Beach Soccer Coaching Manual

Beach soccer is a thrilling sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages, genders and abilities. Given its Brazilian roots, eye catching moves and high tempo play are hallmarks of the game. Since its inception in 1992, beach soccer has gained in popularity to the extent that it is now played in over 130 countries. The sport’s dynamic nature results in the constant evolution of its laws, strategies and skills, which combine to provide even greater excitement for players and fans alike.

In this coaching manual, we delve deeper into these aspects of the game and explore how they should be considered when devising a fitness and tactical training programme. The graphics and illustrations in this manual are designed to help you to visualise and understand the various exercises and coaching techniques that are presented. Finally, all of the training sessions in this manual are accompanied by video footage, which is available via the FIFA Training Centre.

Chapter 5: The coach's role

A coach is tasked with improving the performance levels of individual players and the team, choosing the line up and game strategy, instilling a team philosophy and managing the team’s competition calendar.

Chapter 6: Technical skills for beach soccer

The sand demands unique technical capabilities. Its uneven surface makes controlling the ball less predictable; its 'give' when pushing off from it makes running more exhausting. This chapter presents several exercises designed to enhance a team's technical capabilities in a way that helps them thrive on the beach soccer court.

Chapter 7: Goalkeeper training

The goalkeeper is by far the most important player in beach soccer and can be described as a team’s orchestrator. They initiate virtually every move, which allows them to dictate the tempo of the game.

Chapter 8: Tactics

Tactics is a broad term that refers to the approach adopted by a team. Choosing the right tactics can make all the difference to the outcome of a game.

Chapter 9: Fitness training for beach soccer

In order of prominence, endurance, explosive strength, and speed are the major focus during pre season training. If an individual player or the team as a whole are lacking in any of these areas, specific training sessions during pre season can prove to be highly beneficial and this also applies once the season is underway.

Chapter 10: Beach soccer as a complement to football

Playing beach soccer is an excellent way to complement football training, especially for children. As previously noted in this manual, playing on sand demands high levels of technical ability, fitness and coordination and beach soccer helps to develop all of these aspects.

Chapter 11: Beach soccer training for grassroots and youth football

When coaching youngsters, creating engaging sessions is paramount. Children play sports primarily because they are fun, and the practices coaches orchestrate should always reflect this.