Beach soccer clinic held in Virginia

More than 100 kids took to the sand on the opening day of the NASSC 2017.

The penultimate segment of beach soccer on day one of the North American Sand Soccer Championship belonged to the kids, over 100 to be more precise.

The main pitch on Virginia Beach was taken over by local children, in a range of football and beach soccer shirts, as well as players competing in the NASSC U.S. Open, mostly from FC Barcelona.

With the Catalan giants competing in the event over the weekend, Ramiro Amarelle and his players headed down to the sand around 90 minutes before their second game of the day to put the kids through their paces.

Amarelle and his team of largely established international stars, assisted by players from a host of other teams, put on a series of drills and skills workshops for kids in what is now a regular piece of the NASSC.

After what made for an energetic finale to day one of the event, former Spain international Amarella said: “These clinics are always a brilliant experience for the kids, myself and the players in my team.

“Having fun on the sand with a ball is a great way to spread the sport to the next generation and already I can’t wait for next year!”

Event director Dick Whalen added: “Clinics like these really capture the spirit of the game and was certainly one of the most special ones we’ve done in our 24 years of organising the NASSC.

“For the kids to be out on the sand, enjoying the game, meeting the pros, it made for a really electric and incredible atmosphere.”