Barefoot Soccer Dribbles Back to Beach

WILDWOOD — The eighth annual Cape Express Beach Blast Soccer Tournament returns to Morey’s Piers and the award-winning Wildwoods beach June 25 through June 27.
Hosted by the Cape Express Soccer Club, the Beach Blast tournament will include boys’ and girls’ divisions for 8 to 17 year olds; men, women and co-ed opens; and divisions for players over 30 and 40 years old.
The barefoot, round robin beach soccer tournament usually attracts 1,000 teams to the Wildwoods from states including: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts.
All games will be played on one of many 30 by 40 yard fields. Teams will each play three games consisting of three 12-minute periods, with contests starting on the hour (weather and other unforeseen conditions permitting). Teams advancing to the finals will play in a fourth game for their division championship.
Not only does the three-day event feature fast-paced soccer on beach at Morey’s, but registered competitors also receive admission to Morey’s three amusement piers and two water parks for the weekend.
Merideth Fiorucci, director of Group Services at Morey’s Piers, “Beach Blast has become a Morey’s Piers and Wildwoods tradition, attracting people from all over the Northeast. We look forward to sponsoring this event year after year because it’s become such a major event in the Wildwoods.”
Due to past responses and anticipated turnout, along with the success of 2009’s Second Beach Blast, event coordinators have scheduled a second Beach Blast Soccer Tournament for July 17 through July 18.
Weekend schedule for the Cape Express Beach Blast Soccer Tournament:
June 25, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Camp set-up on the beach at Mariner’s Landing Pier on Schellenger Avenue.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Water Parks open
12:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.: Amusement rides open
10:30 p.m.: Fireworks on the beach between Schellenger and Poplar avenues
June 26, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Beach soccer games
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Water Parks open
Noon to 12:30 a.m.:: Amusement rides open
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Picnic at Rendezvous Beach Picnic Pavilion
June 27, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Beach soccer games
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Water Parks open
Noon to Midnight: Amusement rides open
For questions regarding the tournament, visit www.CapeExpress.com or send an e-mail to beachblastsoccer@comcast.net