Major Beach Soccer News Release
Monday, May 9, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – Major Beach Soccer/Soccer on the Beach is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with Soccer in the Sand that will allow a true beach soccer national champion to be crowned in the United States for the first time at the Major Beach Soccer National Championship at Clearwater, Fla. on December 17-18, 2011.
The two organizations will host qualifying tournaments for the MBS National Championship, with eight tournaments being held throughout the months of June, July and August.
Major Beach Soccer/Soccer on the Beach will host three events in Florida, opening at Daytona Beach (June 17-19) and continuing at Clearwater (July 15-17) and Fort Myers Beach (August 5-7).
Soccer in the Sand will host events in Hollywood, Fla. (June 11-12), Seaside, Ore. (June 18-19), Grand Haven, Mich. (June 25-26), Cleveland, Ohio (July 16-17) and Boston, Mass. (August 20-21).
In addition to qualifying for the MBS National Championship, teams will also be able to gain points they can put towards their Major Beach Soccer ranking through their tournament performance.
“It is a great achievement for the sport of beach soccer to have a National Championship for the first time in this country,” USL Director of Beach Soccer Eddie Loewen said. “This will help the sport in the sense of branding and player development. We are very excited to work with Chris Lemay and Soccer in the Sand to build a foundation for grassroots beach soccer in this country.”
Beach Soccer is growing both nationally and internationally every year in terms of participants and media attention. Soccer in the Sand has grown nationally, and with the launch of Major Beach Soccer the timing was perfect for the two organizations to combine and move the sport in a positive direction.
“Soccer in the Sand is very excited to be partnering with Major Beach Soccer and USL,” Soccer in the Sand Owner Lemay said. “Combining a well established USL brand with the largest beach soccer tournament series in the U.S. will bring the game to a new level.
“We are looking forward to cross-promoting all events within Major Beach Soccer and Soccer in the Sand and we feel that providing qualifying tournaments for a National Championship will give serious beach soccer enthusiasts an opportunity to play at a higher level.”
To register for the Major Beach Soccer qualifying events teams can visit either www.majorbeachsoccer.com or www.soccerinthesand.com.
MBS National Championship Qualifiers 2011
Hollywood, Fla.; June 11/12 www.soccerinthesand.com
Daytona Beach, Fla.; June 17/18/19 www.majorbeachsoccer.com
Seaside, Ore.; June 18/19 www.soccerinthesand.com
Grand Haven, Mich.; June 25/26 www.soccerinthesand.com
Clearwater, Fla.; July 15/16/17 www.majorbeachsoccer.com
Cleveland, Ohio; July 16/17 www.soccerinthesand.com
Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; August 5/6/7 www.majorbeachsoccer.com
Boston Mass.; August 20/21 www.soccerinthesand.com
MBS National Championship – Clearwater, Fla. December 17-18, 2011