THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 12, 1996 TAG: 9606110147
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 135 lines
NEWS FLASH!
Virginia Beach has become the national hub for sand soccer.
Big deal, you say?
It is. In just three years, it has become a very big deal.
The North American Sand Soccer Championships, sponsored by the Virginia Beach Rotary Club and the Hampton Roads Soccer Council, has enjoyed a booming success that has surprised even its organizers - drawing attention to the city from national-level sponsors.
After a first year that saw 28 teams, the event jumped to 132 last year and to 205 at the third annual event last weekend.
``We've been told by the folks at Umbro (an international soccer outfitter) that our tournament is the fastest-growing single sport in the history of the company,'' said Dick Whalen, who co-chaired the event with Bob Gerling. ``We also understand that Umbro is going to be making some national sand soccer announcement in the next few weeks and have been given the impression that it will have something to do with us.''
So just what is all the hubbub about?
You've got five people running around in the sand, trying to kick a ball past a sixth person who is standing in front of a smaller-than-normal soccer goal. Everybody is hindered by the simple fact that they are playing in sand.
``Sand soccer's tough, no doubt,'' said Wade Barrett, a former national team player from First Colonial High School who will enter his junior year at the College of William and Mary this fall. ``There's some good competition out here, but mostly, I think, people come out here to have fun.
``I mean, tons of people play soccer and people love the beach. It's a great combination.''
He's right.
Several national surveys show that more kids play soccer today than any other youth participatory sport. And all you have to do to understand how people feel about the beach is to try to get down there on a given weekend morning.
Judging by the interest in Virginia Beach, people like to watch as well as play. Spectators were plentiful last weekend.
``Well, we are surprised at how far it has gone this fast,'' said Karen Knott of the soccer council. ``But we're not surprised that it would be successful.
``With our people, we can do anything. And with the city's help, there's no end to how far we can go.''
The people are the key.
According to Whalen, the Virginia Beach event is one of the few in the country that is run solely by volunteers.
The championships feature a core staff of about 20 people who devote nine months to planning. When the event kicks off, members of the Rotary Club join forces with local soccer folks to form a group of 75 volunteers.
Then there are about 50 referees who get paid per game, but at a rate well below what they earn in league games.
All work 16 fields, three organizational tents and a volunteer room at the 6th Street Ramada Inn.
``You can't do something like this without all the people,'' Whalen said. ``You just can't. And we've got some of the best soccer people you'd ever hope to find.''
Aside from the city making tax revenue from teams that come from as far away as Ohio and New Jersey, the soccer council is the only group benefiting financially from the event.
Whalen said that after expenses the nonprofit council hopes to rake in about $30,000.
The money will go toward the council's complex in the Princess Anne Park area - where 19 fields have been graded and are being prepared for irrigation and seeding.
When complete, the site will play host to more than 7,500 matches and six to eight tournaments each year.
While the completion date hasn't yet been set, organizers have said they hope to begin play sometime early next year.
Those financial goals are another factor that make this event different. The fact that no private promoter or person is out to make a buck makes this event unusual. ``We remain the only non-profit one that we know about and we're pretty much keeping up with how the sport is growing everywhere,'' Whalen, a past president of the Beach FC travel soccer club, said. ``Four or five more tournaments popped up along the East Coast this year and they're all modeling how they do things after us . . . except that they're making money off it.''
But profits weren't what the players were thinking about during the weekend. Many were talking about the sandy playing surface. It was giving some of them plenty of trouble.
``Oh, this is definitely harder,'' said Julie Miller, a former Salem High All-Tidewater selection who will enter her sophomore year at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte this fall.
``This is my first year and it has been a lot of fun. I've gotten the chance to play with some of my old teammates and it's something I think we'll do again.''
Miller's team - Bayside Pharmacy - lost in the semifinals of the women's open division, but she didn't mind.
``This is much harder than regular soccer,'' said Miller, who made the all-conference team as a starting center midfielder. ``It's not so much skill as is who can go the hardest for the longest. Kicking the ball and making it do what you want is much tougher in this.''
Playing barefoot, or, with socks on, makes it a little easier, but not much.
Falls were cushioned and there were mostly few minor injuries - skinned shins and jammed toes. There was a broken foot, the first injury of any severity in the three years.
A few proud players sported either silver or gold ``Sand Dollar'' medals for finishing first or second in one of the 20 divisions for players from as young as under 10 to adults.
Among them were members of the 11-12 girls' Norfolk Force. Unbeaten and unscored on, they paraded around the playing fields with the medals hanging around their necks.
And organizers were taking a bow right behind them. ILLUSTRATION: Color cover photo by L. Todd Spencer
Color spectator sweems oblivious to the action as Dave Richels tries
to make a save during the North American Sand Soccer Championship
Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
The girls of the Vienna Vipers took cover as a hard rain fell Sunday
afternoon. The weather took quite a turn from Saturday's hot and
sunny conditions.
In wet sand and pouring rain, Sheena McGloine and Julie Mella of
Bayside Pharmacy battle for possession of the ball with Trish Gresko
of the Marauders.
Representatives from Longwood did battle against their counterparts
from William and Mary in this college division game. Longwood's Rob
Bryden scored against W&M's Chip Rohr on this play.
Angelique Zayas of the Marauders sinks into the sand as she digs for
a loose ball. Teams were made up of five players, plus a goalie
defending a smaller-than-normal goal. Playing barefoot, or, with
socks on, was typical.
KEYWORDS: SAND SOCCER by CNB