Hungarian beach soccer: recent successes can provide a basis for 2016

The MLSZ (Hungarian Football Federation) beach soccer department will, in 2016, continue the same work which in recent years has characterised beach soccer at home and abroad: the aim is professional, organisational and infrastructural development, increased recognition at home and abroad, as well as the introduction of many new professional innovations.

According to Hungarian Football Federation, the main event in 2016 for the sport will be the EBSL tournament being held at the MLSZ Beach Aréna in Siófok between 5-8 August, with the difference that based upon recent years’ organisational experience the international federation has now entrusted Hungary with the hosting of their biggest event, in which 16 countries will participate. The aims are for the event to be successful from an organisational perspective and for the Hungarian national team to qualify for Division A.

Two years ago, the Hungarian federation was the first among the BSWW countries to organise an U20 national team. The international federation reacted positively to this initiative which – in part down to the BSWW suggestion – many other countries have since implemented. Hungary will also be hosting a tournament at this age level for the first time this summer, again in Siófok, with Poland, England, Romania and Hungary participating.

The domestic youth set-up is undergoing substantial development and organisational restructuring. For one, the new domestic set-up has, thanks to the success of the past two years, attracted more teams. U15, U17 and U19 levels will not just have semi-finals and finals this year, but also regional qualifying tournaments for the first time. The age-group finals will also be held at the MLSZ Beach Aréna in Siófok as part of the senior championship programme.

The mlsz.hu said, early in 2016 the Hungarian Student Sports Federation and the MLSZ will sign, as a result of the previous two years’ work, a contract to collaborate with each other. The MLSZ Beach Soccer department will, from now on, not just participate at at the Beach Soccer Student Olympics as a professional partner and one which provides the facilities, but will also at the behest of the MDSZ organise the Student Olympic competitions for the IV, V and VI age groups. It is important to note that all of the licences (e.g. results-based school programme plus points) will remain in place.

Meanwhile, preparations for the FIFA bids for the current period are ongoing – in harmony with the FIFA Beach Soccer Development Programme. This affects the training system for domestic match officials, organisational, infrastructural and facility development possibilities. This last one may well be important due to the national beach soccer pitch construction programme. Naturally, a number of agreements with FIFA and BSWW leaders preceded the preparation of the bids. At the end of 2015 the MLSZ Beach Soccer department gave popular presentations at events such as the FIFA WorkShop in Dubai.