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MY BEACH SOCCER 
Josep Ponset, Beach Soccer Worldwide Head of Competitions, delivered the formula for success to every FA: a combination of formation and international events
Beach Soccer Worldwide took a very relevant part in the Beach Soccer course held by CONCACAF in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, last week. Josep Ponset, Beach Soccer Worldwide and FIFA Beach Soccer Head of Competitions, was present at the meeting, and explained to the participants what are the key steps to foster and consolidate the growth of beach soccer in the region, highlighting the importance of combining formation and international events.
A set of Beach Soccer professionals were present at the course, organized and directed by Hugo Salcedo, CONCACAF Development Manager. Betto Lima, CONCACAF Beach Soccer Development Manager, was the course coordinator, together with Marcos Aurelio Tinoco, CONCACAF Development / Cayman Islands development manager, and Jonathan Ramírez, CONCACAF Development; FIFA Instructor Angelo Schirinzi, was another of the conductors of the meeting, also attended by Franklin Gonzalo Zúñiga, Costa Rica National Coach, Ramón Raya, Mexico National Coach, Alexandre Soares, Trinidad & Tobago National Coach, Roberto Ceciliano, Bahamas National Coach, Francis Farberoff, USA National Team Captain, Christiane Lessa, Iowa Central Community College Women Soccer Head Coach and part of the Florida Beach Soccer structure, Ruben Fernandez, former USA National team player, Benyam Astorga, USA National Team Player, Christian Villi, from the Bahamas Football Association, Aldo Balsano, former US Soccer Player, Phillip A. Gyau, former USA National team player, Alex Teixeira, owner of different academies in USA, and Eduard Lowen, Promoter in USA.
In his presentation, Josep Ponset highlighted “the great job CONCACAF is performing for the growth and promotion of Beach Soccer, with a key role by president Howard Webb and General Secretary Enrique Sanz. The work conducted jointly by CONCACAF, Beach Soccer Worldwide and FIFA Becah Soccer is giving excellent outcome, and sensations cannot be better“.
Ponset also stressed the fact that the CONCACAF region is naturally gifted for the sport, with thousands and thousands of kilometers of beach, also including areas such as the Caribbean, perfect for the implementation of Beach Soccer.
In this same sense, Ponset remembered that “Beach Soccer Worldwide and FIFA Beach Soccer will always be fully supportive, working hand by hand with CONCACAF, always ready to provide our global expertise. Working together will make the sport stronger, that is certain.“
The BSWW Head of Competitions also pointed out which was the most suitable direction to take, and what were the objectives to be targeted for the upcoming stages. With a clear route map combining formation and grassroots, in one side, and international events in the other: “Only through International events you manage to raise the awareness of the sport, and make people know about and have a growing interest on it“.
“The implementation of Beach Soccer within the different Football Associations in the region has to follow this pattern, so that they have direct contact with all the different strata Beach Soccer is composed of and have a true sample of what the sport can offer: high-level competition, global showpiece, important tool for touristic promotion,… “, he added.
After that, Ponset also wanted to show some case studies that clearly display how thorough and concise work leads to success. Examples such as the steps that led to Tahiti obtaining a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the possibilities of replicating the European Competition model, and the Instructors program, provided a clear view of all the way that can be done with Beach Soccer.
