Second day of FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop, opened by FIFA Secretary General, unveils bright upcoming times for the sport
Debate and discussion went on during this second day of the FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop, opened by FIFA Secretary General, Jérôme Valcke. In his introduction, after thanking everyone for the organization of such a useful meeting and for being invited, he talked about the way Beach Soccer has walked inside FIFA, highlighting all that assets that make the sport so attractive. These same assets, he said, secure a long future for the sport: ?We will have beach soccer for ages, no doubt about it?, he concluded.
Intense study went on today at FIFA Home, with an interesting analysis on different formats of implementing BSWW ?endorsed National Championships, with the participation of the representatives from the football associations of France (FFF), Joel Cantona, Italy (FIGC), Ferdinando Arcopinto and the Netherlands (KNVB), Dave Offenbach. The work with youth categories or the upcoming Euro Beach Soccer League, were also under focus.
After Valcke?s opening, Gabino Renales, BSWW General Manager offered a clear explanation of what a Beach Soccer stadium has to look like, and the requirements it needs to accomplish.
Jaime Yarza, FIFA Senior Manager Beach Soccer Competitions went in depth with the issue of the competitions registration, and the role of each National Association in promoting and protecting the competitions they host, as well as the strategies to follow to fight against non-endorsed events.
The Euro Beach Soccer League future plans came under exhaustive analysis straight afterwards, with Gabino Renales, BSWW General Manager, and Josep Ponset, BSWW Head of Competitions, penciling some of the most important elements the new season is to present, matching the needs of a continually growing European Beach Soccer panorama.
The time came then for the case studies on the different formats of the Beach Soccer National Championships endorsed by Beach Soccer Worldwide. The first to take the floor was Joel Cantona, French National Team General Manager, who explained the key elements of the French National Championship, with 13 different venues all across France and a special aim on the youth categories.
Ferdinando Arcopinto, head of delegation Beach Soccer in the FIGC, presented the successful Italian format, with several National Championships, strong boundaries with the National most popular media and TV networks, and a clear Pan-National vision of the championship. Under such conditions, the Italian National beach soccer structures has become one of the most outstanding environments in the world.
Last but not least, Dave Offenbach, Beach Soccer Manager in the Dutch FA (KNVB) dealt with the path the sport walked from the private to becoming a part of the FA, and what are the values the KNVB reckons in it and wants to empower and project. As a key part of the ?Orange? philosophy , Offenbach also explained their work in targeting all groups of people, from really young children or different women categories to handicapped athletes.
The FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop closed its doors this Wednesday, January 9th, embracing a bright future for the sports, and involving more than ever all those that are part of the Beach Soccer family. With the season about to begin, there is no doubt that the joint work will push the discipline even further than before.
