How Beach Soccer is Shaping Grassroots Football Development

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, better known as Neymar Jr., began his football journey on the sands of Brazil. He believes that the popularity of beach soccer in Brazil is what allows the country to have so many skilled players. “The technical ability that we are lucky to have here, is a big advantage” he said, crediting beach soccer. He is not the only one – many Brazilian players start on a sand field and develop their skills there before transitioning to the green field.  

Another great example from the past is Ronaldinho who is claimed to have first developed an interest in beach soccer and futsal before expanding in organised football. Back in 2019 he also played his first beach soccer official match for the Brazilian national team, scoring some stunning goals.  

Although the official rules for the game were only introduced in 1992, the sport has now made considerable progress and is getting more recognition than ever. If it was initially thought of as just a recreational game, it is now being welcomed as a tool for developing young footballers worldwide. 

What makes beach soccer unique? The sport is high-intensity and can be used as an alternative for youth development. It relies on agility, quick feet, balance and stamina. Unlike classical football, there are unlimited substitutions, a 5v5 format, and three 12-minute periods where you can always expect high intensity, the game is fast and attack-heavy.  

Beach soccer enhances players’ reaction speed and overall awareness of the game. The ball on the sand moves unpredictably and players are forced to adjust constantly both their position and timing. This betters their body coordination and visual tracking. In addition, the effort required for running on sand is significantly more than the effort required to run on a firm surface, hence beach soccer also strengthens balance, agility, and lower-body endurance. 

When transitioning environment, from the sand field to the green field, athletes often feel lighter and faster – a key advantage in modern football. 

Back in 2019 also Lionel Messi was seen training on sand as he was racing to get fit for FC Barcelona: 

So, there may be a chance for academies to start incorporating sand-based drills to improve reaction speed and ball control in their youth teams. Beach soccer is no longer just a casual summer game, but it is proving to be a tool for development, and we are sure the link between beach soccer and football can only grow stronger.