USL News Release
Thursday, July 7, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – The hottest action on sand returns next week when USL’s Major Beach Soccer heads to Clearwater, Florida for its biggest and longest running tournament July 15-17. Presented by Umbro and Orlando City Soccer Club, MBS Clearwater will feature more than 1,000 beach soccer players of all ages, with many competing with their teams for a spot at the MBS National Championships.
Major Beach Soccer/Soccer on the Beach is in its 21st year of bringing the top tournament action to Florida’s beaches. Teams participating in the Men’s and Women’s Open divisions at Clearwater will compete for a spot at the Major Beach Soccer National Championships, also at Clearwater December 17-18, 2011. Registration for MBS Clearwater is available at www.majorbeachsoccer.com through July 8.
Florida Beach Soccer FC, which captured the U.S. Open at Virginia Beach in June, will try to snatch the Clearwater Men’s Open Division crown from defending champion ESPN Deportes. U.S. National Team captain Francis Faberhoff has high expectations for his Florida Beach Soccer FC side and is ready to entertain the crowds on Clearwater Beach. Also on board with Florida Beach Soccer FC will be the U.S. Open Virginia Beach MVP Oscar Gill and Best Goalkeeper Aldo Balsano.
Another highly ranked contender for the MBS Clearwater Men’s Open Division title are the Galactics from Clearwater, who will have the local support behind them.
All the action will take place next to Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach, with teams competing five-on-five in 30-minute games with prizes for champions and runners-up in all age groups. Flicks and acrobatic bicycle kicks are the norm in beach soccer, where the fields and goals are small but the action is nonstop. Remember, no shoes allowed!
Shephard’s Beach Resort will serve as the host for all of the weekend’s MBS parties and will provide a DJ to entertain participants and spectators. The Red Bull Street Team will be on hand to show off their juggling skills and much more, while the Hooters Girls will mingle with the crowds and Kelloggs will provide interactive games for the kids plus a visit from Kellogg Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger.
“Clearwater is one of the world’s top locations for beach soccer and this year’s event is expected to be one of our largest ever,” USL Director of Beach Soccer Eddie Loewen said. “The unprecedented community support we receive in Clearwater is one of the main reasons the tournament is stronger than ever after 20 years.”
MBS Clearwater is supported by Umbro, Orlando City Soccer Club, the St Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, Powerade, Red Bull, Shephard’s Beach Resort, Hooters, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, ESPN Deportes, Farpost Goals, All Radio, Skillzys, TGI Signage Systems and Soccer in the Sand.
A recent partnership between MBS/Soccer on the Beach and Soccer in the Sand produced eight qualifying tournaments for the MBS National Championships throughout the months of June, July and August. Major Beach Soccer/Soccer on the Beach will host one additional event in Florida, at Fort Myers Beach (August 5-7).
MBS National Championship Qualifiers 2011
Daytona Beach, Fla.; June 17-19
Seaside, Ore; June 18-19
Grand Haven, Mich.; June 25-26
Clearwater, Fla.; July 15-17 www.majorbeachsoccer.com
Cleveland, Ohio; July 16-17 www.soccerinthesand.com
Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; August 5-7 www.majorbeachsoccer.com
Rochester, N.Y.; August 13-14 www.soccerinthesand.com
Boston Mass.; August 20-21 www.soccerinthesand.com
MBS National Championship – Clearwater, Fla. December 17-18, 2011