development.
For those who may not be familiar with beach soccer, the game is played 5v5 with goalkeepers and consists of three eleven-minute periods with two-minute breaks in between. Playing in the sand creates a totally different experience, and much of the action takes place in the air. Every team is guaranteed three bracket games, with the top teams advancing to semifinal and final rounds.
“It was such a pleasure supporting the girls throughout the weekend and I really enjoyed watching the passion the girls had for the game! They had fun at all times,” said Rob Sterling, participating coach.
Once again this year the championship teams in several divisions will earn an automatic berth in the USL Major Beach Soccer National Championships.
